Objective: To compare the psychosocial adaptation of boys with hypospadias
after genital surgery to a community sample.
Methods: Boys (6 to 10 years) with a history of hypospadias repair (n = 175
) were compared with a community sample (n = 333) in a postal questionnaire
survey using the Child Behavior Checklist.
Results: Few significant differences between cases and controls emerged. Bo
ys with hypospadias were (slightly) lower in social involvement but did not
perform more poorly in school. Boys with hypospadias displayed fewer exter
nalizing behavior problems than controls, but a significant difference in n
octurnal enuresis was not detected. Level of behavior problems did not diff
erentiate hypospadias severity subgroups, but greater surgical and hospital
ization experiences were associated with increased internalizing problems.
Poorer cosmetic appearance of the genitals was associated with worse school
performance.
Conclusions: Surgically corrected hypospadias should not be considered a ri
sk factor for poor psychosocial adaptation in childhood, but emotional prob
lems increase with the number of hospital-related experiences.