Prof Dr Leen Aerts
Specialisation
Language
Presence
Thursday 9-17h
Friday 9-17h
Expertises
- Sexual problems: pain during sexual contact, problems with sexual desire, sexual arousal, orgasm or sexual pleasure
- Vulvo-vaginal problems: chronic itching or pain, vulvar lesions, abnormal vaginal discharge, repeated infections,...
- Chronic vulvar pain or discomfort: vulvodynia or pain due to a specific condition such as lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, atrophy, radio or chemotherapy, chronic inflammation, scar tissue,...
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Endometriosis
Biography
I am a gynaecologist and sexologist specialising in female sexual dysfunctions, vulvar pathology, chronic genital pain, endometriosis and psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine.
From my scientific knowledge and clinical experience, I underline the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and holistic patient care adapted to the current situation of the patient or couple.
This is also why I think the multidisciplinary collaboration at Mirha Pelvic Care is so important!
Professional Background
Dr Aerts completed her training in obstetrics-gynaecology at KU Leuven. She also obtained a Master's degree in Sexology there. At UZ Leuven, she was active in the multidisciplinary clinic for female sexual dysfunctions for many years.
In 2014, she received her PhD in Biomedical Sciences. The topic of her PhD research was the sexual well-being of women after surgical treatment for gynaecological cancer or breast cancer.
From 2014 to 2016, she held a postdoctoral research position in Prof Sophie Bergeron's Female Sexual Health laboratory at the University of Montréal in Canada. She participated in several multidisciplinary research projects on chronic genital pain and received training in vulvar pathology and sexual dysfunctions from specialists in Canada and the United States.
From 2016 to 2022, she worked as a staff member at the University Hospital of Geneva in Switzerland. She was in charge of the clinic for women with sexual dysfunction, vulvar pathology and chronic genital pain. She also worked in the endometriosis centre and in the clinic for women with genital mutilation. In Switzerland, she obtained the certificate in Psychosomatic and Psychosocial Medicine.
In 2022, Dr Aerts started a private cabinet in Geneva. In 2023, she returned to Belgium. She currently works partly at the Mirha Pelvic Care Centre, partly in Geneva. She also works as a consultant at the University Hospital in Leuven.
Scientific contributions
Publications:
Krull E, Lambat S, Viviano M, Aerts L, Petignat P, Dubuisson J.Assessment of women’s sexual quality of life after benign adnexal surgery using vNOTES approach in comparison to conventional laparoscopy: protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open 2023;13:e073691.
Bazzoun Y, Aerts L, Abdulcadir J. Surgical treatment of chronic vulvar pain after female genital mutilation/cutting. J Sex Med 2022;19(2):290-301.
Aerts L, Pluchino N. Hormonal contraception and vulvodynia: an update. Gynecological and Reproductive Endocrinology & Metabolism 2021;2(3):156-61.
Dalex P, Koheeallee K, Undurraga M, Petignat P, Aerts L. Sexual, psychological, interpersonal well-being and supportive (unmet) care needs of couples after a gynecological cancer treatment. Eur J Gynaecol Oncol 2021;42(6):1228-35.
Bazzoun Y, Aerts L, Abdulcadir J. Chronic vulvar pain after female genital mutilation/cutting: prevalence and etiologies. Sexual Medicine 2021;8(4):100425.doi:10.1016. Open Access.
Navarria-Forney I, Benard J, Aerts L, Pluchino N, Streuli I. A web-based survey of reproductive awareness and choices in women with endometriosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2020;251:106-13.
Aerts L, Komisaruk B, Bianchi Demichelli F, Pluchino N, Goldstein I. Sexual life after hysterectomy: Still a neglected topic? Sex Med Rev, 2020;8(2):181-2.
Grangier L, Aerts L, Pluchino N. Les dyspareunies chez les patients atteintes d’endométriose. Rev Med Suisse, 2019;15:1941-4.
Enzlin P, Bollen K, Prekatsounaki S, Hidalgo L, Aerts L, Deprest J. “To shave or not to shave”. Pubic hair removal and its association with relational ans sexual satisfaction in women and men. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2019;16(7):954-62. (IF 3.151)
Bhatt RR, Gupta A, Rapkin A, Kilpatrick LA, Hamadani K, Pazmany E, Van Oudenhove L, Stains J, Aerts L, Enzlin P, Tillisch K, Mayer EA, Labus JS. Altered gray matter volume in sensorimotor and thalamic regions associated with pain in localized provoked vulvodynia: A voxel-based morphometry study. Pain, 2019;160(7):1529-40. (IF 5.559)
Aerts L, Grangier L, Dallenbach P, Wenger JM, Streuli I, Bianchi-Demichelli F, Pluchino N. Understanding sexual pain in endometriosis. Minerva Ginecologica, 2019;71(3):224-34.
