Hypospadias Repair

[conflictedmom]

I was not sure if this was the proper place to post. My son was born with mild hypospadias. Unfortunately, he was circumcised before the doctor noticed. We've had one surgery for repair (since it was strongly suggested by our pediatrician and the ped. urologist) but it failed . Now the ped urologist is suggesting to try again but with a slightly different approach. He wants to give him a testosterone shot a month prior to the surgery. He has a very mild case and there is no issue with functionality. I'm leaning not to do it but I worry about the future and whether it will be an issue with him.

[ErinsJuneBug]

I am sooooooo sorry for your son. What a failure in the medical system - simply horrible. It seems our babies are practically abused during newborn exams, and still, before proforming a surgery on HIS PENIS they didnt even look to make sure it was "normal."

Honestly, if this was me, i would just wait and let his body grow and skin stretch and wait until he is older and can be part of the care. The poor thing has already had 1 uneccessary surgery and due to that the necessary surgery didnt work - leave it alone.

and for the love of gawd please dont circ another baby.

[thixle]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it
Seriously, if he can pee, I would leave it be. Every cut (surgical incision) is going to sever nerves and damage tissue-- all in an attempt to make him look "normal"... I'm assuming that since you said mild, it means the opening is on the glans? Which would leave him no problems at all in having normal intercourse.

As to the hormones, he will begin producing more testosterone at adolescence, so what is the point? Are they wanting his penis to grow bigger before the surgery? Do a bit of research on testosterone injections in prepubescent males, and I doubt you'd want those side effects for your baby.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Leave it and let him choose if he wants it fixed. You said there is no functional problems there is your answer you dont fix what isnt broken.

[CC_muffin]

If it were my little man and he had a mild case of hypospadias with no chordee, I would skip it. Trust your gut

[Night_Nurse]

Originally Posted by conflictedmom

He has a very mild case and there is no issue with functionality.

There's your answer right there.

You are lucky, so is your son, that he didn't have complications during the circ or the subsequent surgery. Every time a procedure is performed you run the risk of scars, bleeding, infection, etc. If the child is voiding (peeing) without difficulty there is no reason to perform surgery. As he grows older it may be a non-issue. If it is, you can get a urology consult then. Some boys and men live just fine with mild cases of hypospadias and correction is not needed. If something happened and it was a bad mishap or a worse case scenario during yet another surgery and it was something unnecessary you'd feel awful. If the baby can void, why risk it???

[chio88]

I agree if there's no functional problem, just leave it for the meantime. maybe in time, when he's a bit older, if it still needs surgery, maybe then...but who knows? he might not even need one.

[UberMama]

Leave it! One of my DS's was said to have it mildly at birth. Yet a few months later, it was gone? We never had them circ'd (never intended on it anyway).

If he pees just fine and all is well, leave it alone.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by conflictedmom

I was not sure if this was the proper place to post. My son was born with mild hypospadias. Unfortunately, he was circumcised before the doctor noticed. We've had one surgery for repair (since it was strongly suggested by our pediatrician and the ped. urologist) but it failed . Now the ped urologist is suggesting to try again but with a slightly different approach. He wants to give him a testosterone shot a month prior to the surgery. He has a very mild case and there is no issue with functionality. I'm leaning not to do it but I worry about the future and whether it will be an issue with him.

When I was a baby, I had hypospadias "correction" surgery. I know a bit about this issue, and in the case of your son I feel the first surgery was a mistake. Hypo repair comes with a high error rate, and with complications, like fistulas developing. If there is no real problems, except the urethra being off slightly, then leave it alone.

Your son's penis is healthy and fine its just not what the doctor considers "normal" in his eyes, and he is trying to "fix" that. For your son and 1 out of 125-150 boys born (stats vary) his penis is normal, its what he was born with and it works fine. Do not let another surgery, or any kind of operation occur. Its a waste of your money, and wont help your son, because he has no problems to fix.

[perspective]

SIDE NOTE: hypospadias is something that has been effecting a increasingly greater number of boys over the years, meaning its development is probably caused by humans. One study I read said that certain chemicals ingested by men might be the cause. Which is interesting, because most of the time people are only concerned with how what women are ingesting will effect a current or future pregnancy. (from what the article said, it was uncertain exactly what those chemicals are, but in general any product that lists "fragrance" in the ingredient list, but does not give any break down for what is in "fragrance")

Its obvious they still do not know the exact cause, but it really surprises me more attention has not been brought to this issue, because its slowly effecting more and more boys.

Its also important to note that a portion of hypospadias cases are caused because of other factors as well.

[conflictedmom]

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone that posted!!! I think I just needed to be reassured. We have decided against the surgery and if it ever does become an issue with my son in the future than it will be his decision. But my gut tells me he will be fine.

I also wonder why there seems to be more cases of hypospadias. Is it because of the chemicals that are part of our daily lives or have we become a society where we have become even more critical of what "looks" normal. It maybe a little of both but I also feel that there were probably a lot more cases in the past that were simply not severe so there was no need to repair and what now may not be as "normal" was perfectly fine in the past. Just some food for thought.