Hypospadias Surgery: Symptoms, Classification, Diagnosis & Recovery

Hypospadias repair is a surgical procedure aimed at correcting the urethra's positioning on the penis. The surgery can be either one or two stages, determined by the severity of the condition, and typically lasts up to two hours. Potential risks associated with the procedure include bruising, infection, swelling, fistulas, and possible shortening of the penis. However, most individuals achieve full recovery within six weeks.

Hypospadias is a congenital condition where the urethra, the tube responsible for urination and ejaculation, doesn't properly develop in the penis. The opening of the urethra, also known as the meatus, is usually located at the tip of the penis. However, in babies with hypospadias, the meatus may form in a different location, such as near the head of the penis (subcoronal), along the shaft (midshaft), or where the penis and scrotum meet (penoscrotal). Additionally, children with hypospadias may also have congenital penile curvature (chordee) and penoscrotal transposition, where the scrotum forms above the penis. Correction of these conditions may be necessary as determined by the child's healthcare provider.

Who should undergo Hypospadiasis?

If your child has hypospadias, their doctor recommends a hypospadias repair when they are between six months and two years old. However, as the parent, you have the final decision on whether your child will undergo the procedure.

The primary symptom of hypospadias is that the meatus is not located at the tip of the penis. Additional symptoms of hypospadias may include:

Difficulty urinating: The urine stream may not be straight and could spray to the sides or downward, potentially causing irritation and discomfort to surrounding tissues.

Incomplete foreskin development: The foreskin may only partially cover the penis. If the foreskin is underdeveloped, circumcision should be avoided, as a healthcare provider may need to use a piece of it during surgery.

Chordee: This condition involves a downward curvature of the penis.

Undescended testicles: One or both testicles may not have descended into the scrotum.