Sexual function and health-related quality of life in women with classic bladder exstrophy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate sexual function and quality of life in adolescent and adult women with classic bladder exstrophy (BE).


METHODS
A two-part observational cross-sectional study with a questionnaire arm and a retrospective case review arm was performed. The study was undertaken in a centre providing a tertiary referral gynaecology and urology service. Outcomes were sexual function and quality-of-life scores.


RESULTS
A total of 44 patients with BE were identified from departmental databases and included in the study, of whom 28 (64%) completed postal questionnaires. Sexual function scores and quality-of-life visual analogue scales were significantly poorer compared with normative data.


CONCLUSIONS
Bladder exstrophy has a detrimental psychological impact on women. In future, methodical multidisciplinary paediatric follow-up research will help to identify predictors of better and worse adolescent and adult outcomes. Development and evaluation of cost-effective psychological interventions to target specific problems is also warranted.
University of New South Wales and Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia.
Rebecca
R
Deans
Lih-Mei
LM
Liao
Dan
D
Wood
Christopher
C
Woodhouse
Sarah M
SM
Creighton
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001746:Bladder Exstrophy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
bladder exstrophy; psychology; quality of life; sexual function; sexuality