Aerts L, Rubin RS, Randazzo M, Goldstein S, Goldstein I. Retrospective study of the prevalence and risk factors of clitoral adhesions: Women’s health providers should routinely examine the glans clitoris. Sexual Medicine, 2018;6(2):115-22. (IF 3.151)
Aerts L, Grangier L, Wenger JM, Dällenbach P, Streuli I, Pluchino N. Psychosocial impact of endometriosis: from co-morbidity to intervention. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2018;50:2-10. (IF 2.75)
Pazmany E, Ly HG, Aerts L, Kano M, Bergeron S, Verhaeghe J, Peeters R, Tack J, Dupont P, Enzlin P, Van Oudenhoven L. Brain responses to anticipation of vestibular pain in women with Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder. Neuroimage Clinical 2017;16:477-90. (IF 4.348)
Aerts L, Bergeron S, Pukall C, Khalifé S. Provoked vestibulodynia: Are pain ratings associated with sexual functioning? J Sex Med 2016;13(6):955-62. (IF 3.151)
Aerts L, Bergeron S, Corsini-Munt S, Steben M, Pâquet M. Are primary and secondary provoked vestibulodynia two different entities? A comparison of pain, psychosocial and sexual characteristics. J Sex Med 2015;12(6):1463-73. (IF 3.151)
Aerts L, Enzlin P, Vergote I, Verhaeghe J, Poppe W, Amant F. Sexual functioning in women after surgical treatment for endometrial cancer: a prospective controlled study. J Sex Med 2015;12(1):198-209. (IF 3.151)
Bergeron S, Corsini-Munt S, Aerts L, Rancour K, Rosen N. Female sexual pain disorders: A review of the literature on etiology and treatment. Current Sexual Health Reports 2015 DOI: 10.1007/s11930-015-0053-y. (IF 0.930)
Corsini-Munt S, Bergeron S, Rosen NO, Steben M, Mayrand MH, Delisle I, Aerts L, Santerre-Baillargeon M. A comparison of cognitive-behavioral couple therapy and lidocaine in the treatment of provoked vestibulodynia: A randomized clinical trial protocol. Trials 2014;15:506. (IF 2.117)
Aerts L, Christiaens MR, Enzlin P, Neven P, Amant F. Sexual functioning in women after mastectomy versus breast conserving therapy for early stage breast cancer: A prospective controlled study. Breast 2014;23(5):629-36. (IF 2.581)
Aerts L, Enzlin P, Vergote I, Verhaeghe J, Poppe W, Amant F. Long-term sexual functioning in women after surgical treatment for cervical cancer stages Ia-Ib: a prospective controlled study. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2014; 24(8): 1527-34. (IF 1.949)
Aerts L, Enzlin P, Vergote I, Verhaeghe J, Amant F. Sexual, psychological and relational functioning in women after surgical treatment for vulvar cancer: a prospective controlled study. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2014;24(2):372-80. (IF 1.949)
Aerts L, Enzlin P, Vergote I, Verhaeghe J, Poppe W, Amant F. Sexual, psychological and relational functioning in women after surgical treatment for vulvar malignancy: a literature review. J Sex Med 2012;9(2): 361-371. (IF 3.552)
Hasenburg A, Amant F, Aerts L, Pascal A, Achimas-Cadasiu P, Kesic V. Structure and Profiles of European Centers Treating Patients with Gynaecological Cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2011;21(9):1520-1524. (IF 1.646)
Aerts L, Enzlin P, Vergote I, Verhaeghe J, Amant F. Sexual problems and psychological functioning in women after pelvic surgery for gynaecological cancer. Eur J Gyn Oncol 2009;30(6):652-656. (IF 0.614)
Books and chapters in books:
Leerboek Seksuologie. Gijs L., Aerts L., Dewitte M., Enzlin P., Georgiadis J., Kreukels B., Meuleman E. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum; 2018.
Enzlin P, Aerts L, Kiekens C. Sexuality and medical illness. In: “Leerboek Seksuologie”. Bohn Stafleu van Loghum; October 3 2018.
Vandenbroucke T., Aerts L., Hasenburg A., Weis J., Schwab R. Psychological changes and support for pregnant women diagnosed with cancer and their family. In: Online Texbook of Cancer in Pregnancy. ESGO E-academy 2017.
Aerts L. Vulvodynie: classificatie, diagnose en behandeling. In: Reproductieve geneeskunde, Gynaecologie en Obstetrie anno 2017. Proceedings van het 21e Nederlands-Vlaams Doelencongres gehouden op 5-7 april 2017, De Doelen, Rotterdam, pp 974-80.
Pazmany E., Aerts L., Janssen E., Enzlin P. De Leuvense vulvalgesiometer: een verbeterd instrument om genitale druk en pijndrempels te meten. In: Reproductieve geneeskunde, Gynaecologie en Obstetrie anno 2017. Proceedings van het 21e Nederlands-Vlaams Doelencongres gehouden op 5-7 april 2017, De Doelen, Rotterdam, pp 989-91.
Aerts L., Enzlin P., Amant F. Seksuele problemen van patiënten met gynaecologische maligniteiten. In: Reproductieve geneeskunde, Gynaecologie en Obstetrie anno 2013. Proceedings van het 19e Nederlands-Vlaams Doelencongres gehouden op 17-19 april 2013, De Doelen, Rotterdam, pp1081-3
Membership:
I am vice-president of the Swiss Society for Sexology. I am a member of the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD), the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health (ISSWSH), the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM), the Flemish Society for Obstetrics and Gynaecology (VVOG), the Flemish Society for Sexology (VVS) and the Swiss Society for Psychosomatic and Psychosocial Medicine (ASMPP).
Language skills:
Dutch, English and French
Website: