Hypospadias

Abstract

Hypospadia is a common congenital malformation in boys that implies an abnormal opening of the meatus urethrae on the ventral side of the penis. Hypospadia arises due to a premature arrest of the male urethra development during gestational week 8-16. Depending on when the arrest arises, the malformation will have different severity with the meatus on the ventral side of the penis, in the scrotum or in the perineum in severe cases. The incidence is about 1:300 boys but varies in different populations, due to genetic and environmental differences, as well as different reporting to birth defect registries. The treatment is surgical in most cases and with a good result overall, although in severe hypospadias, long-term negative effects are described.