DIY penis enlargements are a ‘nationwide problem’ in Papua New Guinea, with hundreds of men injecting themselves with coconut oil or silicone every year, doctors warn
- Doctors at one clinic in Papua New Guinea treated 500 cases in just two years
- Youngest was 16 and some required surgery that left them unable to have sex
- Medics are investigating whether pornography has influenced the trend
Doctors in Papua New Guinea have warned of a nationwide epidemic of botched penis enlargements that has seen men injected with cooking oil and silicone.
Akule Danlop, a surgeon in the capital Port Moresby, said that over the past two years his hospital has handled at least 500 cases including a boy aged 16.
Of those, Mr Danlop said 90 required operations to deal with abnormal swelling or to repair damage, and some may never be able to have sex again.
Surgeons in Papua New Guinea say they treat hundreds of men every year for growths and abscesses on their genitals caused by botched penis englargements
Speaking to The Guardian, he said: ‘The bulk of them have abnormal, lumpy masses growing over the penis and sometimes involving the scrotum.
‘A good number are coming in with ulcers; they eventually burst open. ‘Some of them have difficulty urinating because the foreskin is so swollen it cannot contract.
‘Predominantly they regret what they have done.’
Mr Danlop added that the main reason the men undergo the operation is to achieve a better sexual experience with their partner.
He said the true number of people getting the procedure done is likely far higher, as many men will not seek medical help if it goes wrong.
One clinic in the capital Port Morseby (pictured) treated 500 men in just two years with the youngest patient being 16 years old
Experts believe that the bulk of the injections are being offered by off-duty male nurses looking to make some extra money.
They say the problem is not confined to one area or social class within Papua New Guinea, and believe it is relatively common around the world.
Researchers have begun collecting data on the men they treat in the hope of building up a fuller picture of the issue.
One aspect of their study will be looking into whether exposure to pornography has driven a rise in men wanting the procedure.