Tong Ching Man Carmen, Tanaka Stacy T
Division of Pediatric Urology, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN.
Division of Pediatric Urology, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Nashville, TN.
Urology. 2021 May;151:79-85. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.05.092. Epub 2020 Jul 18.
Medical advances in the last several decades have allowed an increasing number of children with spina bifida to reach adolescence and adulthood. As they reach puberty, girls with spina bifida face unique social and health challenges to their sexuality, such as orthopedic restrictions, continence, and pelvic floor disorders. Recent research efforts have focused on better understanding female sexual desires, dysfunctions, and activity and the role of the physician in educating this vulnerable population. This article aims to summarize current literature on sexual function, knowledge gaps, and the importance of tailored sexual education from providers in women with spina bifida.