Hypospadias

Hypospadias can be of varying degrees and severity, and is generally identified by the location of the opening of the urethra:

• Subcoronal: The opening of the urethra is located near the head of the penis
• Midshaft: If the opening of the urethra is located somewhere along the shaft of the penis
• Penoscrotal: The opening of the urethra isn't even anywhere on the length of the penis, but is instead located between the penis and the scrotum.

The symptoms can be quite tell-tale in the case of hypospadias as most of the signs are visible, although they can be different based on the nature of the case in each child:

• The opening of the urethra is not at the tip of the penis
• Abnormal spraying is experienced while urinating
• There is a downward curve in the shape of the penis, also referred to as chordee
• The top half of the penis is covered by the foreskin, giving it a hooded appearance

While definitive causes are unknown in the occurrence of hypospadias, there are certain factors that contribute to this development in the womb of the mother:

• Genetic factors: If the newborn boy's father or brother were born with it, there are chances of certain genetic factors at play in the development of hypospadias.
• Mother's age and health: There is a higher likelihood of hypospadias in the newborn boy if the mother conceived after the age of 35, has diabetes or is overweight during or before pregnancy. (Read more: Obesity)
• Fertility treatments: More and more people around the world have been looking at fertility treatments, and certain treatments such as hormone therapies or certain medications may be contributing factors towards the development of hypospadias in their newborn boy.
• Smoking: The habit of smoking, or having ingested pesticides or harmful chemicals have also been linked with mothers giving birth to boys who have this condition. (Read more: Harmful effects of smoking)
• Premature birth: In some cases, premature deliveries also have a likelihood of the boy being born with hypospadias.

As the condition of hypospadias develops over time and in the womb of the mother, there are certain precautions you can take when you are pregnant:

• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol while you are pregnant.
• Take small doses of folic acid every day (between 400 to 800 micrograms). Studies have suggested that consuming folic acid during pregnancy has led to a reduced risk of hypospadias in newborn boys.
• Make regular visits to the doctor to keep abreast of your pregnancy journey.

Hypospadias is an easy condition to diagnose, as most symptoms are visible in the newborn. Doctors are able to identify hypospadias while performing a routine physical examination right after birth. If not diagnosed after birth, hypospadias can be identified by the downward curved shape of the penis or chordee.

Hypospadias that occur with the opening of the urethra close to the tip of the penis may not even need a corrective surgery to be performed, as there may not be any symptoms or discomfort being experienced by the child. In other cases, however, a surgery is done between the ages of 3 and 18 months, which involves repositioning the urethra to the glans of the penis, or straightening the shaft of the penis. There aren't any medications that can treat this condition which is a physical abnormality.

Doctors recommend getting the boy treated for hypospadias early as there can be complications that can arise out of this condition later in life. The curved shape of the penis may result in painful sexual intercourse, while the abnormal spraying of urine can worsen with age as well.

Although the surgical method to correct this misalignment is highly successful, there can be complications much like any other surgical procedure. In rare circumstances, there may be the occurrence of a fistula or a hole which may result in urine leaking out of it. There are also cases of scarring that may appear and lead to the narrowing of the opening of the urethra, which may again lead to discomfort while passing urine. However, both these complications can also be corrected through surgery.