Assessment of Sexual Functioning, Mental Health, and Life Goals in Women with Vaginal Agenesis

Abstract

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.

Congenital malformations of the female genital tract: the need for a new classification system

“…This anomaly is associated with a lasting negative psychological impact on women. However, the main problems are the inability to establish a sexual life and reproductive problems, which could wait until beginning sexual activity (38,(109)(110)(111)(112)(113).…”

“Differently normal” and “normally different”: Negotiations of female embodiment in women's accounts of ‘atypical’ sex development

“…The women affected cannot menstruate or conceive and may have difficulty performing vaginal penetration. Moreover, because MRKH does not affect genes and ovaries, pubertal development as regards breasts and the external genitalia (such as the clitoris and labia) is 'normal' (Morgan & Quint, 2006). These symptoms were also present among the three women who did not use the MRKH label.…”

Ambivalent Ambiguity? : A study of how women with 'atypical' sex development make sense of female embodiment

“…Such psychosocial and psychosexual assessments have shown that not being able to conceive and feelings of not being fully and functional women are said to be the most troubling reactions among women with congenital absence of uterus and vagina, in medical literature also known as Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome (Bean et al, 2009). It has also been demonstrated that the psychological health status of these women varies with personality, life situation, length of time passed since the diagnosis or treatment, and levels of support from family and health providers (Morgan and Quint, 2006).…”