UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital now offers a multidisciplinary clinic for patients with differences of sex development (DSD), a group of congenital conditions that affect the development of genital organs and other reproductive structures.

The Differences of Sex Development Clinic team includes pediatric urologists, pediatric endocrinologists, and a child psychologist, and the team consults regularly with specialists in genetic counseling, pediatric surgery, radiation, neonatology, and maternal and fetal medicine.

Dr. Gina M. Lockwood, pediatric urologist and physician lead of the new clinic, says the multidisciplinary approach provides the most comprehensive DSD care available, including some significant advantages for patients and their families.

“Multiple specialists can see the patient in one sitting, often with same-day imaging and labs,” Lockwood says. “That real-time collaboration makes it easier for parents to participate in shared decision-making, which helps to avoid unnecessary surgeries, and it promotes autonomy for the family, which can be very beneficial when it’s a condition that requires lifelong attention.”

A DSD diagnosis has the potential to be an unsettling experience for patients and their families, which is why the UI DSD service includes counseling and emotional support from clinical psychologist Laura Fuller, PhD, that begins with the first visit.

“Dr. Fuller has a special interest in DSD patients and families,” Lockwood says. “The opportunity for them to see her as early in the process as possible can be especially beneficial, whether it’s offering coping strategies, helping parents discover the most effective ways to talk to their child about the diagnosis, or directing them to appropriate support resources.”

To refer a patient, call 800-322-8442 or use the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital Referring Provider Consult/Referral Form.