Hypospadias (HS)

Hypospadias is a birth abnormality of the urethra where the urinary opening is not at the usual location on the head of the penis. It is the second most common birth abnormality of the male reproductive system, affecting approximately 1 of every 250 males at birth. In approximately 90% of cases, the opening (meatus) is on or near the head of the penis (glans), referred to as distal hypospadias, while the remainder have proximal hypospadias with a meatus near or within the scrotum. Shiny tissue seen extending from the meatus to the tip of the glans, which would have made the urinary channel, is referred to as the urethral plate.