First penis transplant patient's girlfriend is pregnant, doctor says

By Michael Pearson and Debra Goldschmidt, CNN

Updated 1346 GMT (2046 HKT) June 12, 2015

The man's first penis was amputated as a life-saving measure after severe complications arose from a circumcision performed as part of a coming-of-age ceremony.

Merwe led a nine-hour operation in December to replace the penis at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town.

It was only in March that doctors pronounced the surgery a success, saying the transplant had restored all of the man's “urinary and reproductive functions.”

They had expected his recovery to last two years.

Doctors have not identified the 21-year-old man for ethical reasons.

His was the second penis transplant attempted. The first one, in China, ended when the recipient suffered a severe psychological reaction and requested it be removed.