Birmingham man with three penises discovered posthumously

Photo of Lilly Larkin

A Birmingham man, aged 78, has become the second recorded individual to have three penises. Following his death, he donated his body to the University of Birmingham Medical School. During dissection, students discovered his rare condition.

Throughout his life, the man was unaware that he possessed three penises. Medical experts at the school stated that the occurrence of more than one penis happens in approximately one in every five to six million people. Globally, there are just over 100 documented cases of diphallia, the condition of having two penises.

This 78-year-old is only the second documented case of triphallia, the presence of three penises, in history. Despite having three penises, doctors found only one to be functional. The other two were embedded within the scrotal sac’s skin, which likely contributed to the man’s unawareness of his rare anatomical feature.

The man, about 6 feet tall with a medium to large build, initially appeared to have normal genitalia upon first examination. However, dissection revealed ‘two small supernumerary penises.’ The primary and secondary penises shared a urethra, which passed through the secondary and primary.

Researchers from the Journal of Medical Case Reports noted: ‘These penile morphological abnormalities may not have been identified during his life. ‘However, he may have experienced functional deficits due to the abnormal anatomy, potentially including urinary tract infections, erectile dysfunction, or fertility issues.’

They also referenced the only other recorded case of triphallia, discovered in a three-month-old baby in 2020. The researchers suggested that polyphallia, the condition of having multiple penises, could be more common than previously thought.

What Other Media Are Saying
  • Interesting Engineering reports a man with three penises, the first adult case of Triphallia, causing potential urinary infections, erectile dysfunction, and fertility issues.(read more)
  • news.com.au researchers discover man with three penises, a rare condition known as triphallia, through post-mortem dissection, highlighting unusual anatomy and potential functional challenges.(read more)
  • LadBible reports on a rare case of a 78-year-old British man with triphallia, where medical students discovered three penises during autopsy, highlighting unique anatomical variation and potential health risks.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions asked about this news

How rare is it to have three penises?

It’s extremely rare, with only two recorded cases in history.

Did the man know he had three penises?

No, he was unaware of his condition throughout his life.

How common is it to have more than one penis?

More than one penis occurs in approximately one in every five to six million people.

Were all three penises functional?

No, only one was functional; the other two were embedded in the scrotal sac’s skin.

What issues might arise from having multiple penises?

The man might have experienced urinary tract infections, erectile dysfunction, or fertility issues.

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