Vaginoplasty for congenital birth defects, MRKH
Vaginoplasty is a surgical procedure that is used to reconstruct or repair the vagina. In some cases, it may be used to treat congenital birth defects, such as those that affect the development of the vaginal opening, the vaginal canal, or the surrounding structures. The specific details of the surgery will depend on the nature of the defect, as well as the patient's individual needs and preferences Intersex Conditions: Intersex is a term used to describe a wide range of conditions in which an individual's reproductive or sexual anatomy does not fit typical definitions of male or female. It is estimated that it occurs in about 1 in 2,000 individuals.
Some examples of intersex conditions include:
- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH): a genetic disorder in which the adrenal glands produce too much androgen, leading to ambiguous genitalia in affected females.
- Agenesis of the Lower Vagina. It may occur that a woman is born with the absence of a lower vagina. This means that she may have a normal uterus, cervix, and upper vagina but there is a blockage with the absence of the lower vagina
- Vertical or Complete Vaginal Septum. The vagina normally forms as two tubes meeting in the midline with fusion resulting in the creation of a single vagina
In these cases, if the patient identifies as female and wishes to have a vagina we can create it using either PPV or Sigmoid Colon.
MRKH is a congenital condition that affects the reproductive system and causes the vagina and uterus to be underdeveloped or absent. Vaginoplasty typically involves the use of tissue from the patient's own body, such as skin and muscle from the groin or thigh, to create a functional vagina. The procedure is typically performed by a plastic surgeon with experience in this area. Recovery can take several weeks and follow-up care is needed It's worth noting that not every person with MRKH will want or need a Vaginoplasty, and other options such as dilation therapy can be used for people that are comfortable with their own body and anatomy