

However, if bladder exstrophy does occur, it presents a number of symptoms. Caucasian boys are at the highest risk of being born with bladder exstrophy.īladder exstrophy is rare and only affects about 1 out of every 50,000 newborns. Some of the risk factors include family history, race, sex, and use of assisted reproduction technology such as IVF. This is often due to issues with the cloaca, a structure where reproductive, urinary, and digestive openings come together.īladder exstrophy is believed to be caused by a mixture of genetic and environmental factors. Scientists believe that bladder exstrophy occurs at some time around the 11 th week of pregnancy when the organs begin to develop, which explains why it can affect abdominal muscles and pelvic bones as well. Like many other congenital diseases, expecting mothers have no reason to feel guilty for the development of BEEC. Unfortunately, there’s no direct cause of bladder exstrophy. Your doctor will help you prepare for this and process the next steps after delivery. If your child is born with any type of BEEC, it’s important to quickly administer treatment. Abdominal organs may be exposed, and the anus may be sealed in severe cases.

Kidneys, backbone, pelvic bones, and the spinal cord may also be affected, and it often results in spina bifida. Cloacal Exstrophy – this is the most severe type of BEEC and is characterized by a lack of separation between the rectum, bladder, and genitals during development.It can also include urinary tract organs, certain digestive system organs, and various parts of the reproductive system. Bladder Exstrophy – this is the most common type of BEEC where the bladder forms inside out, on the outside of the body.In males, this results in the urethra ending in an opening on the top side of the penis, while in girls the urethra tends to develop too far up front. Epispadias – this is the least severe type of BEEC that’s characterized by abnormal under-development of the urethra.The three primary types of bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex include the following: BEEC is used to describe a range of defects with variable expression that involve the abdominal wall, pelvic, urinary tract, genitalia, and occasionally the spine and anus. For more information on the cause, treatment, and prognosis of this condition, here’s everything you need to know about bladder exstrophy.ĭifferent Types of Bladder Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex (BEEC)īladder exstrophy falls within a larger category of birth defects that affect the urinary system called bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). Babies born with bladder exstrophy therefore have their bladder on the outside of their body rather than within their abdominal cavity. It’s characterized by the development of the bladder from the inside out and requires corrective surgery within the first few days of life. Bladder exstrophy is a rare congenital abnormality-birth defect-that affects the urinary system.
