The Department of Health Service Support has warned against the perils of unauthorised injections intended to enlarge penis sizes, saying the injections can cause severe infections and cancer.
The department's deputy director-general, Arkhom Praditsuwan, said yesterday that it's still very common for Thai men to get penis injections in the hopes of impressing women, although the department has issued repeated warnings against the risks.
Illegal clinics that issue the injections use substances that are not approved by doctors, such as olive oil, vegetable oil and industrial-grade silicone, Dr Arkhom said. He said injecting these substances into a penis cannot enlarge its size, but can cause infection, swelling and lack of elasticity, resulting in difficulty urinating and having sex.
Those who get the injections also risk contracting deadly viruses such as HIV and hepatitis if the injection equipment is contaminated, he added. Severe and chronic infections as a result of unauthorised injections can require amputations and cause cancer.
Providers of the unauthorised injections face a jail term of up to three years and/or a fine of up to 30,000 baht for violating the Medical Profession Act.
They will also be jailed for up to five years and/or fined up to 100,000 baht for operating illegal clinics, in violation of the Health Facility Act, said Dr Arkhom.