What do you know about Hypospadias?
Hypospadias is a birth abnormality or congenital disorder of males in which the urethra opens on the lower side of the penis rather than at the tip. The urethra is the channel through which urine departs your body from your bladder. The causes of hypospadias are common and will not interfere with your infant’s care. helps return your child’s penis to its original form. Most males can have regular urination and reproduction after successfully treating hypospadias.
Types of Hypospadias
The position of the urethral opening determines the type of hypospadias, such as:
- Subcoronal: The urethral aperture is placed towards the tip of the penis.
- Midshaft: The urethral aperture is set along the shaft of the penis.
- Penoscrotal: The urethral hole is placed where the penis and scrotum connect.
What are the exact causes of hypospadias?
Researchers aren’t sure about the causes of hypospadias. However, it appears to be a hereditary trait. Infants with hypospadias are somewhat more likely to have affected dads and brothers. The issue arises during pregnancy. Around the eighth week of pregnancy, the penis begins to grow. The urethra problem occurs between weeks nine and twelve. Certain variables in the mother can raise the baby’s chance of hypospadias, including mothers who:
- Carry additional weight (obesity) than average weight.
- Are over the age of 35.
- To become pregnant, undertake fertility therapy.
- Use other hormones before or throughout pregnancy.
- Premature
- Have been exposed to insecticides.
- Smoke.
Diagnosis and Symptoms of Hypospadias
Hypospadias is most commonly detected at birth. The meatus is the aperture of the urethra through which sperm and urine leave. The meatus is often located near the tip of the penis. Not only is the meatus in the incorrect position, but the foreskin is commonly incomplete on the bottom. This creates a “dorsal hood” that exposes the tip of the penis. The appearance of the foreskin often draws attention to the matter. Even yet, some babies have an atypical skin with the meatus in the correct location.
In some cases, an entire foreskin may conceal an aberrant meatus. Urine does not spray in a straight stream, which is abnormal. Approximately 8 out of 100 males with hypospadias have a testicle that hasn’t entirely fallen into the scrotum.
What effect does hypospadias have on the penis?
The urethra begins as an open tube in a baby’s development. As a baby matures before birth, the tube shuts. The meatus develops at a different position in a newborn with hypospadias. For example, it might be on the shaft of the penis or the scrotum rather than the tip of the penis.
Boys with hypospadias may have a crooked penis. They may have issues with aberrant pee spraying and may need to sit to urinate. The testicle has not fully lowered into the scrotum in some males with hypospadias. If hypospadias is not treated timely, it can develop into later-life complications such as difficulties during intercourse or urinating.
Treatment of Hypospadias – Penile Torsion Surgery
If the hole is at the tip, the penis usually works enough to leave it alone. However, penile torsion surgery in baby is the right option after the known causes of hypospadias to relocate the urethra and opening. The treatment usually involves straightening the penis. The objective of surgical correction is to develop a penis that functions and looks normal, with a urethral opening near the ventral tip of the penis as feasible. When an erection occurs, surgical treatment should result in a correctly directed urine stream and a straight penis.
The best hypospadias surgeon in Pakistan patches the hole with skin from the foreskin or anywhere on the body. For this reason, a hypospadias surgeon will most likely not circumcise the baby but keep the foreskin intact.
The Procedure of Chordee Surgery
A Chordee Surgery or hypospadias surgery aims to create an average, straight penis with a urine channel ending at or near the tip. The procedure consists mainly of four steps:
- shaft straightening
- constructing the urinary channel
- placing the meatus in the penis head
- circumcision or foreskin reconstruction
Hypospadias correction takes about 90-minute to 3-hour for the procedure. In certain circumstances, repairs are carried out in phases. These are often proximal examples of severe chordee and causes of hypospadias that leads to surgery. Before creating the urinary channel, the best hypospadias surgeon wishes to straighten the penis.
A hypospadias surgeon prefers to perform hypospadias surgery on healthy boys aged 6 to 12 months. However, hypospadias may be corrected in children of any age and adults. If the penis is tiny, your surgeon may advise you to take testosterone (male hormone) before surgery. A right and proper fixation should last a lifetime. It will also be adaptable when the penis expands during adolescence.
What can you expect from a hypospadias surgery?
During the hypospadias surgery, your baby will be under general anesthesia. Therefore, they will be sleepy and will not be in agony. Sometimes the infant requires two surgeries: one to align the penis and one to repair the urethra. However, it is common for the surgeon to do both procedures simultaneously. On the day after surgery, you should be able to take your baby home.
Final Thoughts
Penile surgery in baby boys is often quite effective, especially when done appropriately. It is still successful a procedure until maturity. After that, however, numerous surgeries may be necessary. Dr Muhammad Mohsin, our child surgeon at ALSA Pakistan, has extensive expertise in conducting penile surgery in baby boys to repair a variety of abnormalities. Moreover, Chordee surgery in Pakistan is a popular and successful option at ALSA.