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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Hypospadias is present at birth (congenital). In many cases, the cause is unknown. Sometimes hypospadias is inherited.
As the penis develops in a male fetus, certain hormones stimulate the formation of the urethra and foreskin. Hypospadias occurs when a defect occurs in the action of these hormones, causing the urethra to develop abnormally.
- Hypospadias. American Urology Association. www.urologyhealth.org/print/index.cfm?topic=96. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Zaslau S. Hypospadias. In: Zaslau S. SOAP for Urology. Baltimore, Md.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006:118-119.
- McKee-Garrett TM, et al. Examination of the newborn. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
- Cooper CS, et al. Urology. In: Doherty GM, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis & Treatment. 12th ed. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2006. www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=2069265&print=yes. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
- Conte FA, et al. Disorders of sexual determination & differentiation. In: Gardner DG, et al. Greenspan's Basic & Clinical Endocrinology. 8th ed. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2007. www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=2633104&print=yes. Accessed Oct. 14, 2008.
