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Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

Looking for answers? Most questions can be answered instantly by searching our list of frequently asked
questions below. If your looking for more help send us your question using the form below.

How do I apply Testosterone ointment to prepare for my boy's upcoming surgery?

Please view the CEVL educational module for testosterone application for hypospadias. View Module

How do I make a double diaper to prepare for upcoming hypospadias surgery?

Please view the CEVL educational module for “Double Diaper” for hypospadias surgery. View Module

How do I keep a Voiding Diary?

Please view the CEVL educational module about how to use a voiding diary. This module does have audio, so please use headphones or turn your speakers on. View Module

My healthy child has only one functioning kidney, what do you suggest my doctor do?

Please ask your doctor to consider these tests yearly:

  • Blood pressure check with a stethoscope to confirm the measurement is less than 90th percentile (by age, height, & gender)
  • Kidney ultrasound to check the kidney is growing to show it is compensating for the absent kidney
  • Routine blood testing for kidney function blood & urine testing

Routine blood testing for kidney function blood & urine testing

I need suggestions about contact sports for children with a single functioning kidney.

If the kidney is positioned normally in the back:

This kidney is somewhat protected by the rib cage. The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that risk to kidney injury during contact sports risk is low enough that sports participation does not need to be limited. This is because should a devastating injury be experienced, there is more often catastrophic harm to brain, heart or spine than kidney. So each family may decide for themselves the level of risk acceptable for their own child, given this information.

Sports known to cause kidney injury without necessarily harming brain, heart or spine include:

  • Mountain biking (Bicycle hits a bump in the road and the child seated on the bike flips forward such that the child’s back lands against handle bars to injure the kidneys)
  • Surfboarding (An ocean wave causes the child to tumble off the board which flips in the air to spear the child’s back which may cause kidney injury)
  • Snowmobiling (The child driving a snowmobile encounters a mishap and the snowmobile falls to land on the child’s back, which may cause kidney injury)

If the kidney is positioned low in the pelvis as a pelvic kidney:

This kidney in the pelvis is below the ribs, it does not get any protection provided by the rib cage.  For this reason it may be prone to injury, such as from blunt trauma experienced in contact sports. Children with an ectopic kidney who want to participate in body contact sports may benefit from wearing protective gear, such as a ¼” windsurfer vest.

Reference which may be of interest: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22711726