Assessment of sexual performance after corrective surgery of ambiguous genitalia

Abstract

This study evaluated the sexual performance of patients with genital ambiguity that had been submitted to corrective genitalsurgery. It was done a survey among the patients with genital ambiguity, undergone surgical correction, now aged 16 years oldor older and who had already initiated a sex life of a university clinic of intersexuality. Later, it was applied the Golombok RustInventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS). Twenty patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria: age older than or equal to 15 yearsold and submitted to surgical correction were selected. Of those, only four patients had begun their sex life. Several problemsrelating to sexuality were identified: Low frequency of relations, inappropriate sexual communication, sexual dissatisfaction,and sexual avoidance, lack of expression of sensuality, Vaginism and anorgasmia. Among those difficulties, the “low frequencyof relations” has been detected in all patients. It was detected that sexual function is altered in patients undergoing correctivegenital surgery. However, we can not say whether this is due to the basic pathology or if it is a sole consequence of the surgicalcorrection. This survey asks whether there is a negative effect resulting from corrective surgery of the genitalia, no sexual futureperformance of these patients. It questions also what the most propitious time to perform the surgery is: if in early childhoodor during adolescence.