Bladder exstrophy is rare. On average, it occurs in about 1 out of every 50,000 live births. It is slightly more common in males than females.
Family history plays a role. Children born to a parent with bladder exstrophy have about a 1 in 70 chance of having it. If a family has one child with this condition, they have a 1 in 100 chance of having another child with it.
Fertility treatments may play a role. Recent studies suggest that children born with assisted fertility are 7 times more likely to have bladder exstrophy.