DefinitionNumber of children born with hypospadias per 10,000 live male births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.
NumeratorNumber of children born with hypospadias among live male infants born to women residing in New Jersey.
DenominatorCount of all live male births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.
Why Is This Important?Hypospadias is a fairly common birth defect in boys in which the opening of the urethra (where urine comes out) is located on the underside of the penis, instead of at the tip. In most instances, no cause can be identified but a number of hypotheses related to environmental agents interfering with androgens have been suggested. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are among the possible agents suggested to contribute to causing this birth defect. There also may be an increased risk of hypospadias in infant males born to older women, or to women who used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive.