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Placental Malfunction May Contribute
Hypospadias is a male birth defect in which the opening of the utethra is located on the underside of the penis instead of the tip. Although the defect is common and increasing in prevalence (2-8 cases per 1,000 live births in Western countries), the causes of most cases are unknown. Some studies suggest that reduced levels of the placental hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) may play a role; others suggest associations between hypospadias and conditions such as low birth weight, preterm birch, and preeclampsia that could be caused by malfunction of the placenta and subsequent abnormalities in hormone regulation and nutrition provided to the fetus (a condition known as placental...