Assessment of sexual functioning, mental health, and life goals in women with vaginal agenesis.
Vaginal agenesis is a congenital disorder defined by the incomplete formation of the vagina and other reproductive organs, often including the cervix, uterus, and fallopian tubes. For the patient, this frequently means infertility and an underdeveloped vagina with the subsequent difficulty to have vaginal intercourse. The patient with vaginal agenesis and her family then encounter a variety of psychological concerns that must be addressed during diagnosis, including weighing treatment options, managing interventions, and coping with long-term issues following diagnosis and treatment, such as partnership concerns and infertility. In this study, seven patients between the ages of 18 and 34 completed questionnaires assessing demographic information, sexual functioning, mental health, self-esteem, and life goals. Sexual functioning results were highly variable. Participants reported significant emotional reactions at diagnosis as well as anxiety about the disorder, specifically its role in relationships. However, overall, the group showed average levels of mental health and self-esteem. Participants also showed positive coping techniques through conceptualization of life goals.
Morgan
Elizabeth M
EM
Department of Psychology, University of California, Room 277, Social Sciences 2, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA. emmorgan@ucsc.edu
Quint
Elisabeth H
EH
D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities*; D016387:Women's Health