How to Diagnose Hypospadias

Hypospadias is a congenital malformation of the tube that carries urine and ejaculate out of the penis. A condition that affects 1 out of 300 infant males and rarely afflicts females, hypospadias can be diagnosed easily and corrected to restore normal function to the urethra.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Understand that most cases of hypospadias are diagnosed soon after the baby is born. Signs of hypospadias include a malformed foreskin on the penis, a misdirected urine stream and a penis that is curved downward (the medical term is "chordee" for this curvature.) Hypospadias in females--although very rare--requires an extensive physical exam for proper diagnosis.
2. Realize that the opening in the urethra where urine--and later, ejaculate--are expelled can form anywhere along the urethra. In a mild case of hypospadias, the hole is slightly above or below the middle on the tip of the penis. In more severe cases of hypospadias, the opening is located further away from the tip of the penis, close to the testes.
3. Know that because hypospadias occurs in the womb during development, there are no precautionary measures to avoid the condition. In some instances, hypospadias can be diagnosed while the baby is in utero using an ultrasound. If your husband had hypospadias, your male baby has a 7% chance of having hypospadias as well.
4. Receive the appropriate treatment to correct hypospadias. Mild hypospadias might not warrant correction while severe hypospadias requires surgical intervention to repair and restore healthy function of the urethral opening. Talk with your doctor about the options and the benefits and risks associated with each.

Tips & Warnings

• Complications associated with hypospadias that is uncorrected include a misdirected urine stream, sexual dysfunction and fertility issues.