How many types of Hypospadias are there?

Hypospadias is classified in a variety of ways. The most simple is a classification as mild, moderate and severe, which can also be called first, second and third degrees of severity. This classification system is based on the location of the external opening for urine and semen (the urethral meatus). In mild or first degree hypospadias, the opening is on the underside of the head of the penis or where the head and the shaft meet. This accounts for about 80% of the cases of hypospadias. Moderate or second degree hypospadias (15%) occurs when the hole is actually on the shaft of the penis, somewhere between the junction of head and shaft, and the lower part of the shaft. Severe or third degree hypospadias occurs when the hole is located on the lower part of the shaft just in front of the testicles or is located behind the testicles, between them and the anus.

In a few cases (6%), the hole may be quite large, and near the end of the penis (which may have a complete foreskin). This is called megameatus.

Coronal Hypospadias – Note large opening (urethral meatus) on the underside of the glans (head of the penis) in a cleft between the two lobes. This is the mildest form of hypospadias. The foreskin is complete and is attached on one side of the shaft, where marked, to the left lobe of the head of the penis (glans).

Some men with hypospadias have a penis which is smaller than average either when flaccid or when erect, or both. In one piece of research, over half of a group of adolescent boys with hypospadias were found to have a penis much smaller than average.