IDSD2026 Poster Abstracts Poster Abstracts (93 abstracts)
Sexual and urologic functioning and psychosocial outcomes in young adults with differences of sex development (DSD)
Hailey Umbaugh 1,2 , Jennifer Hansen-Moore 1,3 , Cindy Buchanan 4 , Keeley Pratt 3 , Leena Nahata 1-3 , Diane Chen 5 , Venkata R. Jayanthi , M.D. 1,8 , Yee-Ming Chan 9,10 , Amy C. Tishelman 11 & Canice E. Crerand 1-3
1Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 2Center for Biobehavioral Health, Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA; 3Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH USA; 4University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA; 5Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; 6Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; 7Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; 8Department of Urology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA; 9Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; 10Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 11Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Boston, MA, USA. Correspondence to: [email protected]
Background: Differences of sex development (DSD) can impact individuals’ sexual and urinary functioning, but few studies examine their associations with psychosocial outcomes such as body image, adjustment, and resilience. This study evaluated sexual and urologic functioning and psychosocial outcomes in a sample of young adults with DSD using a multi-site, multi-methods approach.
Methods: Forty participants completed surveys with questions about sexual and urologic functioning, perceptions of genital appearance, body image, psychosocial adjustment, and resilience. Twenty-three participants also completed interviews that discussed romantic relationships and intimacy.
Results: Participants were mostly White (n = 30, 75%), non-Hispanic (n = 37, 92.5%), cisgender (n = 38, 95%), heterosexual (n = 30, 75%) women (n = 26, 65%), reared as females (n = 27, 67.5%) and averaged 20.6±2.3 years of age. Sixty percent of participants (n = 24) reported a history of sexual activity, with an average age at first sexual activity of 16.8±2.1 years. For these participants, all reported experiencing pleasure with sexual activity, but most also reported discomfort or pain during sexual intercourse (n = 14, 60.9%). Urologic problems were reported by 30% of participants and were significantly related to body image dissatisfaction (b = 0.40, P <.05). Perceptions of atypical genital appearance were significantly related to body image dissatisfaction (b = 0.29, P <.01) and internalizing problems (b = 4.92, P <.05). Satisfaction with sexual functioning was significantly associated with lower internalizing symptoms (b = -4.56, P <.01), total adjustment problems (b = -3.20, P <.05), and greater resilience (b =4.89, P <.053). Qualitative analyses yielded five main themes: 1) body image concerns; 2) anticipatory anxiety about sexual intimacy; 3) surgery and intimacy; 4) unperceived genital differences; and 5) partner support.
Conclusions: Satisfaction with sexual functioning appears to be protective and associated with better psychological functioning and resilience. These findings support recommendations for interdisciplinary care that incorporates education and psychosocial support for individuals with DSD as they navigate intimate relationships during the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Volume 118
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