As H grew older, she learned that she had congenital adrenal hyperplasia. It was only when she was older that her parents shared with her that since her birth, she had an unusual genitalia, a birth defect caused by congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
H has both male and female genitalia. In-depth chromosome testing revealed that H is female with XX genes. As a child, H underwent surgery to restore female genitalia and received hormone treatment.
After completing her secondary education, H worked as a factory worker away from home. Despite her tall stature and beautiful face, H always felt insecure about her genitalia and kept it a secret from her friends. As a result, she turned down many suitors. “Deep down, I longed to fall in love, get married, and have children like other girls, but I was afraid of my secret being revealed, so I resigned myself to my fate,” H confided.
Dr. Nguyen Dinh Minh shared that many girls with genital defects hide them due to insecurity, which affects their lives and future prospects. Photo: BSCC.
Recently, through social media, H learned about someone with a similar condition who had undergone surgery, got married, and had children. This sparked hope in H that she could live as her authentic self and embrace her true gender identity. Eventually, she decided to seek help from the Department of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery at the E Central Hospital.
Dr. Nguyen Dinh Minh, Head of the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, and Maxillofacial Surgery at the E Hospital, shared that H’s previous surgery did not completely resolve her defect, leaving her with an incomplete vagina, which caused her insecurity.
Due to her vaginal condition, H could not engage in sexual intercourse as her vagina was very narrow, only the size of a little finger. Although her external genitalia, including the labia majora and minora, were normal, her vagina was abnormal. However, she still experienced menstruation, indicating that she had a functioning uterus and ovaries, and could potentially bear children.
Given her condition, Dr. Minh consulted with Dr. Nguyen Dinh Lien, Head of the Department of Renal, Urological, and Andrological Surgery at the E Hospital, and they decided to perform vaginal reconstructive surgery on the patient. During the laparoscopic examination, the surgeons found that the patient had two ovaries and a normally sized uterus. However, her vagina and urethra were fused together, presenting a challenge for the surgical team. They expanded the vagina towards the rectum and addressed the narrowed anterior vagina by grafting oral mucosa into the vagina and inserting a stent. This stent will remain in place until the desired vaginal opening size is achieved. Subsequently, the patient will use penis-shaped dilators for 3–6 months, customized by the doctors for her specific needs. After this phase, H will be able to engage in sexual intercourse.
The successful surgery offers a brighter future for the young woman, especially regarding her dream of becoming a full-fledged woman, finding love, getting married, and having children.
Dr. Nguyen Dinh Minh also advised that early detection and intervention are crucial for children with genital abnormalities to ensure timely treatment and minimize psychological and future impacts, particularly on their happiness and fertility.
