​He came to the clinic with a 2-inch micropenis, small testicles, and sparse pubic hair

A 34-year-old man from Pakistan hit up an endocrinology clinic with an unusual complaint: He had super-scarce facial, armpit, and pubic hair.

When the doctors examined him, they also found his penis was much smaller than average. When stretched—which clinicians often use to mimic erect length—the man’s penis measured just under two inches, according to the case report in BMJ Case Reports. That falls under the micropenis category, meaning a penis length that’s 2.5 standard deviations below the average. (In a 2015 analysis of penis sizes of 15,000 men, that would be anything 3.3 inches or less when stretched.)

Doctors also determined his testicular volume was very low, as were his testosterone levels. The cutoff for low T varies among labs, but anything below 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) is generally considered diagnostic for low testosterone. This guy’s measured just 55.99 ng/dL. (Here are 8 sneaky signs your testosterone is too low.)

Other lab work revealed low levels of other reproductive hormones, like luteinizing hormone and follicular stimulating hormone, too. An interview with the man uncovered that he wasn’t ejaculating, and was experiencing fewer morning erections.

The diagnosis? A relatively uncommon disorder called idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism—where the testes don’t produce enough male sex hormones. They determined he had the idiopathic kind, meaning there were no structural or functional abnormalities in his pituitary gland or hypothalamus responsible for it.

Low testosterone can cause low sex drive, weak or fewer erections, increase in body fat, lower energy, reduction in muscle mass, depression, and fatigue. (If your erection is flagging, check out The The Men’s Health Guide to Erectile Dysfunction Guide to Erectile Dysfunction—the only resource you need to keeping your penis healthy for life.)

The doctors suggested testosterone injections to get his levels up to normal. After nine months of testosterone therapy, his testicular volume doubled in size, his testosterone levels normalized, and his penis grew to the mean size for adults his age. (According to that 2015 study, the average stretched size is 5.2 inches.) He was able to discontinue therapy.

If you have signs of low testosterone, talk to your doctor about getting your levels checked. If they are low, you might be a candidate for testosterone therapy—and you should notice your symptoms improve. But it’s important to note, if your levels aren’t clinically low, it’s unlikely that upping your T will help.

For nearly 10 years, Christa has created health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness content that’s steeped in science but engaging enough that people actually want to read it. She’s tuned in to all the latest research that people with an athletic lifestyle need to know, and prides herself on helping her readers apply it to their everyday lives.

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