ADVERTISEMENT

Man donates one of his testicles to his twin brother born with none

A 36-year-old man born without testicles can now give birth after his twin brother has donated one of his to him.

Man donates one of his testicles to his twin brother born without testicles

36-year-old Serbian donated one of his testicles which was transplanted to his twin brother by an international team of surgeons, including an expert from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to The New York Times, the six-hour operation was only the third of its kind.

The newly-transplanted testicle will enable the recipient to have children of his own.

Also, because the twins are identical, the DNA he passes to his offspring will be a nearly exact match for his own.

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the University of Southern California research paper, babies born missing both testicles are extremely rare. There are few statistics to come by that estimate just how rare, but one 1974 study suggests that about one in every 5,000 male babies are born missing one testicle. Just one in every 20,000 is estimated to be born with neither testicle.

The causes of absent testicles are unclear. Some scientists have speculated that it might be a genetic condition, though identical twin brothers in Serbia cast some doubt over that theory. Without either testicle, a man's body cannot produce testosterone.

In the absence of testosterone, men may not go through puberty, they may grow too little hair, or too much in certain areas, develop breast tissue and, lack sex drive and energy and are more prone to muscle loss, and depression.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT