Vaginal reconstruction involving a free vascular jejunal flap is a "favorable procedure" for women with vaginal agenesis, according to researchers from the Akdeniz University School of Medicine in Antalya, Turkey.

The procedure, which involves using tissue from the small intestine, had a 100% success rate and restored sexual function for 55% of their study subjects.

Vaginal agenesis is a congenital condition in which the vagina does not fully develop. It affects about 1 in 5,000 females, according to the American Urological Association. Sexuality and fertility are problematic for women with vaginal agenesis.

Thirty-four women between the ages of 16 and 31 participated in the study. All had had vaginal reconstruction.

The mean length of their reconstructed vaginas was 9.8 centimeters;  the mean width was 3.1 centimeters

Twenty-four of the women completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).  Nine of them (45%) had sexual dysfunction.

The study was published in July in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Please click here for more details.

How does the arrival of a baby affect the sexuality of the birth mother's co-parent? This is the focus of a new research summary that has been posted to the ISSM website. 

"Exploring Co-Parent Experiences of Sexuality in the First 3 Months after Birth" examines the sexual adjustments made by co-parents during the postpartum period. One hundred fourteen co-parents (95 men, 18 women, and 1 unspecified) completed questionnaires on their birth experience, postpartum experience, and sexuality.

The participants shared information on resuming sexual activity after delivery, the types of sexual activity they had, their thoughts on sexual desire, and their conformity with traditional gender roles.

The study, written by Sari M. van Anders, PhD; Lauren E. Hipp, BS; and Lisa Kane Low, PhD, was published online in August in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Please click here for an in-depth summary.