Your son’s scan showed a possible blockage.
Here’s what PUV means.
Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are small flaps of tissue that can partly block urine leaving the bladder. It’s treatable, care starts early, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.
What is PUV?
PUV happens only in boys. Small flaps of tissue form in the tube that carries urine out of the body (the urethra) and get in the way of urine flowing out.
Because urine can’t drain freely, it can back up into the bladder and kidneys. That’s why doctors act early, to protect the kidneys.
How it’s usually found
On a pregnancy ultrasound that shows a large bladder or swollen kidneys
After birth, from a weak urine stream or a urine infection
Sometimes later in childhood, with wetting or bladder problems
What usually happens next
Most boys have a small procedure soon after birth to open up the flow of urine. After that, the focus is on keeping the bladder and kidneys as healthy as possible.
Your care team may:
Place a thin tube (catheter) to drain urine at first
Check kidney function with blood and urine tests
Follow bladder health and growth over the years
Every boy is different. Some need more support as they grow, and your team will explain what fits your son.
Questions to ask at your next appointment
How are my son’s kidneys working right now?
What procedure do you recommend, and when?
What signs of infection should we watch for, and what should we do?
How will you follow his bladder and kidneys as he grows?
Who should we call if we’re worried between appointments?
Free resources for families
Short, plain-language guides made with families, free to download.
Get updates on new therapies and tips for families
KidneyFuture is working on therapies to help protect kidney function for life. Join us to get research and treatment updates, plus practical tips for families and for adults who were born with PUV. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
This page is general information for families and is not medical advice. Always follow the advice of your child’s care team.
You're not alone.
PUV is one of the conditions babies can be born with that affect the kidneys and urinary tract. KidneyFuture supports people born with kidney and urinary tract differences — children and adults — and is working on therapies. Join us.
KidneyFuture is an official program of CAKUT Foundation Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (EIN: 39-3322233). We are dedicated to uniting families, clinicians, and researchers to transform outcomes for those born with kidney disease.
The information on this site is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition.
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