Hymen atresia is a pathological development of the female reproductive system. The main characteristic of hymen atresia is the complete absence of a hole in the hymen. In a normal state, the hymen has one or more holes. With atresia of the hymen, the hymenal septum has complete obstruction. The formation of the hymen occurs at the nineteenth week of intrauterine fetal development, with a delay in the physiological process of fetal development, the hymen is overgrown.
The content of the article:
Causes of hymen atresia
Symptoms of hymen atresia
Treatment of hymen atresia
Prevention of hymen atresia
Hymen atresia
Usually, hymen atresia is determined at an early age: more often from five to six years during a routine examination by a gynecologist, sometimes this diagnosis is made in the maternity hospital.
There are two types of hymen atresia: primary regrowth (congenital absence of hymen perforation) and secondary hymen regrowth (hymen atresia, as a consequence of adhesive processes).
Causes of hymen atresia
The causes of hymen atresia can be diverse, as a rule, they directly depend on the type of pathology itself. Primary hymen atresia occurs when the intrauterine development of the embryo is disrupted, during the formation of the hymen from the distal sectors of the paramesonephral duct. Secondary atresia of the hymen may occur after the physiologically normal formation of the hymen, as a result of inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, as well as a complication of childhood infections (diphtheria, measles, scarlet fever, etc.), or scarring and adhesions.
Symptoms of hymen atresia
Before the beginning of the first menstruation, hymen atresia can develop without any clinical manifestations. But there are isolated cases when in childhood there is an accumulation of vaginal secretions (hydrocolpos, mucokolpos). The external manifestations of such a process may be frequent urination, as the fluid accumulated in the vagina begins to squeeze nearby organs, including the bladder.
The first symptoms of hymen atresia appear with the onset of menarche, they are characterized by the absence of bloody discharge, spastic pain in the lower back or lower abdomen, complete amenorrhea is observed. If you do not consult a doctor and do not take certain measures, there will be a constant accumulation of blood in the vagina, then in the uterus and fallopian tubes, which entails hematocolpos, hematosalpinx and hematometer. The compensatory abilities of the body are quite large, so blood can accumulate for a long period, which will lead to even greater complications.
If there are complaints of cyclical abdominal and lower back pain, in the absence of any discharge, the diagnosis can be made without problems. Upon examination, the swelling of the hymen of a bluish or yellowish hue is determined, hematocolpos is easily palpated through the rectum. Rectoro-vaginal examination allows you to determine the wrong location of the uterus, as well as its soreness. During ultrasound diagnostics, there is a pattern characteristic of accumulation of blood in the vagina (hematocolpos), as well as accumulation of blood in the uterus (hematometers).
Treatment of hymen atresia
In case of hymen atresia, surgical intervention is the correct method of treatment. If hymen atresia is not found in a very neglected state and blood filling is detected only in the vagina during ultrasound diagnostics, an autopsy of the hymen is performed and the contents of the vagina are evacuated. This surgical intervention is performed under local anesthesia, after a preliminary test for sensitivity to an anesthetic. Approximately five milliliters of anesthetic (novocaine, lidocaine or others) are injected into the base of the hymen. After the onset of the anesthetic effect, a cruciform incision is made in the center of the hymen. The size of the incision depends on the thickness of the hymen. Then intravenously administered drugs that promote uterine contractions. Increasing the contractile properties of the uterus is important to simplify its purification from blood contents. Massage through the abdominal wall also promotes emptying of the uterus.
The postoperative period is often accompanied by vaginal adenosis, which does not disappear independently. Vaginal adenosis is removed by laser vaporization or cryodestruction.
If it was not possible to diagnose this ailment in time, both the uterus and fallopian tubes were filled with blood – it is definitely necessary to perform gluttony.
Prevention of hymen atresia
The main method of preventing hymen atresia is to ensure the normal embryonic development of the fetus, it is important to exclude the effects of pathogenic factors, pregnant women should avoid hypothermia, visit a doctor on time. Prevention of the development of secondary hymen atresia is the prevention of the appearance of vulvovaginitis and various inflammatory processes. Planned gynecological examinations will be an important element of the prevention of hymen atresia, because it is always easier to prevent pathology than to cure it later. Hymen atresia has a favorable prognosis, mainly it depends on the timeliness of contacting a specialist.
