“Aphalia” literally means “without a phallus,” so it refers to when a male is lacking a penis, or when a female is lacking a clitoris. The term most commonly refers to the condition when a male is born without a penis. This is called “congenital aphalia.” If a boy or man is subject to an accident (like an attack by a dog) that causes him to lose his penis, he is said to have “acquired aphalia.”
The location of the urinary opening varies in cases of congenital aphalia. There is also variation in the rest of the anatomy in cases of this type. As with all DSD, individualized attention is required to figure out the anatomy and physiology, and to figure out what care the patient needs.
Posted in: Specific Conditions