HYPOSPADIAS

Hypospadias is a birth defect where the boy's urinary opening (urethral meatus) is not in its normal location. It may be located anywhere in the penile shaft, anywhere from tip to base. This condition is often associated with penile twisting, penile curvature/bending (chordee) and a hooded, incomplete foreskin. The degree of hypospadias depends on the location of the penis opening. This is birth defect occurring in one in one hundred to one in two hundred births (1 in 100 to 1 in 200). When we see a boy with hypospadias there is a twenty percent (20%)chance of finding this in another family member such as father or a brother.


The cause of hypospadias is not known. The condition results from abnormal development of the urethra in the embryo and not from anything the parents did or did not do during pregnancy. Hypospadias will occasionally occur in more than one male in a family.

Problems encountered are messy urination because of the direction of the urinary stream, erectile problems and impaired delivery of semen. The most devastating problem encountered is pyschological since those who have severe defects need to sit down when urinating. The ability to stand and urinate is important for boys. When the urethra opens before it reaches the glans a boy may be unable to stand and urinate with a direct stream.The youngster who has to sit down to urinate on a toilet is at a painful social disadvantage. A straight penis is necessary for satisfactory sexual function. Although this may not seem to be an important matter in childhood, this is a crucial concern later in life.

Corrective surgery usually results in a penis that looks normal and functions normally. Surgical correction of hypospadias involves straightening of any chordee and then extension of the urinary tube (urethra) out to the tip of the penis (the glans).Surgery should be performed to correct the condition as soon as is possible - certainly within the first year or two after birth.