Funding outcome

Sexual dysfunction is a condition that can affect quality of life and relationships. It can involve issues with desire, arousal, orgasm, or pain during sexual activity. Sexual dysfunction can cause emotional distress, strain relationships, and lower quality of life. One cause of sexual dysfunction is clitoral adhesions. Clitoral adhesions occur when scar tissue forms around and over the clitoris. This can cause pain, difficulty orgasming, and emotional distress. Many individuals with clitorises who experience sexual dysfunction may have clitoral adhesions. There are many reasons why one might get clitoral adhesions. In menopause, low sex hormones can cause adhesions on the labia and clitoris. Non-aging related causes include trauma, infections, and genital mutilation. Treatment involves surgical or non-surgical removal of scar tissue. Yet, there is minimal research on the how it improves sexual function and pain long term. As well, there is no standard treatment for clitoral adhesions. This study aims to improve our understanding of clitoral adhesions and sexual dysfunction. Our study uses surveys to ask patients about their pain and sexual health. We will recruit 40 participants starting in Summer 2025. Each participant will undergo a pre-procedure visit to assess baseline measures. Follow ups will occur at set time points post-procedure to assess long term outcomes. Our goal is to assess improvements in sexual function, pain, distress, and orgasm. As well, we will assess severity before and after the lysis procedure. Finally, we will describe the steps we take so the procedure can be standardized. This research is important as it focuses on a traditionally under researched area: clitoral health. It will provide valuable insight into what helps reduce pain and improve sexual health. We aim to improve patient health and inform clinical guidelines in Alberta and Canada. By addressing gaps in women's sexual health, we will empower both providers and patients.