Swedish Doctors Warn Parents About Hormone Creams After Baby Girl Grows ‘Micropenis’

Swedish doctors are urging caution among parents using hormone-based creams and gels after multiple children experienced alarming physical changes due to accidental exposure.

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🧴 Hormone Treatments and Accidental Transfer

Hormonal medications like testosterone and estrogen gels, sprays, and creams are widely prescribed to adults for various medical reasons. But Swedish endocrinologists are warning that these treatments can easily transfer to children through skin-to-skin contact — with potentially serious consequences.

“Babies younger than 12 months have very absorbent skin,”
— Dr. Jovanna Dahlgren, Sahlgrenska University Hospital

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🚨 Real-Life Cases in Sweden

Health authorities have reported at least 12 cases in Sweden where children were unintentionally exposed to hormone medications. The actual number may be much higher.

Notable examples:

• A 10-month-old girl developed an enlarged clitoris resembling a small penis after lying on her father’s chest — he had recently applied testosterone gel.

• A 10-year-old boy developed breast growth due to exposure to his mother’s estrogen treatment. He is now awaiting surgery and long-term monitoring for bone development.

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🧬 Why It’s Dangerous

Sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen are steroids that act directly on DNA, influencing protein expression and body development.
Even small doses can:

• Disrupt puberty

• Accelerate bone growth

• Cause irreversible changes

• Affect mental health and self-image

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🧠 Mental & Emotional Toll

Doctors in both Sweden and the UK report that hormone exposure in children can trigger anxiety, guilt, and distress among parents — especially when the exposure is unintentional.

“We have to think about the long-term effects,” Dr. Dahlgren emphasized.
“These hormones can alter development permanently.”

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🌍 A Global Issue

This is not unique to Sweden.
A 2024 case series from Wales revealed similar outcomes, and global reports compiled between 2004 and 2025 list:

• 66 cases involving testosterone

• 41 cases involving estrogen
  These include both children and adults affected by secondary exposure.

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🛡️ What Parents Should Do

✅ Safer hormone-use practices:

• Apply creams to less exposed areas (e.g., inner thighs, upper back)

• Avoid skin-to-skin contact with children immediately after application

• Store hormone products safely and out of reach

• Switch to injections, patches, or tablets when possible

Dr. Dahlgren recommends quarterly injections for testosterone users and patches or vaginal tablets instead of estrogen sprays.

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🏥 What’s Next?

Swedish health authorities and hospitals are now working together to map cases nationally and improve awareness. Updated medical guidelines and warning labels have already been introduced, but experts say more public education is needed — especially with the rise of telehealth prescriptions across Europe.

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⚠️ Bottom Line

Hormone creams are powerful and medically valuable — but they must be handled with care.
Even casual contact can put children at risk of early puberty, physical changes, or long-term developmental effects.

“These medications are potent. We must protect our children,”
— Dr. Dahlgren

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