Journal article
Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes of 19 Patients Undergoing Clitoral and Labial Reconstruction After Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
Aesthetic plastic surgery, v 46(1), pp 468-477
01 Feb 2022
PMID: 34729638
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is the intentional alteration, removal, or injury of female genitalia for non-medical reasons. Approximately 200 million females have been victims of FGM/C, and genital reconstructive procedures are increasing in demand.
The objectives of this study were to assess clinical and patient-reported outcomes after FGM/C reconstruction to help guide treatment practices.
Adult patients undergoing anatomic reconstruction after FGM/C were retrospectively identified. Outcomes included clitoral, labial, and donor site surgical site occurrences (SSO) and the need for revision operations. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed using an adapted version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), a validated outcomes instrument that assesses sexual function through 6 domains, with each domain having a maximum score of 6.
Nineteen patients were identified in our review. Patients presented for reconstruction due to dyspareunia, inability to orgasm, chronic infections, to normalize appearance, and/or to "feel normal." There were no SSOs and two revision operations for adhesions. 74% of patients completed the FSFI postoperatively. Despite most patients seeking repair for inability to orgasm and/or dyspareunia, the median scores for these domains were 4.6 and 5.2. Patients' desire to engage in sexual activity scored lowest (3.9), and patients reported concerns over the appearance of their genitalia (50%) that affected self-confidence (85.7%).
FGM/C reconstruction is safe and contributes to improvements in physical sexual health. Psychological trauma may contribute to lessened sexual desire and self-confidence even after reconstruction. Multidisciplinary treatment is important to address the long-term psychological effects of this practice.
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Details
- Title
- Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes of 19 Patients Undergoing Clitoral and Labial Reconstruction After Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
- Creators
- Adrienne N Christopher - University of PennsylvaniaSammy Othman - Drexel UniversityMartin P Morris - University of PennsylvaniaRobyn B Broach - University of PennsylvaniaIvona Percec - University of Pennsylvania
- Publication Details
- Aesthetic plastic surgery, v 46(1), pp 468-477
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 10
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000714684400001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85118461873
- Other Identifier
- 991021860671104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Surgery