Man Who Underwent World’s First Penile Transplant Expecting First Child

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Andre van der Merwe, one of the surgeons who performed the world’s first penile transplant on a South African man, has shared that the man, whose identity is being protected, will become a dad soon as his girlfriend is about four months pregnant. The good news shows the transplant which was carried out in December ‘worked’, the surgeon said.

According to BBC, the 21-year-old lost his penis in a botched circumcision. He had been left with just 1cm of his original penis as a result of the botched circumcision when he was 18 and was sexually active at the time.

Surgeons at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital performed a nine-hour operation to attach a donated penis.

Dr Van der Merwe said he was “very pleased” when he heard that the man’s girlfriend was pregnant, and had not asked for a paternity test as there was no reason not to believe the couple.

“This is what we intended, that he should be able to stand up and be able to urinate and have intercourse, so it is a milestone for him,” Dr Van der Merwe said.

Dr Van der Merwe added the surgical team is yet to review the success of the operation, and may then carry out further transplants.