John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore is hoping to go ahead with the first penis transplant in the United States within the next 12 months.
The New York Times reports that surgeons are hoping to restore functional penises to troops who have sustained groin injuries in Iraq or Afghanistan. 1,367 men, nearly all aged under 35, had taken injuries from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) "losing all or part of their penises or testicles."
A stigma of embarrassment and silence surrounds the injuries and many suffer in shame of the hidden wound.
According to the report, the doctors hope for full functionality to return to the penis within a few months. Those with their testicles in tact can expect to father their own children.
The donors' families are asked especially for use of the organ. They are aiming for young donors to improve the chances of erectile functionality.