Question
Can hypospadias affect development after it has been cured?
Answer
Hypospadias is a congenital developmental abnormality of the male reproductive system, and its impact on fertility depends on the type of the patient. For patients with penoscrotal and perineal types, it not only may affect fertility but also can cause psychological barriers. For example, patients with perineal types may be mistakenly identified as female and raised as girls; some patients may experience erectile dysfunction; even if they can achieve an erection, they may be unable to have normal sexual intercourse due to penile curvature or pain; and some patients, although they can have sexual intercourse, may be infertile due to an abnormal urethral opening. Therefore, timely medical treatment is essential for individuals with hypospadias. The purpose of the surgery is to correct the malformed penis. If the surgery is successful and sexual function is normal, the testes can produce normal sperm and be successfully ejaculated, so fertility is usually not an issue.