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Hypospadias

Identifying and Treating This Male Genital Anomaly

By Donna Smith

Depending on the age which a child is diagnosed and what treatment options were decided on, counseling may be a good idea. "In minor cases of the hypospadias where one anticipates completion of the repair of the defect in a one-stage procedure, counseling is usually not necessary," says Dr. Cheng. "However, in more severe cases where multiple surgeries may be necessary, counseling can be considered to deal with the child's perception of his genitalia, as well as the ability to cope with multiple surgeries in this area."

Newhouse believes that counseling is key to helping boys turn into happy men, but feels counseling may be even more important for the parents. "From what I've seen, the men who have had or [not] had surgery are much better adjusted when both the parents have spoken a lot about the hypospadias and love them despite their condition," she says. "Our boys may not have such big issues if they are not made to feel bad about who they are. If issues do come up later, then counseling is very important – the sooner the better."

If your baby is diagnosed with hypospadias, do what you feel is best for your child and your family – and know you're not alone. "It's stressful and I wish it hadn't happened to our son, but we have to make the best of it now," says Schmidt.

Want to see more?

• Making the Cut: Rethinking Newborn Circumcision
• The AAP's Circumcision Recommendations
• Newborn Circumcision: A Parent's Guide to Proper Care
• Talk about it!