Abstract

Background: Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD) constitute a great challenge in patient management as it involves critical reasoning, careful evaluation, multidisciplinary involvement and making difficult decisions such as sex of rearing and gender issues. The DSD team of the hospital was formed in the year 2010. Our aim is to highlight our initial experience as a DSD team managing these children with DSD in the Pediatric Endocrine/Genetic unit of UCH, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Method: Information was obtained from patients’ records and from the Endocrinology Unit register. Details of bio data, clinical history, investigations, treatment and outcome were retrieved.

Results: The team saw 15 patients during the period, aged one day to nine years. Twelve patients (80 %) had pelvic ultrasound scan done to visualize internal organs while karyotype could only be evaluated in 8 (53 %) patients who could afford it. In two patients (13%) that had mutational analysis done while the commonest DSD in the series was XY DSD. There was one death, while one case of XY DSD defaulted.

Conclusion: Despite the intense limitations in terms of inability to get important hormonal and genetic tests done in every case because of financial constraints, the DSD team has continued to function.