Ectopic Ureter

What is ectopic ureter?

The ureters are the tubes in the body that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder. A ureter that is not connected to the bladder, and drains somewhere else is known as an ectopic ureter.

What causes ectopic ureter?

Ectopic ureter is a defect that is present at birth. The exact reason that ectopic ureter occurs is not known. Ectopic ureters are frequently associated with what is called a duplex kidney where a single kidney has two separate ureters, one drains normally into the bladder while the other is ectopic (draining in boys into the urethra or in girls into the urethra or vagina).

What are the symptoms of ectopic ureter?

Symptoms include frequent urinary tract infections, incontinence (leaking urine), drainage of pus from the vagina in girls or testicular infection (epididymitis) in boys, and vesicoureteral reflux (urine that flows backward through the ureters) with an enlarged kidney (hydronephrosis).

What are ectopic ureter care options?

A number of surgical procedures may be undertaken depending on the age of the infant/child and the problems associated with the ectopic ureter.


Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: May 01, 2020 04:45 PM

Pediatric Urology

The Division of Pediatric Urology and Urologic Surgery at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of urological conditions.

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