What is Epispadia and How to Treat It

Epispadia is a rare defect of the genitals, which can appear in both boys and girls, and is identified early in childhood. This change causes the opening of the urethra, the channel that carries urine from the bladder out of the body, to not be located in the right place, causing the urine to go through a hole in the upper part of the genital organ.

Although both are changes in the opening of the urethra, epispadia is rarer than hypospadias, in which the opening of the urethra is in the lower region of the genital organ. Understand better what hypospadias is and how to treat it.

1. Male episode

Male epispadia, also known as penile epispadia, can be classified as distal epispadia, in which the abnormal opening of the urethra is close to the glans, or total epispadia, when the urethra opens at the base of the male organ and forms a slit up to the tip of the genital.

Signs and symptoms of epispadia in boys include:

• Organ short, wide and with an abnormal upward curvature;
• Presence of a crack in the upper part of the penis through which the urine exits;
• Urinary incontinence;
• Constant urinary infections;
• Basin bone enlarged.

In cases where the problem is not corrected in childhood, boys at puberty may have problems with ejaculation and have infertility.

2. Female episode

Female epispadia is very rare and is usually characterized by the opening of the urethra close to the clitoris, above the labia majora, and some symptoms of epispadia in girls can be:

• Clitoris divided in two;
• Reflux of urine into the bladder;
• Urinary incontinence;
• Urinary infections;
• Basin bone enlarged.

The diagnosis of female epispadia is more difficult than in boys, which can cause serious injuries to the bladder and genital region. Thus, it is always recommended that the pediatrician make an assessment of the genital region during childhood, to ensure that the girl is developing correctly.

What Causes Epispadia

The formation of Organs genitals is a very complex process that happens during pregnancy and, therefore, any small change can cause a defect. Epispadia is usually the result of a change in the formation of the genitals during pregnancy, and cannot be predicted or prevented.

How the treatment is done

The treatment of epispadia consists of having surgery to correct the defect in Organs genitals and should be performed as early as childhood.

In the case of boys, the surgery is performed to place the opening of the urethra in the normal place, correct the curvature of the penis and make the genital organ maintain its functionality, so as not to harm sexual relations.

In girls, surgery is performed to place the opening of the urethra in the normal place, reconstruct the clitoris and correct urinary incontinence.

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