Sexual functioning, sexual esteem, genital self-image and psychological and relational functioning in women with Mayer –Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser syndrome: a case–control study

AbstractSTUDY QUESTIONDo sexual functioning, sexual esteem, genital self-image and psychological and relational functioning in women with Mayer –Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome differ from a comparison group of women without the condition?SUMMARY ANSWERIn comparison to controls, women with MRKH with a non-surgically or surgically created neovagina did not differ in psychological and relational functioning but reported lower sexual esteem and more negative genital self-image, intercourse-related pain, clinically relevant sexual distress and sexual dysfunction, with sexual esteem levels strongly associated with sexual distress and sexual dysfunction.WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADYStudies on sexual functioning measured with standardized questionnaires in women with MRKH syndrome compared with women without the condition have yielded contradictory results. Factors associated with sexual functioning in this patient population have rarely been investigated.STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATIONBetween November 2015 and May 2017, 54 women with MRKH syndrome with a neovagina and 79 age-matched healthy women without the condition were enrolled in this case –control study.PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODSAll participants had to be at least 18-years old and had to live in a steady heterosexual relationship. Women with MRKH syndrome were asked to participate by their (former) gynecologists at three university hospitals and by MRKH peer support group. Controls were recruited via adve...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research