Sexual function and voiding status following one stage feminizing genitoplasty

Abstract

The data on long-term outcome of feminizing genitoplasty (FG) with regardto the sexual function and voiding status is limited and nearly always retrospective, reviewing only small numbers of patients. Furthermore, most articles only looked at the success as an adequately open vagina with a feminized appearance. Success should include normal erotic sensation, lubrication, sexual satisfaction, orgasm, and intercourse without discomfort. These latter factors are just beginning to be studied OBJECTIVE: To investigate sexual function and voiding status in women who underwent vaginal reconstruction in childhood. We retrospectively reviewed medical files of patients who underwent FG at our center from 1988 to 2000. In addition, patients were asked to complete the following standardized questionnaires: Female Genital Self-Image Scale (FGSIS), dysfunctional voiding and incontinence symptoms score (DVISS), and Female Sexual Function Questionnaire (FSFI). patients underwent one-stage FG; of those, 36 with median age of 21 years (range 18-30 years) who completed the puberty period were included into this study. Of the participants, 15 (41.6%) lived in a committed partnership, and 12 (80%) had sexual intercourse on a regular basis. Total FSFI was 22.2+3.1 (mean+ SE). Domain scores were 3.9, 4.3, 4.5, 4.3, 4.9, and 4.7 for desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain, respectively (Summary Figure). None of the patients reported on daytime incontinence or enuresis. Female genital self-image was found to be positive in all patients and related positively to women's sexual function. The general rate of the sexual activity of our studied population was similar to that published in the literature 80% in our study vs 60-87% published in the literature. The overall FSFI was 22, showing some evidence of the female sexual dysfunction. However, only one patient regarding pain during vaginal penetration demonstrated mild dyspareunia. At the same time, we have not found any desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction problems. Furthermore none of our patients complained on lower urinary tract symptoms during questioning, while three girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia presented during follow-up with dribbling incontinence, which resolved with introitoplasty and creation of the wide vaginal opening. Our data demonstrate that one -tage FG in childhood is a long-term effective surgical procedure that does not cause voiding dysfunction. If a secondary intervention is required prior to the sexual life, simple introitoplasty usually solves the problem. The FSFI score showed overall acceptable sexual function, whereas mild dyspareunia was a major complain.