A practical nurse explains hypospadias to Jamal, a 17-year-old. Which statement is appropriate to tell him?

A practical nurse explains hypospadias to Jamal, a 17-year-old. Which statement is appropriate to tell him?

• A. Your urethra opens on the top side of the penis and can probably be fixed by a surgeon.
• B. A doctor can bring your testicles down into your scrotum, but you may be infertile.
• C. Your penis is small as a result of an inherited condition, but it can be enlarged.
• D. I will refer you to a urologist who will surgically repair the abnormal opening on the underside of your penis.

Answer: (D)

Hypospadias is a congenital condition in which the urethral opening is located on the underside of the penis rather than at the tip. The appropriate approach is to have a urologist evaluate and plan surgical repair to correct the opening location and improve urination and function. Saying that you will refer him to a urologist who will surgically repair the abnormal opening on the underside of the penis directly conveys the correct diagnosis and the typical next step in management. The other statements describe different issues—opening on the top side would be a different condition, testicular descent relates to cryptorchidism, and changes in penis size are not how hypospadias presents.

Hypospadias is a congenital condition in which the urethral opening is located on the underside of the penis rather than at the tip. The appropriate approach is to have a urologist evaluate and plan surgical repair to correct the opening location and improve urination and function. Saying that you will refer him to a urologist who will surgically repair the abnormal opening on the underside of the penis directly conveys the correct diagnosis and the typical next step in management. The other statements describe different issues—opening on the top side would be a different condition, testicular descent relates to cryptorchidism, and changes in penis size are not how hypospadias presents.