CONGENITAL OBSTRUCTIONS OF THE FEMALE URETHRA

Abstract

Although the frequency of congenital obstructions of the urinary tract has received universal recognition during the last few years, the female urethra has been almost entirely overlooked in the consideration of these conditions. It is not generally realized that many anomalies such as hypospadias, epispadias, absence of the anterior or posterior portion or of the entire organ, duplications, bifurcations, dilatations, diaphragms or valves and strictures are found in the urethra of this sex. Hypospadias, like most of the congenital anomalies, is due to incomplete embryologic development. It is, next to stricture, the most common congenital abnormality of the female urinary tract. A stenosis at the external meatus is common in patients with this condition. In the most interesting case of congenital hypospadias in the female coming under my observation, the external urethral orifice was 3.5 cm. posterior to its normal position. Epispadias is rare in females. Davis,¹however, was