What does hypospadias mean?

Hypospadias is a congenital malformation of the male genitalia in which the opening of the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body) is located on the underside of the penis, rather than at the tip.

In severe cases, the opening may be located at the base of the penis, the scrotum, or even in the perineum (the area between the rectum and the scrotum).

Hypospadias can range in severity from a minor cosmetic issue to a complex medical condition that requires surgical correction. In some cases, hypospadias can also be associated with other genitourinary abnormalities, such as chordee (a curvature of the penis) and bifid scrotum (a condition in which the scrotum is divided into two parts).