Due to this the hypospadias boys have to sit down and pass urine. If they stand and pass urine like normal boys, the urine is deviated downwards towards their feet.
As an adult, sexual activities become difficult due to the abnormal curvature of the penis during erection. They have much lower chance to have children, as they cannot deposit the sperm normally. The sperm leaks out through the opening located underneath.
The exact cause of hypospadias is unknown. It can be easily diagnosed at birth during routine physical examination.
Surgery usually restores the normal appearance of the child's penis. When the problem is corrected by 1-3 years of age with a good outcome, there should be no problem in future for fertility.
Causes of Hypospadias
Sometimes, hypospadias is inherited. It is more common in infants with a family history of hypospadias.
During the development of the penis in a male fetus, certain hormones stimulate the formation of the urethra and foreskin. If there is a malfunction in the action of these hormones, the urethra develops abnormally. The urethra is formed by the fusion of the urethral folds along the ventral surface of the penis. Hypospadias occurs when there is incomplete closure of the urethral folds.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Hypospadiasis
Symptoms of hypospadias depend on the severity of the condition. They include -
Abnormal spraying of urine
Having to sit down to urinate to avoid the urine from running down to the feet.
Hooded appearance of the penis as only the top half of the penis is covered with foreskin.
Chordee- Downward curve of the penis during an erection.
Most infants with hypospadias are diagnosed soon after birth during a physical examination.
Treatment of Hypospadias
During surgery, the doctor uses tissue grafts from the foreskin or from the inside of the mouth to reconstruct the urethra in the proper position, correcting the hypospadias. If required the shaft of the penis is straightened and the excess foreskin is circumcised.
Most of the hypospadias belong to the mild variety and can be operated in a single stage operation. When the opening is too far down from the tip, it might require two-stage operation.
The operation is usually performed between 4-12 months of age. The earlier the surgery is done it is less traumatic for the child. However, the procedure can be completed at any age; even during adulthood.
By completing the operation before 2-3 years of age, these children can be toilet trained normally like any other child.
Latest Publications and Research on HypospadiasRe: split dorsal dartos flap transposed ventrally as a bed for preputial skin graft in primary staged hypospadias repair. - Published by PubMed
Re: caucasian male infants and boys with hypospadias exhibit reduced anogenital distance. - Published by PubMed
Congenital malformations and testicular germ cell tumors. - Published by PubMed
Different outcomes of hypospadias surgery between north america, europe and china: is patient age a factor? - Published by PubMed
Association of a Tagging Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Androgen Receptor Gene Region with Susceptibility to Severe Hypospadias in a Caucasian Population. - Published by PubMed