Highly Specialized Care for Women with Genital Trauma or Genital Mutilation
Female circumcision is a common cultural practice in some parts of the world. The procedure damages or removes the clitoris and/or the labia minora, which affects many aspects of a woman’s sexual health. Some women also have traumatic injuries from childbirth.
The compassionate female sexual health team at University Hospitals offers the most advanced techniques for clitoral and vulvar reconstruction in women. In addition to counseling and support, we collaborate with plastic surgeons to improve sexual function and quality of life:
- Clitoral and vulvar reconstruction after female genital mutilation or genital injury.
- Vulvar and vaginal reconstruction after damage due to traumatic childbirth or other injury.
- Obstetric fistula repair, after traumatic childbirth. An obstetric fistula is an abnormal opening between the bladder and the vagina (vesico-vaginal fistula) or rectum and the vagina (recto-vaginal fistula). Depending on the size and location of the fistula, urine or stool can leak into the vagina, causing both medical and psychological complications for the woman.
Program Director
Rachel Pope, MD, MPH, is fellowship trained in global women’s health. She has worked extensively in sub-Saharan Africa to restore sexual function and quality of life to women with rare but serious genital injuries.