Hypospadias is considered one of the most common abnormalities of the urethra, which is observed in boys, less often in girls. According to the latest data, out of 125 children, this defect occurs in two to three males. This is all hypospadias. What is it, what symptoms are manifested, what is connected with and how is it treated?
What is hypospadias?
Hypospadias is characterized by an unnatural displacement of the urinary opening to unsuitable parts of the body, for example, on the perineum, scrotum or lower surface of the penis.
In the presence of this defect, a complete violation of the urination regimen occurs, irritation appears on the skin, discomfort, and deformation of the penis occurs.
Hypospadias - what is it? The development of vice in girls
Hypospadias occurs not only in boys, but also in girls. But this is extremely rare. In this case, a visible deformation of the urethra opening occurs. Most often, its opening occurs directly in the vagina. In this case, the virgin film itself, or the hymen, also has a characteristic splitting.
What are the signs of rejection?
Hypospadias in children provides a number of characteristic signs. In particular, one of them is the presence of a hole in an unconventional place for him. Among other symptoms, there is frequent urge to urinate and difficulties associated with it.
In adults of the stronger sex, complete sexual apathy towards their sexual partner and pronounced deformation of the penis can occur.
Unpleasant consequences of hypospadias
In the absence of any help from specialists, hypospadias (a photo of this deviation can be seen below) leads to very unattractive consequences. In most cases, one or two dropsy, called hydrocele in the medical environment, appears in the testicle area. They are a small sac, formed as a result of excessive accumulation of fluid in both shells of the testicles.
In turn, this phenomenon subsequently leads to the appearance of inguinal hernia and excessive accumulation of lymph.
In addition, dysplasia of the foreskin and the development of chronic diseases can be observed. However, their manifestations directly depend on the variety of the detected deviation. This is what hypospadias leads to. We will consider its forms below.
In women and girls, the consequences of hypospadias can be infections such as cystitis, urethritis, vulvovaginitis, less often in such patients, pronounced signs of pseudohermaphroditism and hermaphroditism are observed.
What types of hypospadias are there?
The following forms of congenital abnormalities are distinguished:
- capitate;
- coronary;
- stem;
- scrotal;
- perineal;
- chordates.
What are capitate and coronal anomalies?
Capitate hypospadias is considered the easiest and most common form of abnormality. In such patients, as a rule, the narrowed opening of the urethra is slightly shifted from the center of the head of the male genital organ to the coronary groove.
With such anomalies, men can experience discomfort due to pressure on the narrow channel of the urinary stream. The process of urination is difficult and has the appearance of a thin stream. Male genital curvature is practically not observed at this stage.
Capitate hypospadias, as a rule, is found in 65-80% of men and boys.
Coronal or perineal deviations are characterized by a displacement of the hole closer to the groove. During urination in patients, redirection of the jet is observed at an angle to the penis.
In patients with a similar form of anomaly, the foreskin is pronounced, which acquires several new folds and forms a kind of pocket.
Coronary hypospadias usually leads to curvature of the penis, which subsequently acquires a ventral direction.
What are stem and scrotal abnormalities?
For the stem form of the anomaly, the location of the urethra on the trunk of the genital organ is characteristic. In such patients, a severe deformation of the penis occurs over time, and the urination process itself causes huge problems. The fact is that during the process the jet is directed downward. Therefore, with every urge to go to the toilet, people with a similar diagnosis have to literally draw their masculine dignity to the abdomen.
Scrotal hypospadias (a photo of this ailment can be found in our article) provides for an inborn shift of the canal either to the scrotum itself, or to the line of its demarcation with the organ trunk. Patients with a similar form of anomaly subsequently acquire severe deformity of the penis and may defecate exclusively while squatting.
What are perineal and chordal forms of anomalies?
The perineal form of the deviation involves the displacement of the channel directly into the perineum, the presence of severe deformation of the genital organ, splitting of the scrotum and difficulty urinating (again, the process is carried out while sitting).
The chord form differs from all previous ones in that it has an insignificant deviation from the norm. So, the opening of the urethra is located at the very top of the penis. However, male dignity itself is deformed, which is due to the presence of skin dysplasia.
Now you are familiar with such a concept as hypospadias. What is it and what types of this anomaly happens, we described above. However, you should know about the possible causes of this deviation.
What are the causes of hypospadias?
Reliably little is known about the causes of hypospadias. However, the following factors can lead to the occurrence of the above anomaly:
- improper development of the fetus for periods of 7-15 weeks (it is during this period that the genital organs of the unborn baby are formed);
- genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in the mother's body;
- complications caused by viral diseases of a pregnant woman (rubella, flu);
- inappropriate intake of hormonal drugs by the woman in labor;
- intrauterine infections;
- frequent stressful situations;
- lack of food;
- parturient alcohol abuse and more.
This entire list of negative factors, and sometimes the combination of several of them, leads to such an undesirable deviation as hypospadias (what it is, is described in this article).
How is the deviation diagnosed?
It is possible to identify the patient's deviations by conducting a routine diagnosis. It is thanks to her that an experienced doctor easily determines the presence of a defect already on the first days of a baby's life. The very diagnosis and methodology for recognizing an ailment include the following actions:
- a thorough visual examination of the genitals of a child or adult;
- genetic research (allows you to identify sex chromatin) ;
- performing an ultrasound examination of the urinary tract and organs;
- urography (allows you to study the structure and functions of the urinary system).
Hypospadias Treatment Options
If you suspect hypospadias, it is recommended that you contact specialists such as a urologist and surgeon. However, it should be understood that standard treatment can not do here. Eliminates such visual anomaly as hypospadias, operation. At the same time, it is advisable to resort to surgical intervention at a suitable age for this. For example, children are best operated on from six months to the age of one and a half years. It was at this time that all sorts of physical procedures (taking into account subsequent rehabilitation) were most effective and easily tolerated by the child.
Some doctors, however, believe that operating the baby is best before the age of one, as small patients still do not quite know the situation and quickly forget about the illness.
If hypospadias has not been eliminated in childhood, it can be eliminated at any age.
When is it necessary to resort to surgery?
The presence of signs of an ailment does not always indicate that the patient needs surgical intervention. According to experts, this should be done only in case of severe deformation of the genitals and in the presence of a narrowed urethral opening.
Hypospadias Prevention
In order for the anomaly not to occur with your child, it is necessary to take preventive measures to prevent it. For this purpose, the future mother is recommended to follow the following expert advice:
- completely abandon bad habits;
- exclude self-medication and the use of unreasonable drugs;
- try to avoid stressful situations;
- timely register with the gynecologist and visit him regularly;
- consult a urologist in case of suspected hypospadias in a child (under six months of age).
In short, hypospadias is not a sentence. This problem can be quickly resolved. The main thing is to turn to specialists in time.