Hypospadias Repair in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is hypospadias repair?
Hypospadias repair is reconstructive surgery that gives the penis a normal-looking shape and a straight urinary stream from the tip. Hypospadias is one of the more common differences boys are born with. The urethra, the tube that carries urine, ends somewhere along the underside of the penis, anywhere from just below the tip to the scrotum. The foreskin is often incomplete underneath, giving a hooded look, and the penis may curve downwards, which doctors call chordee.
In the repair the surgeon extends the urethra to the tip, straightens the shaft, and closes the head of the penis around the new opening. This page is written for parents and follows the journey from the first visit to recovery at home.
At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, the consultant urologist performs hypospadias repair in-house, working with the pediatric urology team and the paediatric department so your son's care stays in one place.
Who needs it
Hypospadias is usually noticed at the newborn check. The opening's position and the amount of bend set the type: distal, near the tip, is the most common; midshaft and proximal, closer to the scrotum, are less common and more involved.
Repair is advised when the opening's position affects the direction of the stream, when the penis bends, or when parents want the appearance corrected. Very mild forms with a straight penis and a good stream are sometimes simply watched, and the urologist talks through that choice with you.
One point matters more than any other for families in the UAE, where newborn circumcision is common: keep your son's foreskin until the repair. The surgeon may need the foreskin tissue to build the new urethra or to cover the repair. Tell any doctor planning a circumcision that your son has hypospadias. The circumcision page explains that procedure separately.
At the first visit the urologist also checks that both testicles are in the scrotum, because hypospadias and undescended testicles sometimes occur together. In the less common severe forms, a few extra tests may be advised.
What happens
Timing is usually in the first or second year of life, when the tissues are a good size and before your son is aware of his body. The urologist agrees the date with you.
Hypospadias repair is done under general anaesthesia, with a local anaesthetic block added so your son wakes comfortable. You stay with him until he is asleep.
The surgeon first checks the bend and straightens the shaft if needed. The new section of urethra is then built from nearby skin, the head of the penis is wrapped around its tip, and a layer of tissue is placed over the repair for protection. The foreskin is either rebuilt or removed, a choice discussed with you before surgery.
A fine tube, called a dripping stent, is usually left in the new urethra. It lets urine drip straight into the nappy while the repair heals. A soft dressing wraps the penis. Distal repairs are often a day case or a single night; more involved repairs stay a little longer. More severe forms are sometimes repaired in two planned stages, several months apart.
Preparing for it
Your son needs a pre-operative check and an anaesthetic review. You receive fasting instructions suited to his age, including when to stop milk. Bring his vaccination record and a list of medicines.
Pack spare nappies, loose clothing and a favourite toy. Plan for a parent to be at home full-time for the first days. If surgery falls near Ramadan or a family trip, raise it early so timing can be adjusted.
Afterwards
At home, your son wears two nappies. The inner nappy holds stool, and the stent drips urine into the outer nappy, which keeps the repair clean. Some swelling and bruising are expected. The team explains when to remove the dressing and when bathing can start.
Keep him cool and well hydrated, which matters in the Sharjah heat because fluids keep the stent flowing. Avoid straddle toys and ride-ons until the team says. The stent is removed at a clinic visit.
Follow-up checks the stream once he is out of nappies. A strong, straight stream from the tip is the goal.
Contact the hospital urgently if the stent stops dripping or falls out, the swelling grows, or your son has a fever. **Go to the emergency department straight away if he is unable to pass urine, is crying with a swollen tummy, or the dressing soaks through with blood.**
Cost and insurance
Most UAE insurance plans cover hypospadias repair as a correction of a condition present from birth, and it usually requires pre-approval supported by the urologist's report. Check whether your plan covers newborn conditions from birth. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can help you confirm cover and start approval early on 06 599 7777.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
What are the risks of hypospadias repair?
Hypospadias repair carries the risks of any operation, including bleeding, infection and a reaction to the anaesthetic. Specific risks are a small leak called a fistula, where urine escapes through a second hole, a narrowing of the new opening, and a bend that returns. Some of these need another operation, and your urologist explains how they apply to your son.
Can my son be circumcised before hypospadias repair?
Your son should keep his foreskin until the hypospadias repair, because the surgeon may need that tissue for the reconstruction. Tell anyone planning a circumcision about the hypospadias.
At what age is hypospadias repaired?
Hypospadias is usually repaired in the first or second year of life. The urologist agrees the timing with you after examining your son.
Will my son be able to pass urine standing up?
Hypospadias repair aims to give your son a straight stream from the tip so that he can pass urine standing up. Follow-up once he is out of nappies checks the stream.
What is a dripping stent?
A dripping stent is a fine tube left in the new urethra after hypospadias repair, letting urine drip into the nappy while the repair heals. It is removed at a clinic visit.
Does hypospadias affect fertility later in life?
Hypospadias itself does not usually affect fertility once repaired, provided the testicles are in the scrotum. The urologist checks the testicles at the first visit.
Will my son need more than one operation?
Most boys with distal hypospadias need one operation. More severe forms are sometimes planned in two stages, and a complication such as a fistula can need a further small repair.
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