Perceptions of Gender Equity by Urologic Subspecialty.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how urologists in various subspecialties view the climate for female urologists, comparing perceptions of gender inequity based on characteristics including gender, subspecialty training, faculty status, parental status, and years in practice. Despite growth in female representation in urology, gender inequalities in career opportunities and compensation continue to exist. METHODS: An IRB approved survey was sent out to the following list-serves: Society of Urological Oncology (SUO), Society of Endourology (ENDO), Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons (GURS), Society of Pediatric Urology (SPU), Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU), and American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS). A validated study, the Culture Conducive to Women's Academic Success (CCWAS) was used, and scores analyzed using Wilcoxon Rank-Sum and Kruskal-Wallace tests. RESULTS: There were 430 survey responses (35.3% female, 64.7% male). There was a statistically significant difference in CCWAS score for gender, parental status, and society. On multiple regression analysis controlling for gender, parental status and society were not statistically significant. Years in practice and practice type were not significant. Male urologists perceived practice culture toward women as more equitable than their female colleagues, (median [interquartile range] CCWAS score, 203.5 [184.25, 225.0] vs 162.5 [130.75, 188.0]; P < .0001). This discrepancy in perception between genders was consistent across all subcategories; equal access, work-life balance, freedom of gender bias, and leadership support. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there are gender-based differences in how gender inequities are perceived and experienced in urology. Acknowledgment of these differences is the first step in identifying opportunities for improvement.

Robotic Peritoneal Flap vs. Perineal Penile Inversion Techniques for Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss perineal and robotic approaches to gender-affirming vaginoplasty. RECENT FINDINGS: The Davydov peritoneal vaginoplasty has its origins in neovaginal reconstruction for vaginal agenesis. It has been adapted as a robotic-assisted laparoscopic procedure and provides an alternative to perineal canal dissection in gender-affirming vaginoplasty. Both techniques represent variations of penile inversion vaginoplasty with successful outcomes and overall low rates of major complications reported in the literature. However, there are differing advantages and considerations to each approach. A perineal approach has been the gold standard to gender-affirming vaginoplasty for many decades. Robotic peritoneal gender-affirming vaginoplasty (RPGAV) is an emerging alternative, with potential advantages including less reliance on extragenital skin grafts in individuals with minimal genital tissue, especially among patients presenting with pubertal suppression, and safer dissection in revision vaginoplasty for stenosis of the proximal neovaginal canal. Additional risks of RPGAV include those associated with robotic abdominal surgeries.