The hymen is a thin membrane that covers the entrance to the vagina and appears to protect against common infections of the female reproductive system. Normally, girls are born with a small perforation in this membrane to allow access to the vagina, however, some may be born with the membrane completely closed, causing discomfort, especially during menstruation.
Thus, many girls may not know that they have an un perforated hymen until the first menstrual period appears, since the blood cannot escape and therefore accumulates inside the vagina, generating symptoms such as severe pains and abdominal sensations. lower abdomen, for example.
- In addition.
- The absence of hymen perforation also prevents sexual intercourse.
- Requiring a small surgery to cut the hymen and create a perforation similar to that which should have existed from birth.
The first symptoms of imperforate hymen appear during puberty and are mainly caused by the accumulation of menstrual blood that cannot come out of the vaginal canal. In these cases, signs may include:
In addition, girls who show all signs of puberty development, but who appear to be late at the beginning of their period, may also have an imperforate hymen and therefore a gynecologist should be consulted to confirm the diagnosis.
In the case of the baby, the imperforate hymen is identified only if the doctor performs a detailed genital evaluation or if the hymen forms a small bag easily visible in the vagina.
Diagnosis of imperforate hymen is almost always made by observation of the vaginal canal by the doctor, after the description of the symptoms. However, there are also cases where your doctor chooses to have a pelvic ultrasound, to confirm that this is not another gynecological problem.
The problem has been present from birth, there are girls whose diagnosis is a few days after birth, while they are still in the maternity ward. In such cases, parents may choose to undergo treatment or wait for the girl to grow up and reach adolescence.
Treatment of the imperforate hymen is performed by a small surgical procedure, in which the doctor cuts the hymen and removes the excess tissue, creating an opening similar to the natural one.
Depending on the woman, your doctor may need to recommend using a small dilator to keep the hymen open and prevent it from closing. This dilator is similar to a tampon and should be used for 15 minutes a day during the recovery period.
In cases where the pediatrician identifies perforated hymen in the baby, surgery may be performed immediately or parents may choose to wait for the girl to grow up, to reduce the risk of complications from surgery.