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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Male -- Penis/testicles/scrotom > Z-opening in penis
Posted on: 08/30/2007
Question
Hi, my question may seem odd, but here goes. I have seen a few of my friends penises and they have a small hole at the tip of their penis. however mine is a bit lower, and kind of makes a harry potter 'z'. when I pee it makes a mess. Is this normal ?? Why is mine like this? Is it genetic?
Answer
What you are describing is called hypospadias. During development in the womb, the meatus (which is the name of the urinary opening) starts out in the perineum (between your legs, as where you sit on a bicycle seat) and as the penis develops, the urethra lengthens and eventually the meatus reaches the tip of the penis. If the migration of the urethra stops a little short of the tip of the penis, the meatus can be found anywhere along the shaft of the penis. This is something that can be repaired surgically, but would only need to be "repaired" if it causes real difficulties with urination. Sometimes hypospadias can be accompanied by a condition known as chordee which causes the erections to be bent. If the erections are severely bent, this would be another reason to repair the condition.