Norton Children’s Gynecology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is the only practice in Kentucky, Louisville and Southern Indiana dedicated to gynecological care of children, adolescents and young women.
A urogenital sinus is a rare birth defect in girls. There are many variations of this condition, but in most cases the urethra and vagina connect into a single channel. The ovaries and fallopian tubes typically are unaffected and normal.
A urogenital sinus occurs when the baby is developing before birth; the cause is unknown.
Symptoms depend on the severity of the condition. If the child has a chronic urogenital sinus, urine from the bladder may fill the vagina. Instead of two separate openings for the vagina and urethra, there is only one. Other potential signs include:
Sometimes urogenital sinus defects will be diagnosed during a prenatal ultrasound. Other cases will be diagnosed during a physical exam after birth.
Surgery is necessary to repair urogenital sinus. Our team will determine the best type of surgery, depending on the child’s unique situation. The purpose of surgery is to give your child as normal function and appearance of genitalia as possible.