GENITAL PERCEPTION OF CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND ADULTS OPERATED ON FOR HYPOSPADIAS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Genital perception of patients operated on for hypospadias, a congenit al anomaly of the penis, was studied through a standardized self-repor t questionnaire. Genital perception of 73 adults (18 to 38 years) and 116 children and adolescents with hypospadias (9 to 18 years) was comp ared with that of 50 and 88 age-matched comparison, males, respectivel y, treated for an inguinal hernia. The relationships of patient age, c oping with genital appearance, severity of hypospadias, number of oper ations, age at final surgery, or type of surgical treatment for hyposp adias with genital perception of hypospadias patients were also invest igated. Hypospadias patients had a more negative genital perception th an comparison males, predominantly because they were less satisfied wi th the size and shape of their penis and with the position of the meat us. Genital perception was not related to patient age or type of surgi cal treatment for hypospadias, but was significantly more negative whe n penile appearance was judged to be different from that of other male s and when dissatisfaction with circumcised status occurred as a resul t of surgery. We recommend informing parents and patients that hypospa dias surgery will not enlarge penile size and that after surgery the p enis will have a circumcised appearance. In countries where circumcisi on is uncommon, hypospadias repairs that save the foreskin should be o ffered as an alternative.