The South African recipient of the world’s first penis transplant is about to become a father.

The penile transplant operation lasted for about nine hours

The South African recipient of the world’s first penile transplant is about to become a father.

This was announced by Stellenbosch University urologist Professor Andre van der Merwe at a public lecture on Thursday. 

A series of these talks are scheduled where researchers at the university will discuss their work 

“In layman’s terms”.His girlfriend has reported that she is about four months' pregnant, and this showed that the "transplant worked", said Andre van der Merwe.

The 21-year-old recipient recently informed the head of the university’s Division of Urology his girlfriend was expecting.

Van der Merwe confirmed the surgery was a success and “the organ is functioning”.

“I am very pleased, and this is what we intended, that he should be able to stand up and be able to urinate and have intercourse, so it is a milestone for him,” said Prof Andre van der Merwe.

He said the patient’s partner is about four months pregnant and though he hasn’t seen the woman, and is not going to do a paternity test, he has no reason not to believe him.

“We have to take this as evidence that the transplant worked.”

The recipient, who lost his penis due to a botched circumcision, is still being monitored six months after the delicate nine-hour micro surgery was successfully completed at the Tygerberg Hospital in December last year.

The man is still under observation as the team check for possible improvements to be made for future operations, which could take place as early as mid-August.

There have been attempts at penis transplants before, including one in China.

Accounts suggested the operation went well, but the penis was later rejected.

Doctors say South Africa has some of the greatest need for penis transplants in the world.

Dozens, some say hundreds, of boys are maimed or die each year during traditional initiation ceremonie