The urethra Urethra The urethra is a tube that drains urine from the bladder out of the body. In men, the urethra is about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long, ending at the tip of the penis. In women, the urethra is... read more 
is the tube that drains urine from the bladder out of the body.
(See also Overview of Kidney and Urinary Tract Birth Defects Overview of Kidney and Urinary Tract Birth Defects Birth defects are more common in the kidney and urinary system (urinary tract) than in any other system of the body. Defects can develop in the Kidneys—the two organs that filter waste from... read more .)
A Look Inside the Urinary Tract
 |
Types of Birth Defects of the Urethra
There are several types of birth defects of the urethra. The urethra may be
Partially blocked
In the wrong place
Bulging out from its opening (prolapsed urethra)
Duplicated (two or more urethras instead of just one)
These defects may
Block the flow of urine
Cause urine to come out from the wrong location
Any urethra defect that blocks or slows the flow of urine can cause urine to become stagnant, which can result in urinary tract infections Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Children A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary bladder ( cystitis), the kidneys ( pyelonephritis), or both. Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. Infants and younger... read more (UTIs). Blockage of urine flow also can raise the pressure inside the bladder and/or kidneys and damage them over time. Frequent infections also can damage the kidneys. Kidney damage can cause high blood pressure High Blood Pressure High blood pressure (hypertension) is persistently high pressure in the arteries. Often no cause for high blood pressure can be identified, but sometimes it occurs as a result of an underlying... read more 
and rarely kidney failure Overview of Kidney Failure Kidney failure is the inability of the kidneys to adequately filter metabolic waste products from the blood. Kidney failure has many possible causes. Some lead to a rapid decline in kidney function... read more .
Partially blocked urethra
Several birth defects partially block the urethra.
In posterior urethral valves, folds of abnormal tissue in the urethra block the flow of urine from the bladder. Posterior urethral valves occur only in boys. The blockage increases the pressure in the bladder and can cause difficulty urinating and a weak urine stream. In more severe forms, the blockage affects the developing fetus. The increased urine pressure from the blockage can interfere with development of the bladder and kidneys. The blockage also may reduce the amount of urine the fetus releases into the amniotic fluid (the fluid that surrounds the fetus in the uterus). If the fetus does not release enough urine into the amniotic fluid, the amount of amniotic fluid is reduced. If there is too little amniotic fluid, problems occur with the development of the fetus's lungs, heart Overview of Heart Defects About one in 100 babies is born with a heart defect. Some are severe, but many are not. Defects may involve abnormal formation of the heart's walls or valves or of the blood vessels that enter... read more , and limbs Missing or Incompletely Formed Limbs Limbs can be missing, deformed, or incompletely developed at birth. Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are physical abnormalities that occur before a baby is born. "Congenital"... read more 
. Poor lung development can lead to death shortly before or after birth. After birth, affected infants have symptoms of poor bladder drainage or poor kidney function.
A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra that is usually caused by an injury, most commonly a crush injury that occurs when boys fall straddling a hard object. Sometimes urethral stricture is a birth defect or occurs after surgical repair is done to correct a defect of the penis called hypospadias Hypospadias Birth defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes (testicles) in boys and the vagina and labia in girls. Sometimes the genitals are ambiguous, that is, not clearly female... read more 
. It is more common among boys.
In urethral meatal stenosis, the outside opening of the urethra (meatus) is narrow and decreases and misdirects the flow of urine. This occurs mostly in boys who previously had surgery on their penis or were circumcised as newborns.
Urethra in the wrong place
The opening of the urethra may be in the wrong place.
In boys, the opening of the urethra may be on the underside of the penis (called hypospadias Hypospadias Birth defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes (testicles) in boys and the vagina and labia in girls. Sometimes the genitals are ambiguous, that is, not clearly female... read more ) or on the topside of the penis (called epispadias Epispadias Birth defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes (testicles) in boys and the vagina and labia in girls. Sometimes the genitals are ambiguous, that is, not clearly female... read more ), instead of at the tip. Boys who have hypospadias often have another defect called chordee Chordee Birth defects of the genitals can involve the penis, scrotum, or testes (testicles) in boys and the vagina and labia in girls. Sometimes the genitals are ambiguous, that is, not clearly female... read more (a downward bend of the penis) and a hooded foreskin (where the foreskin has not grown together on the underside of the penis). Children who have epispadias may have involuntary release of urine Urinary Incontinence in Children Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary release of urine occurring two or more times per month after toilet training has been completed. Incontinence may be present During the day... read more (urinary incontinence).
In girls, the opening of the urethra may be misplaced between the clitoris and the labia, inside the opening of the vagina, or rarely on the abdomen.
Urethral prolapse
Urethral prolapse occurs in girls. In this disorder, the inner lining of the urethra sticks out through the opening of the urethra. When urethral prolapse occurs, the opening of the urethra looks like a small red and swollen donut. Urethral prolapse typically does not cause symptoms, but the prolapsed tissue may bleed, causing blood spots on the girl's diaper or underwear. This disorder is common among Black girls.
Duplicated urethras (extra urethras)
Rarely, children are born with two or more urethras. Usually only one of them is connected to the bladder, but sometimes they are all connected to the bladder or to each other.
Diagnosis of Urethra Defects
Physical examination
Sometimes voiding cystourethrography
Before birth, doctors sometimes discover defects of the urethra that cause significant urinary blockage during routine prenatal ultrasonography Ultrasonography Prenatal diagnostic testing involves testing the fetus before birth (prenatally) to determine whether the fetus has certain abnormalities, including certain hereditary or spontaneous genetic... read more .
After birth, doctors often find defects of the urethra during a physical examination Physical Examination A doctor obtains a medical history by interviewing a person. The interview includes questions about a person's symptoms, past medical history (what disorders the person has had), drugs (prescribed... read more or a well-child examination Preventive Health Care Visits in Infants Healthy infants should be seen by their doctor often during the first year of life. Preventive health care visits (also called well-child visits) typically take place within a few days after... read more 
. If doctors suspect a boy has posterior urethral valves, they do a test called voiding cystourethrography Cystography and cystourethrography There are a variety of tests that can be used in the evaluation of a suspected kidney or urinary tract disorder. (See also Overview of the Urinary Tract.) X-rays are usually not helpful in evaluating... read more (VCUG) before the boy is discharged from the hospital. For voiding cystourethrography, a catheter is passed through the urethra into the bladder, a liquid that shows up on x-rays (contrast agent Radiopaque Contrast Agents Radiographic contrast agents are substances used to distinguish between internal structures in medical imaging, such as various types of x-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During imaging... read more ) is put in through the catheter, and x-rays are taken before, during, and after the child urinates.
Treatment of Urethra Defects
Usually surgical repair
Defects of the urethra that cause symptoms, such as a blockage, usually need to be surgically corrected.
Children who have a blockage in the urethra have surgery to open the blockage as soon as possible. Children whose urethra is abnormal, narrow, or missing may need surgery to correct these defects.
Boys who have posterior urethral valves have surgery when they are diagnosed. Surgery is done to relieve the blockage and prevent further kidney damage. The surgical procedure is usually done with a cystoscope (a small tube with a camera on the end that is inserted into the urethra) to cut the extra tissue that is causing the obstruction. Even after surgery, the bladder may not function normally and boys may need catheterization or additional surgery. Catheterization is draining the bladder by inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through the urethral opening into the bladder.
Boys who have hypospadias may have surgery to repair the defect and correct any other existing defects such as chordee depending on the degree of severity.
Girls who have urethral prolapse may be given a cream that contains estrogen to lessen symptoms. Urethral prolapse usually goes away with time and rarely requires surgery.
