Hypospadias is a developmental disorder in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. This anomaly is caused by improper closure of the urethra during early fetal development (weeks 9–12). The location of the urethral opening can vary widely — from just below the tip of the penis to the base or even near the scrotum. The condition is classified into three degrees of severity:
- First-degree: The opening is on the glans (50–75% of cases).
- Second-degree: The opening is along the shaft (about 20% of cases).
- Third-degree: The opening is in the perineal region or scrotum (around 30% of cases).
In more severe cases, hypospadias is associated with chordee — a downward curvature of the penis — and sometimes with other anomalies such as cryptorchidism or inguinal hernia. In about 9% of cases, there is also underdevelopment of the foreskin.
