Ambiguous genitalia: clinical management of adult female with male assigned gender: a case report

Abstract

Background: Disorders of sex development are anomalies in which the development of urogenital ridge is undifferentiated for the male and female child. Imaging plays a vital role in investigating the gross anatomy and associated anomalies. Ultrasonography, such as genitography and magnetic resonance, is the primary modality for demonstrating internal gonads and genitalia. Early multidisciplinary approach in the management of ambiguous genitalia including early surgical intervention is the predominant practice, with few current considerations on deferral of genital reconstruction until adolescent age. Case presentation: We report the rare case of a 24-year-old adult female from a majority ethnic group of the Volta region, Ghana who was diagnosed and raised as male, now requiring surgical restoration to the female gender. The surgical team decided to assign external genitalia to correspond with the already intact internal organs, thus constructing the vulva. Consent was given by the client and her family members for management and surgical intervention. The surgery was scheduled and duly performed with a successful outcome. Understanding and consent was sought from the patient for the purpose of using her images for teaching, scientific publication, and demonstrations. Conclusion: The advantages of deferring surgical reconstruction with psychological counseling after early assessment need to be considered to prevent inappropriate gender assignment.