Increased androgen-related comorbidity in adolescents and adults born with hypospadias: a population-based study

A qualitative content analysis of the experience of living with hypospadias: varying impact on identity and interpersonal relationships

Objectives

There is a lack of in-depth studies on men's personal experiences of having hypospadias across different aspects of their lives. We therefore aimed to explore the experience of having hypospadias in relation to identity and interpersonal relationships.

Subjects and methods

Using purposive sampling, we included 17 adult men aged 20-49 with variation in hypospadias phenotype. The informants further represented variation in sexuality, relationship status, parental status, and familial cultural context. In-depth interviews were conducted with each informant and the data was analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

We identified four categories. Firstly, The internal experience of hypospadias in relation to being different, being impacted, and being masculine. The remaining three categories related to interpersonal spaces: Intimate spaces, comprising personal relationship with sex, having sex, and being in a relationship; Familial spaces, comprising being a son, and becoming a father; and Public spaces, comprising being hidden, being naked, and peeing. We identified the latent theme varying impact and coping, highlighting differences in experiences relating to both the internal and interpersonal.

Discussion

Issues related to hypospadias included struggles with identity and confidence, as well as recurring patterns of social and sexual avoidance. While informants generally related to certain shared experiences, there is large variation in how much hypospadias impacts life, ranging from hardly at all to extensively. This could also fluctuate over time, with puberty and adolescence being an especially sensitive period. Functional and aesthetic outcomes are potentially important for well-being, especially in the case of more severe complications, while personal and interpersonal circumstances play a role in coping and the overall experience of the individual.

Conclusion

Healthcare, research, and other channels such as patient groups may be able to offer support to those who need it to help more boys and men with hypospadias live unhindered lives.

Retrospective studies and quantitative proteomics reveal that abnormal expression of blood pressure, blood lipids, and coagulation related proteins is associated with hypospadias

Hypospadias refers to the abnormal position of the male urethral orifice, which not only leads to urination disorder but also causes sexual dysfunction in adulthood. However, the complex and diverse pathogenic factors of hypospadias are still unclear. To study the pathogenesis and prognosis of hypospadias, we counted the serological indexes of children with hypospadias, and found that sSBP, TC and LDL increased in children with mild, moderate and severe hypospadias. Subsequently, we used quantitative proteomics to find differential proteins in mild, moderate and severe hypospadias. After bioinformatics analysis and biochemical experiments on the screened DEPs, we found that the expression of proteins related to immune inflammation, coagulation, blood pressure and inflammation, and blood lipid were differential expressed in the prepuce tissue of children with hypospadias. We further confirmed that the proteins FGB, FGG, SERPINA1, and AGT involved in the angiotensin system, cholesterol metabolism, and coagulation were significantly up-regulated by biochemical experiments. In particular, the AGT protein of the angiotensin system involved in blood pressure regulation, we have shown that it increases with the severity of hypospadias. This study suggests that children with hypospadias are more likely to suffer from hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our findings provide a theoretical basis for early monitoring of blood lipids and blood pressure to prevent CVD in children with hypospadias.

What should be next in lifelong posterior hypospadias: Conclusions from the 2023 ERN eUROGEN and EJP-RD networking meeting

BACKGROUND

A congenital disease is for life. Posterior hypospadias, the severe form of hypospadias with a penoscrotal, scrotal, or perineal meatus, is a challenging condition with a major impact on lifelong quality of life.

AIM

Our network meeting is aimed to identify what is currently missing in the lifelong treatment of posterior hypospadias, to improve care, quality of life, and awareness for these patients.

METHODS

The network meeting "Lifelong Posterior Hypospadias" in Utrecht, The Netherlands was granted by the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases-Networking Support Scheme. There was a combination of interactive sessions (hackathons) and lectures. This paper can be regarded as the last phase of the hackathon.

RESULTS

Surgery for hypospadias remains challenging and complications may occur until adulthood. Posterior hypospadias affects sexual function, fertility, and hormonal status. Transitional care from childhood into adulthood is currently insufficiently established. Patients should be more involved in defining desired treatment approach and outcome measures. For optimal outcome evaluation standardization of data collection and registration at European level is necessary. Tissue engineering may provide a solution to the shortage of healthy tissue in posterior hypospadias. For optimal results, cooperation between basic researchers from different centers, as well as involving clinicians and patients is necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

To improve outcomes for patients with posterior hypospadias, patient voices should be included and lifelong care by dedicated healthcare professionals guaranteed. Other requirements are joining forces at European level in uniform registration of outcome data and cooperation in basic research.

Risk of Urological Cancer Among Boys and Men Born with Hypospadias: A Swedish Population-based Study

Background

Hypospadias is a common genital malformation among boys. Studies indicate that hypospadias is associated with a higher risk of testicular cancer. Other forms of urological cancer may be linked to hypospadias via a mutual aetiology, hormonal dysfunction, or hypospadias complications, but this has not yet been studied.

Objective

To investigate the association between hypospadias and testicular cancer and the risk of other urological cancers among individuals born with hypospadias.

Design setting and participants

The study used a population-based male cohort born in Sweden in 1964-2018. Exposure was hypospadias diagnosis in national registers. Outcomes were defined using the Swedish Cancer Register. An extended cohort born from 1940 was used to study cancers among older men. Biological brothers and fathers were linked to investigate familial coaggregation.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis

Associations were assessed using Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis, with results presented as hazard ratios.

Results and limitations

We found that hypospadias was associated with a higher risk of testicular cancer (hazard ratio 2.04, 95% confidence interval 1.42-2.92), especially for proximal hypospadias, but did not observe any clear familial coaggregation of hypospadias and testicular cancer. Hypospadias was associated with Wilms' tumour in childhood. We also found an association between hypospadias and bladder and urethral cancers, but not prostate cancer. The number of cases with hypospadias was small and the results for cancers among older men may be impacted by limitations in register coverage.

Conclusions

Our study supports the hypothesis of a higher risk of testicular cancer for men with hypospadias, especially with proximal phenotypes. Hypospadias may also be associated with a higher risk of lower urinary tract cancers, although this requires further investigation in older cohorts.

Patient summary

Boys and men in whom the opening of the urethra is not at the end of the penis (called hypospadias) at birth are at higher risk of developing testicular cancer, although their overall risk is still low. They may also have a higher risk of developing other forms of cancer in the urinary tract.

Preventative interventions that target cardiovascular dysfunction in children and young people: a systematic review of their effectiveness and an investigation of sexual dimorphism

Given that cardiovascular diseases remain a primary cause of mortality and morbidity, there is a need to consider preventative strategies to improve vascular function from early in life. The aims of this study were therefore to investigate which interventions may improve endothelial function, intima media thickness and arterial stiffness in children and young people and to assess whether these interventions differ in boys and girls. A systematic literature search of Science Direct, Pubmed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library by two independent reviewers was performed to source articles. Inclusion criteria were any studies including any child ≤18 years of age receiving an intervention, which measured vascular function other than blood pressure. Exclusion criteria were studies assessing children with chronic medical conditions. A total of 72 studies were identified, which met the inclusion criteria. A measurable change in outcome was more likely to be reported in studies investigating endothelial function (p = 0.03). Interventions which improved vascular function included physical activity and dietary programmes. Under 10% of studies considered sex differences. In conclusion, school-based physical activity interventions are most likely to result in improvements in vascular function. Endothelial function may be the first variable of vascular function to change secondary to an intervention. Standardisation of reporting of differences between the sexes is essential to be able to ensure interventions are equally effective for boys and girls.