Hypospadias, Male Genitalia Birth Defect. Hypospadias or Penoscrotal Hypospadias is a male birth (congenintal) defect where the male urethra opening is on the underside of the penis, rather than at the end. If your baby boy was born with this birth defect, the birth defect lawyers at the personal injury law firm of Parker Waichman LLP would like to speak with you. Recent research has linked ‘hypospadias’ to the use of Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro, and other Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, either right before or during pregnancy. The fertility drug Clomid has also been associated with an increased risk of birth defects, including ‘hypospadias’.
While ‘hypospadias’ and penoscrotal hypospadias are not life-threatening conditions, they can impact a male child’s quality of life, and be a source of emotional distress. For this reason, many doctors advocate surgery to correct such birth defects. If your baby boy’s ‘hypospadias’ was caused by a drug like Clomid, or an SSRI antidepressant such as Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac, Celexa, or Lexapro, you can make sure the pharmaceutical company responsible is held accountable. The defective drug lawyers at Parker Waichman LLP, LLP understand how traumatic any birth defect can be, and we will do everything possible to get retribution for those harmed by negligent drug companies. The ‘hypospadias’ birth defect lawyers at our firm offer free lawsuit consultations to the victims of Clomid and SSRI antidepressants. To learn how they can help your family, we urge you to contact us today by completing our online form or calling us at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
Hypospadias and Penoscrotal Hypospadias
Hypospadias affects about 1 out of every 250 baby boys born in the U.S. boys born with hypospadias have an abnormally placed urethral opening. In minor, or distal hypospadias, the opening is located on the underside of the penis, in the glans. In more pronounced hypospadias, the urethra may be open from mid-shaft out to the glans. In penoscrotal hypospadias, the urethral opening is located where the penis and scrotum meet. In very severe cases of ‘hypospadias’, the urethral opening may be missing completely, with the urine exiting the bladder behind the penis. Sometimes, hypospadias is accompanies by a “bent” penis. ‘Hypospadias’ can be devastating for a child as a person with hypospadias may have to urinate sitting, rather than standing, and may also be prone to urinary tract infections. Infertility may be present in the more extreme forms of ‘hypospadias’, where the testes are irregular and cannot produce viable sperm. A boy may also suffer emotional damage from of having a penis that “looks different.”
Hypospadias/Penoscrotal Hypospadias Treatment and Studies
Treatment for ‘hypospadias’ involves surgery to reposition the urethral opening, and, if necessary, straighten the shaft of the penis. In most cases, the procedure is performed when a boy is between 4 months and 12 months of age. During surgery, a pediatric urology surgeon uses tissue grafts from the foreskin or from the inside of the mouth to reconstruct the urinary channel in the proper position. In rare cases, two or more surgeries may be required. In most cases, surgery will correct ‘hypospadias’, and a boy’s penis will function normally. However, in a small number of cases, a hole (fistula) or scarring may develop along the underside of the penis where the new urinary channel was created. This can result in urine leakage and require an additional surgery. It’s also important to note that ‘hypospadias’ surgery will not correct infertility.
Recent studies have raised concerns about a possible association between a mother’s use of SSRI anti depressants as well as the use of the prescribed fertility treatment drug, Clomid and an increased risk of birth defects, including ‘hypospadias’. For example, a 2010 study out of Sweden found a strong association between Paxil and ‘hypospadias’. In addition, a 2006 study (Wu, et al) indicated an astonishing 508% increased risk of penoscrotal ‘hypospadias’ for baby boys who took Clomid before or during pregnancy.
Hypospadias/Penoscrotal Hypospadias Victims – Legal Help
If your baby boy was born with ‘hypospadias’ or Penoscrotal Hypospadias, and you believe Clomid or an SSRI antidepressant could be to blame, you have valuable legal rights. To learn how our ‘hypospadias’ birth defect lawyers can help you and your family, please fill out our online form, or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) today.
