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In hypospadias, the opening of the urethra is located on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. The severity of the condition varies. In most cases, the opening of the urethra is near the head of the penis. Less often, the opening is at midshaft or at the base of the penis. Rarely, the opening is in or beneath the scrotum.

Signs and symptoms of hypospadias may include:

• Opening of the urethra at a location other than the tip of the penis
• Downward curve of the penis (chordee)
• Hooded appearance of the penis because only the top half of the penis is covered by foreskin
• Abnormal spraying during urination

When to see a doctor
Most infants with hypospadias are diagnosed soon after birth while still in the hospital.

However, it's possible that less severe hypospadias may be overlooked. Call your doctor if you notice your son's urethral opening is not at the tip of the penis, his foreskin is not fully developed or his penis curves downward.

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Hypospadias is present at birth (congenital). The exact reason this defect occurs is unknown. Sometimes hypospadias is inherited.

As the penis develops in a male fetus, certain hormones stimulate the formation of the urethra and foreskin. Hypospadias results when a malfunction occurs in the action of these hormones, causing the urethra to develop abnormally.

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This condition is more common in infants with a family history of hypospadias.

Some research suggests that there may be an increased risk of hypospadias in infant males born to women of an advanced age or those who used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to conceive. The connection to IVF may be due to the mother's exposure to progesterone, a natural hormone, or to progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone, administered during the IVF process. Other research, however, hasn't confirmed a link between IVF and hypospadias, but did find an association between a mother's exposure to pesticides and hypospadias.

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If hypospadias is not treated, a child may have problems learning to use a toilet properly. During adulthood, untreated hypospadias can cause difficulty in achieving an erection.

©1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
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If your infant son is diagnosed with hypospadias while still in the hospital after birth, you'll likely be referred to a pediatric urologist.

If your child's hypospadias is less severe, however, it may be overlooked in the hospital. If you think your son has hypospadias, call your family doctor or pediatrician.

If your child will be seeing a pediatric urologist, you may want to check your health plan to see if it covers meeting with this specialist.

It's a good idea to arrive well prepared to your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready, as well as what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Ask a family member or friend to come with you. It can be upsetting to find out that there's something wrong with your child, possibly making it difficult to remember all of the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

For hypospadias, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Does my child need to have surgery?
• When is the best time for surgery?
• What are the risks associated with this surgery?
• Could my child outgrow this condition?
• What happens if he doesn't have the surgery?
• Will this condition affect my son's fertility or sexual function later in life?
• If I have another child, what are the odds that this might happen again?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor
It's also a good idea to be prepared for any questions your son's doctor may ask. For hypospadias, he or she might ask:

• Does your son's penis curve downward during erection?
• Have you noticed any abnormal spraying when your son urinates? (This may be difficult to distinguish in an infant.)

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Your son's doctor can diagnose hypospadias based on a physical examination.

©1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.

Treatment involves surgery to reposition the urethral opening and, if necessary, straighten the shaft of the penis.

What happens during surgery
During surgery, a pediatric urology surgeon uses tissue grafts from the foreskin or from the inside of the mouth to reconstruct the urinary channel in the proper position, correcting the hypospadias. The surgery usually takes from 90 minutes to three hours and is done while the child is unconscious (general anesthesia). Rarely, the repair may require two or more surgeries.

When surgery is performed
Surgery is best done at an early age — usually between ages 4 months and 12 months. Generally, the earlier the surgery is done, the less traumatic it is for the child. But the procedure can be completed at any age and even into adulthood. Infants should not be circumcised before the procedure because the foreskin tissue may be needed for the surgery.

Complications of surgery
In most cases, surgical repair results in a penis with normal or near-normal function and appearance and no future problems. However, in a small number of cases, a hole (fistula) or scarring may develop along the underside of the penis where the new urinary channel was created. This can result in urine leakage and require an additional surgery for repair.

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It can be difficult and frightening to learn that your son has hypospadias and will likely need surgery. Don't hesitate to ask your child's doctor any questions you have, and if possible, have a family member or friend with you for support on the day of the surgery. The good news is that the surgery for hypospadias is usually highly successful, and your very young child will probably not recall having the procedure.

©1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Terms of use.
Read this article on Mayoclinic.com.