How Hypospadias is Diagnosed: A Comprehensive Overview

What is Hypospadias?

Hypospadias is a congenital birth defect in which the opening of the urethra is wrongly located on the underside of the penis. It is a common birth defect found in one in two hundred male infants. The primary roles of the penis are to transport sperm and urinary discharge. The Urethra is the tube through which urine exits from the body and the opening where it ends is called meatus. Both the tasks are carried out with more ease due to the apt location of the meatus at the tip.

Should You Take Treatment for Hypospadia?

Hypospadias is a common defect that occurs in newborns which can be surgically corrected to resemble a normal appearance of the penis. In some cases, the condition is minor, and it is left as it is. Most men can have normal reproduction and urination with the help of a successful treatment of hypospadias.
However, depending on the positioning of the meatus, some males may have problems related to fertilisation. In most cases, this condition only reflects as a development problem in infants and does not imply any issues in the urinary system or other organs.

Diagnosis of Hypospadia

The diagnosis of this condition usually happens soon after birth, upon examination. However, in cases where the displacement is subtle, it may be more difficult to identify the condition at an early stage. In most scenarios, the meatus is located within the head of the penis. In certain rare cases, the opening may be located in the middle or base of the penis, or even beneath the scrotum.
If not treated, hypospadias can lead to problems such as:

Difficulty in urination
Abnormal appearance of the genitals
Abnormal curvature of the penis
Impaired ejaculation.

Having hypospadias can also mean difficulty in keeping the infant hygienic and clean. Due to the complex location of the meatus on the underside of the penis, signs of rashes or infection will be harder to spot. Some may also face psychological problems due to this.