Urology
Volume 65, Issue 1, 2005, Pages 28-32

Urologic complications of sexual trauma among male survivors of torture (Article)

Norredam M.* , Crosby S. , Munarriz R. , Piwowarczyk L. , Grodin M.
  • a Department of Health Law, Bioethics, Hum. Rights, Boston Univ. Sch. P., Boston, MA, United States, Boston Ctr. Refugee Hlth. Hum. R., Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States, Dept. of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, Copenhagen North 2200, Denmark
  • b Boston Ctr. Refugee Hlth. Hum. R., Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
  • c Department of Urology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Boston Ctr. Refugee Hlth. Hum. R., Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States, Division of, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Department of Health Law, Bioethics, Hum. Rights, Boston Univ. Sch. P., Boston, MA, United States, Dept. of Health Services Research, Institute of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

To describe the urologic and sexual complications of male survivors of sexual torture, including prevalence, sequelae, diagnosis, and treatment. Through chart reviews, we identified all male survivors of torture who had been treated for physical and/or psychological symptoms due to sexual trauma at the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights at Boston Medical Center between January 1, 2001 and January 1, 2002. Of the 72 men seen, 20 (28%) were survivors of sexual trauma. Our study focused on genital trauma leading to urologic and/or sexual dysfunction. Therefore, all cases of male genital trauma that had been referred to the urology department (3 of 20) were selected for this review. The patients presented with chronic genital and erectile pain, lower urinary tract symptoms, and sexual dysfunction. The diagnostic workup included history, physical examination, and ultrasonography. Treatment included steroid injections for chronic pain and oral erectogenic agents for sexual dysfunction. The apparent prevalence and severity of the physical and mental sequelae to sexual trauma make it an important area for screening when treating survivors of torture. Our study is the first of its kind to document urologic complications of sexual torture in a foreign-born U.S. cohort of tortured men, including prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. The proposed use of steroid injections in the clinical treatment of these patients has not been previously reported. © 2005 Elsevier Inc.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

steroid survival rate human priority journal sexual dysfunction mental disease male penis erection erectogenic agent agents acting on the genital system unclassified drug tadalafil vardenafil Review triamcinolone genital system disease sildenafil genital pain echography prevalence sexual abuse time series analysis urinary tract disease cohort analysis disease severity health center Physical Examination Chronic Pain
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-12844265258&doi=10.1016%2fj.urology.2004.08.006&partnerID=40&md5=6aa581bc6a0d3771688294a4526278e0
DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.08.006
ISSN: 00904295
Cited by: 19
Original Language: English