Lower urinary tract symptoms after feminizing genitoplasty

To investigate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a Finnish cohort of patients who had undergone feminizing genitoplasty in childhood.

Information on LUTS was assessed using the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score questionnaire: 24 out of 45 females (53%) returned the questionnaire; 16 patients with prenatal androgen exposure (congenital adrenal hyperplasia = CAH group) and eight with androgen insensitivity (AIS group).

Urge urinary incontinence was reported by 13% of the patients in both the CAH and AIS groups and by 15% of the controls. Stress urinary incontinence was reported by 31% of the patients in the CAH group, 13% of the patients in the AIS group and 22% of the controls. Distressing voiding symptoms were reported by 19% of the patients in the CAH group, 13% of the patients in the AIS group and 28% of the controls, and of these straining and incomplete emptying were the most prevalent.

LUTS are as common in female DSD patients with feminizing genitoplasty as they are in controls. Some degree of distressing incontinence occurred in 13%-25% of the young female patients and the controls.