The North Carolina man who has made the apparently undisputed claim of having the world’s smallest penis is seeking the public’s support for enlargement surgery.

Michael Phillips said online on Thursday that he needed the procedure to improve his ability to urinate, which is difficult for him given that he is reportedly 0.38in (0.97cm) long when fully erect. Otherwise, he said he must continue to wear diapers for adults with incontinence daily.

“This has been a source of daily frustration and embarrassment especially when traveling which I like to do, and it has affected my confidence and independence,” Phillips wrote on the online fundraising campaign titled “Help Michael Get Micropenis Enlargement Procedure”.

On that GoFundMe page, Phillips said he has saved up as much money as he could for “the cost of the surgery and injections that could help increase the girth and allow me to use the restroom more normally”. But he said he was appealing “to anyone who understands how challenging this situation can be” for assistance with the balance.

Phillips said the procedure would not constitute a cure for his micropenis – but that it could mean “living with more dignity and independence”.

He had raised more than $9,500 as of Friday morning. The campaign’s listed goal at that time was $22,000.

Reached by text message on Friday, Phillips confirmed he had created the drive but did not immediately respond to a request for further comment. A GoFundMe spokesperson also said the platform had verified the campaign.

Phillips’ fundraiser arrived after he became one of the biggest stories in the world in late February – at virtually the same time that the US and Israel launched war in Iran – by telling TMZ that he challenged anyone on Earth to prove they had a smaller penis than him.

The point of his challenge, he said, was to advocate against body shaming for those living with micropenis, an exceedingly rare condition which the Cleveland Clinic defines as a stretched penile length of less than 2.67in (6.8cm). He said he also wanted to raise awareness about the difficulties of having a sexual organ which in his case is the size of a pinky fingernail when fully aroused.

Beside urinary issues, Phillips said it has been impossible for him to engage in penetrative sex in his intimate life, all but erasing his willingness “to approach new people, especially females” on the dating scene.

Some internet denizens have met Phillips’ tale with skepticism and questioned its authenticity, but he has evidently transmitted photographic evidence of it – including to unwilling recipients.

At one point, a woman posted a viral social media video in which she accused Phillips of sending her an unsolicited picture of his member while they argued online after he insulted her weight and she retaliated by taunting his micropenis.

“This is by far the smallest one I’d ever seen,” the woman said in the video.

Phillips later confirmed to TMZ that the woman’s video was accurate – yet maintained he only wanted “to show her that she shouldn’t make fun of people and let her see what she’s making fun of”.

“I tried to tell her it’s a disability and something I have to live with,” Phillips said. “I was hoping for it to be a teachable moment.”

He ultimately said he had previously sent such unsolicited pictures to others while drinking, admitted it was a “stupid” thing for him to do and said: “I don’t do that any more. I apologize to any woman I may have offended.”