Hypospadias is a congenital (present at birth) problem affecting a boy’s penis. It is a combination of three separate problems: the hole through which urine passes (meatus) is not at the tip of the penis, the foreskin is gathered at the back of the penis with none at the front and the penis may be bent when stiff. The position of the meatus varies; in some boys, the hole is only a small distance away from the tip of the penis, whereas in others, it is at the base of the penis, in the scrotum or behind the scrotum.
How is hypospadias diagnosed?
Hypospadias is usually diagnosed by clinical evaluation of the appearance of the penis and the symptoms reported by the parents. Most boys are assessed when a few months’ old, so that treatment can be planned for when the child is between six months and a year old. It is important that circumcision does not take place, as the foreskin is needed during the operation.