The father had unknowingly transferred the hormone while practicing skin-to-skin bonding, using testosterone gel prescribed for low libido.
A baby girl developed masculinized genitals after being exposed to testosterone gel on her father’s chest, Swedish doctors revealed. According to Professor Jovanna Dahlgren, a pediatric endocrinologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, the infant’s clitoris elongated and her labia fused, forming a scrotum-like shape.
The father had unknowingly transferred the hormone while practicing skin-to-skin bonding, using testosterone gel prescribed for low libido. Blood tests at 10 months showed high testosterone levels, and symptoms began reversing once exposure stopped.
“This case highlights how potent these treatments are,” Dahlgren told Göteborgs-Posten, adding that she’s seen at least six similar cases. She noted another instance where a boy grew breasts after contact with estrogen cream.
The incident underscores the need for caution with hormone therapies around children. Dahlgren warned, “The parents become completely desperate when they understand what has happened.”
A related UK poll found rising openness about health issues, though many still view topics like libido and incontinence as taboo.