Health

The Most Common Penis Birth Defects

If you’re curious about what the most common penis birth defects are, read on! The following articles discuss hypospadias, phimosis, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, and obstructed renal pelvis. They may be particularly relevant to you if you’re pregnant. While they’re not as common, they’re important to know about. They can cause a man to have an erection that touches his abdomen.

Hypospadias

There are various treatment options available for children who have hypospadias. Treatment for this defect is often successful, and the child will grow up with a normal-functioning penis. Typically, surgery will be done between 6 months and 18 months of age. Patients are usually prescribed testosterone to help their penis adjust to normal growth during puberty. Although there are no known cures for hypospadias, treatment can make a child’s penis fully functional.

In some cases, hypospadias may not cause a lifetime of complications, though the chances of a failed repair increase. While most boys have mild to moderate hypospadias, up to 25% of boys will suffer from a severe form. While the distal meatus variant is not life-threatening, it can present unique challenges for surgeons. Patients with this condition should have a thorough evaluation before undergoing surgery.

Phimosis

While it is not a serious medical condition, phimosis can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including urinary retention, pain when urinating, and even bleeding. Phimosis is often curable, but if symptoms persist you may need to seek medical attention. Depending on the severity, your doctor may recommend surgery or topical steroid treatment. Your child may have a genetic tendency to have this problem.

There are several different types of phimosis, and each type has its own unique set of characteristics. The most common form is physiologic, which means that your foreskin cannot be retracted completely. It appears as a tight ring of foreskin around your penis. Phimosis will usually resolve on its own as your child grows, but sometimes it may require a doctor’s help. Luckily, physiatrists can usually correct this condition without surgical intervention.

Obstructive defects of the renal pelvis

The most common form of renal ectopia is the pelvic kidney, which is present at birth in about one in two thousand or three thousand autopsies. The renal pelvis is anteriorly located, with the ureters entering the bladder without crossing the midline. The pelvic kidney may also appear as a horseshoe or pancake-shaped mass, and its blood supply usually originates from multiple arteries. The kidney may be small or enlarged, and its drainage is poor.

Other forms of renal pelvis are impacted by cranial migration of the kidneys. This process starts at about the fifth week of gestation and ends around the ninth week. Some of the common types are renal malrotation, pyelocalyceal diverticulum, and crossed renal ectopia. These penis birth defects may result in bladder control problems or genital abnormalities. Surgical procedures for this type of birth defect usually take place six to twelve weeks after birth. The newborn should undergo regular checkups as it grows.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

While there are many different causes of ambiguous genitals, one of the most common is congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). This is an inherited disorder of the adrenal glands, which secrete several types of hormones. When the adrenal glands are not developed properly, they are unable to produce the enzymes necessary for the production of cortisol, a chemical that turns into male hormones.

Some forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia can be diagnosed prenatally. Prenatal testing involves sampling the chorionic villus and measuring the hormone levels in the amniotic fluid. Most states now perform newborn screening tests. These tests can reveal a diagnosis as early as 7 or 10 days after birth. However, medical treatment may vary, and can only be effective if the disorder is diagnosed in its early stages.

Affected people can have multiple birth defects and develop an inability to grow. Genetic tests can diagnose congenital adrenal hyperplasia. If you have CAH, your doctor will check your hormone levels. The adrenal glands secrete hormones that are important for your body. These hormones play an important role in metabolism, blood pressure regulation, and stress response. CAH is caused by a genetic mutation in one of these glands. It can affect one in 10,000 or more people in the U.S. and Europe. One in every 25,000 babies is born with the condition each year.