It occurs equally in all colors and races, and in males twice as often as in females. It does not run in families and parents who have had a child with bladder exstrophy do not face a higher risk of having a second child with exstrophy. The odds are no greater than for parents who have never had a child with this condition. In addition, exstrophy is not passed from one generation to the next. No one is completely sure exactly what causes bladder exstrophy, although there are many theories.
Some researchers believe that it is caused by overdevelopment of the cloacal membrane.
If this membrane does not melt away at the proper time in development, the top part of the bladder and the skin layers surrounding it never form correctly. As a result, neither the bladder nor the skin on top of it closes. We do know for certain that heredity is not involved in the development of bladder exstrophy. Thus there is no reason to feel as though you are responsible. Bladder exstrophy will affect your child in several ways.