children s health issues
Genital Birth Defects
Female Genital Defects
There are several causes of female genital defects, but most involve abnormal levels of sex hormones in the fetus before birth. Some genital birth defects in girls include Ambiguous genitals (genitals that are not clearly male or female), which is often caused by Congenital adrenal hyperplasia None Imperforate hymen None Labial adhesions None Extra genital organs (duplication abnormalities) None Genital organs joined together (fusion abnormalities) None Rarely, the vagina may be missing or shortened. To diagnose genital birth defects, doctors do a Diagnosis . Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is the most common cause of ambiguous genitals in girls. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is an inherited disorder of the Overview of the Adrenal Glands (the adrenals are glands located on the top of each kidney that secrete several types of hormones). In this disorder, the glands are missing enzymes that help produce certain life-sustaining hormones, such as cortisol. Instead, the chemical building blocks that the glands use to make the cortisol are turned into male hormones, such as causes them to develop male sexual characteristics ( Virilization ). Infant girls with the most severe form look like boys with what appears to be a normal penis and scrotum. The penis is actually the clitoris, which has been stimulated to grow by does not affect the appearance of their genitals. However, later in childhood, the penis and pubic hair start to develop at too young an age ( Early Puberty ). develop life-threatening symptoms because their adrenal glands do not make enough of the normal adrenal hormones. Infants can have serious abnormalities of Overview of Electrolytes (minerals such as sodium and potassium) in the blood and also become very Infant girls and boys usually need fluids given by vein (intravenously) and corticosteroid drugs to treat dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities caused by the adrenal hormone deficiency. Girls may need surgery and hormone supplements. The hymen is the thin membrane at the opening of the vagina. Usually, the hymen covers only part of the opening. However, some girls are born with a hymen that completely closes the vaginal opening (called an imperforate hymen). Because the vaginal opening is closed, vaginal secretions cannot go out. Sometimes the problem is not detected and repaired when girls are young so when girls begin having menstrual periods, the blood cannot go out. In such cases, girls may have pain because menstrual blood is trapped in their vagina. Girls who have an imperforate hymen have a minor surgical procedure to open the hymen. The labia are the fleshy lips at the opening of the vagina. Labial adhesions are when the lips of the vagina stick together. These adhesions typically occur in childhood, usually when girls are around 2 years of age, but may develop earlier or later. Labial adhesions usually do not cause symptoms and frequently go away spontaneously. When they do cause symptoms, it is usually because some urine collects in the vagina, which may lead to irritation, infections, or dribbling. Girls who have labial adhesions that cause symptoms are given a cream that contains estrogen. Alternatively, doctors may split open the adhesions either in the office or in the operating room. Labial adhesions commonly return. To help prevent their return, girls apply another cream several times a day to protect the area from irritation that can cause the adhesions to return. Adhesions that do not cause symptoms should still be split open before Puberty in Girls so that menstrual blood can properly drain. Rarely, girls are born with extra (duplicated) genital organs. That is, they may have two vaginas, two cervixes, or a double uterus instead of one. Sometimes, these abnormalities are noticed at birth, but, often, they are not discovered until later in life when there are urinary, menstrual, or pregnancy problems. Some duplication abnormalities do not require treatment, but others need to be corrected with surgery. Rarely, girls' genital organs are joined together (fused) at birth. That is, their rectum, vagina, and urethra may join together as one structure. Sometimes, these abnormalities are noticed at birth, but, often, they are not discovered until later in life when there are urinary, menstrual, or pregnancy problems. Fusion abnormalities may not require treatment, but others need to be corrected with surgery. 