[Feminizing genitoplasty for prepubertal children and teenagers female]

The aim of this study was to report our experience after 10 years of practice of feminizing genitoplasty in prepubertal and adolescent patients with disorders of sex development (DSD) assigned females as females in a developing country.

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study over a period of 9 years. All pre-pubertal (8-12 years) and adolescent patients female sex assigned with DSD who had willfully consented to the surgery with their guardians and underwent feminizing genital surgery were enrolled in the study. Data collection included: age at presentation, precise diagnosis, surgical procedures, complications, cosmetic result and duration of follow-up. Each patient had a precise diagnosis and the surgery was planned after discussion with the multidisciplinary team. Cosmetic results were assessed based on: appearance of the clitoris and separation of the vaginal and urethral openings.

Nine patients raised as females with a median age of 8 years (IR: 10.75) were recorded. Surgery was performed at a median age of 11 years (IR: 9.5). In this series, 6 had a 46, XY karyotype with varying diagnoses: partial androgen insensitivity syndrome (n=2); 5-alphareductase insufficiency (n=2); 17-ketoreductase insufficiency (n=2); gonadal dysgenesis with a mutation in the NR5A1 gene (n=2), 2 had ovostesticular DSD, (karyotypes 46, XX), and 1 had mixed gonadal dysgenesis (karyotype 45, X/46, XY). Partial or total gonad(s) removal in accordance with assigned gender was the most common associated procedure. It was bilateral in 7 cases and unilateral in 2 cases. Follow-up ranged from 3 months to 4.5 years (median: 26 months, IR:18.25). One patient had acute urinary retention in the early follow-up. No other complication such as incision bleeding was recorded. The cosmetic appearance of the external genitalia was satisfactory in all patients.

Feminizing genital surgery in Cameroon remains a major challenge and should seldom be realized without a precise diagnosis. Late age at presentation is peculiar to our setting; however, it gives room for the patients' participation and input to decisions that will have a life-long personal impact on their lives in terms of psychosocial development and fertility.

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