The main symptoms of imperforate hymen are absence of menstruation and the cramps. Adolescents with imperforate hymen may also have pain in the lower abdomen or back, difficulty urinating, and pain to defecate.
The symptoms usually appear at puberty. The imperforate hymen does not allow passage of the menstrual flow, which is retained in the vagina and the girl does not menstruate.
The cramps are cyclical and can last for several months as they are related to the menstrual cycle. However, the most obvious sign of imperforate hymen is delay of the first menstruation, which does not occur.
In more severe cases, menstruation may accumulate in the uterus, which expands and can compress structures around you, causing pain. The retention of the menstrual flow in the uterus can also favor the development of infections.
The treatment of the imperforate hymen is done through surgery. The surgical procedure is simple and consists of withdrawal of the hymen. Performing only a cut may allow the formation of a new membrane, as the edges of the hymen tend to fuse.
The imperforate hymen is a malformation that accompanies the girl from birth, often going unnoticed during childhood. The diagnosis can be made shortly after birth, although most of the time it occurs at puberty or adolescence.
There are cases of imperforate hymen that are associated with malformations in the vaginal canal, uterus, kidneys and urinary tract. It is up to the doctor / gynecologist to investigate these possibilities when detecting an imperforate hymen.
Learn more at:
What is the hymen?
What is compliant hymen?
Is there surgery for who has compliant hymen?
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