If your child is born with a congenital anomaly of the sex organs, it can be a very confusing and stressful situation.  Some children are born with both male and female internal and external anatomy while others have body parts that are between male and female.  Others have all female parts but they are joined internally to the intestines.  It requires expert testing and counseling to understand their bodies and to care for these children.

As a parent, your concern may be twofold: Will my child have full urinary and sexual function, and will it be helpful to begin medicines or have surgery These are very difficult decisions which should be made by the child (if possible), parents, and medical care givers.  Some children do not need surgery as a young child while others cannot have normal urinary, menstrual, reproductive, or sexual function unless surgery is performed.

The UT Southwestern pediatric urologists practicing at Children’s Health℠ specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of congenital anomalies, including female genital and vaginal surgical reconstruction. Our experience includes reconstruction of the most complex urinary and genital anomalies in children from birth to adulthood, including the repair of surgical complications or failures.