This paper investigates the often-overlooked sexual health challenges faced by adult patients who underwent augmentation cystoplasty in childhood for spina bifida. Experts and a patient group representative were consulted to address issues related to diversion, incontinence, body image, fertility, and specific concerns for males and females. The consensus highlights lack of self-confidence and incontinence as major barriers to sexual activity. Cosmesis of the stoma and scars influenced self-esteem more in females. The authors emphasize the need for routine discussions about sexual concerns with postpubertal patients and advocate for further research to develop better patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).
Publisher
Springer Nature
Published On
Oct 10, 2020
Authors
Beatriz Bañuelos Marco, Manuela Hiess, Raimund Stein, Ricardo Gonzalez, Anja Lingnau, Dan Wood, Anna Radford, Bernhard Haid
Tags
sexual health
augmentation cystoplasty
spina bifida
self-esteem
incontinence
patients
body image
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