Maternal and Gestational Risk Factors for Hypospadias
2008

Maternal and Gestational Risk Factors for Hypospadias

Sample size: 719 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Akre Olof, Boyd Heather A., Ahlgren Martin, Wilbrand Kerstin, Westergaard Tine, Hjalgrim Henrik, Nordenskjöld Agneta, Ekbom Anders, Melbye Mads

Primary Institution: Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

Hypothesis

What are the associations between maternal diet, hormone exposure, and the risk of hypospadias in offspring?

Conclusion

A pregnancy diet lacking meat and fish appears to increase the risk of hypospadias in the offspring.

Supporting Evidence

  • A diet during pregnancy lacking both fish and meat was associated with a more than 4-fold increased risk of hypospadias.
  • Boys born to obese women had a more than 2-fold increased risk of hypospadias compared to boys born to mothers with normal weight.
  • Maternal hypertension during pregnancy increased a boy’s risk of hypospadias 2.0-fold.
  • Absence of maternal nausea increased the risk of hypospadias by 1.8-fold.

Takeaway

If a mom doesn't eat meat or fish while pregnant, her baby might have a higher chance of having a problem with their pee hole.

Methodology

A case-control study using self-administered questionnaires completed by mothers of hypospadias cases and matched controls.

Potential Biases

Potential recall bias due to self-reported exposure data.

Limitations

The study may have underreported milder forms of hypospadias and relied on self-reported data.

Participant Demographics

Participants included mothers from Sweden and Denmark with cases of hypospadias and matched controls.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.0079

Confidence Interval

95% CI, 1.6–13.3

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1289/ehp.10791

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