Hypospadias

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Information on conditions unique to girls and young women can be found at

At Norton Children’s Urology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, our pediatric urologists are fellowship trained in pediatric and adolescent urology specialty care. They have the expertise to perform hypospadias repair.

Our state-of-the-art equipment is not available elsewhere in Louisville. We also are able to provide sedation.

Our specialists bring skill, respect and sensitivity to caring for your child’s urological needs.

Hypospadias is a condition where the opening from which a boy urinates is not located at the tip of the penis. Instead, it’s located on the underside of the penis.

Causes

Hypospadias is present at birth, affecting about one out of every 100 boys. It’s the result of abnormal development of the urethra (the tube through which urine exits the body), but the exact cause is unknown. Hormonal problems as the fetus is developing may play a role in hypospadias.

Hypospadias Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of hypospadias may include:

  • Urethral opening located somewhere other than the tip of the penis
  • Downward curve of the penis
  • Abnormal appearance of the penis because only the top half is covered by foreskin
  • Abnormal direction of the urine stream

Diagnosis

Hypospadias typically is noticeable at birth. However, if the urethral opening displacement is slight, hypospadias may be less obvious. It’s important to talk to your doctor if you have concerns about the appearance of your child’s penis or if there are problems with urination.

Hypospadias Repair

Hypospadias surgery often is required to correct the condition. Our urology team will determine the exact method of repair based on the location of the urethral opening. The surgery typically doesn’t require an overnight hospital stay.

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