{"title":"Experiences of vaginal lengthening treatment and sexual well-being in women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome: An interview study","authors":"Amalie Hahn Jensen, Morten Krogh Herlin, Birgitta Trolle, Ida Vogel, Stina Lou","doi":"10.1111/1471-0528.17916","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Objective</h3>\n \n <p>To explore how women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome experience dilation or surgical vaginal lengthening treatment, and their current sexual well-being.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Design</h3>\n \n <p>A qualitative interview study.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Setting</h3>\n \n <p>Denmark.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Population</h3>\n \n <p>Women aged ≥25 years diagnosed with MRKH syndrome.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Semi-structured video interviews were conducted with 18 women. Interviews lasted a median of 92 min and were digitally recorded, transcribed and anonymised. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Main Outcome Measures</h3>\n \n <p>A qualitative analysis of women's experiences.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>The analysis identified three themes. Firstly, <i>Experiences with dilation treatment</i> revealed dilation as an awkward routine, especially for adolescents living with parents and yet to sexually debut. While some experienced successful vaginal lengthening, others faced treatment failure leading to frustration and self-blame. Secondly, <i>Experiences with neovaginal surgery</i> described the procedure as extremely painful but resulting in a ‘normal size’ vagina. Some women felt that the procedure had negatively impacted their self-confidence, and all underscored the importance of maturity before opting for surgery. Lastly, <i>Current sex life and sexual well-being</i> indicated a well-functioning sex life for many women, but with reported low sexual confidence and genital self-image due to the perceived ‘deviance’ of their genitalia.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>For women with MRKH syndrome, vaginal lengthening treatment, whether through dilation or surgery, may result in a ‘normal size’ vagina. However, according to the women's experiences, vaginal lengthening treatment does not adequately foster positive sexual esteem and genital self-image.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":4,"journal":{"name":"ACS Applied Energy Materials","volume":"131 13","pages":"1841-1850"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/1471-0528.17916","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"ACS Applied Energy Materials","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1471-0528.17916","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, PHYSICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
To explore how women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Küster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome experience dilation or surgical vaginal lengthening treatment, and their current sexual well-being.
Design
A qualitative interview study.
Setting
Denmark.
Population
Women aged ≥25 years diagnosed with MRKH syndrome.
Methods
Semi-structured video interviews were conducted with 18 women. Interviews lasted a median of 92 min and were digitally recorded, transcribed and anonymised. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Main Outcome Measures
A qualitative analysis of women's experiences.
Results
The analysis identified three themes. Firstly, Experiences with dilation treatment revealed dilation as an awkward routine, especially for adolescents living with parents and yet to sexually debut. While some experienced successful vaginal lengthening, others faced treatment failure leading to frustration and self-blame. Secondly, Experiences with neovaginal surgery described the procedure as extremely painful but resulting in a ‘normal size’ vagina. Some women felt that the procedure had negatively impacted their self-confidence, and all underscored the importance of maturity before opting for surgery. Lastly, Current sex life and sexual well-being indicated a well-functioning sex life for many women, but with reported low sexual confidence and genital self-image due to the perceived ‘deviance’ of their genitalia.
Conclusions
For women with MRKH syndrome, vaginal lengthening treatment, whether through dilation or surgery, may result in a ‘normal size’ vagina. However, according to the women's experiences, vaginal lengthening treatment does not adequately foster positive sexual esteem and genital self-image.
期刊介绍:
ACS Applied Energy Materials is an interdisciplinary journal publishing original research covering all aspects of materials, engineering, chemistry, physics and biology relevant to energy conversion and storage. The journal is devoted to reports of new and original experimental and theoretical research of an applied nature that integrate knowledge in the areas of materials, engineering, physics, bioscience, and chemistry into important energy applications.