Developmental disorders of the vagina and vulva

Symptoms:

Symptoms vary according to the abnormality present. Abnormalities include:

• imperforate hymen--An adolescent girl may complain of recurrent pelvic pain and lack of menstrual periods. Urinary retention may also occur.
• vaginal septum (complete)--An adolescent girl may have those symptoms similar to imperforate hymen. Incomplete vaginal septum may allow adequate menstrual flow but later may cause pain with intercourse.
• menstruation, absent--This may also be associated with this disease.

Signs and tests:

Inspection of the external genitalia, may reveal:

• one side of labia larger than the other or unusually large on both sides
• vaginal opening extremely close to the urethra or anus
• urethra located on the clitoris

Examination of the vagina may reveal:

• absence of, or partially-formed vagina
• abnormal septum ("wall" of connective tissue) in the vaginal canal that may either partially or completely divide the vagina horizontally or vertically
• imperforate hymen (solid membrane obstructing the vaginal opening). In preadolescent girls, secretions may accumulate causing vaginal distention and a shiny, bulging protuberance at the vaginal opening. In adolescent girls, menstrual blood accumulates causing a purplish-red, bulging protuberance at the vaginal opening.