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Impaired Sexual Activity in Male Adults with Partial Androgen Insensitivity

Pediatric Endocrinology (C.B., B.M., H.L., P.B.), Hôpital Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris and Université Paris V, 75014 Paris, France; and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Y.M.), Hôpital Debrousse, 69322 Lyon, France

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Pierre Bougnères, Endocrinologie Pédiatrique, Groupe hospitalier Cochin-Saint Vincent de Paul, and Faculté Paris V, 82 av Denfert Rochereau, 75014 Paris, France. E-mail: pierre.bougneres{at}paris5.inserm.fr.

Context: Choosing the sex of rearing of an XY neonate with a major sexual ambiguity and a mutated androgen receptor remains one of the more difficult questions of neonatal endocrinology. A direct consequence of this choice is the accomplishment of sexual function in adulthood. There is very limited knowledge of the sexual performance of patients with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Objective: The objective of this study is to describe physical acts of sexuality in partial androgen insensitivity syndrome patients reared as males.

Design: We were able to obtain factual information regarding the sexual activity of 15 adult patients who had been reared as males and followed at our institution since birth. We evaluated their sexual performance using two validated questionnaires (Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction and International Index of Erectile Dysfunction).

Results: We documented a major impairment of all parameters of sexual activity.

Conclusion: This long-term insight into the consequences of male sex assignment will have to be balanced by a study of the consequences of female sex assignment.