Scientific article
Case report
OA Policy
English

Complications of hymenoplasty

Published inBMJ case reports, vol. 16, no. 10, e251008
Publication date2023-10
First online date2023-10-05
Abstract

We present the case of a woman in her late 20s who consulted our gynaecology emergency department due to dyspareunia and vaginal penetration issues. She had undergone a 'virginity reconstruction' procedure 10 days before her wedding in Africa. Clinical examination revealed suture of the inferior part of inner labia (labia minora), narrowing of the vaginal introitus and abnormal vaginal discharge. We performed an inferior defibulation procedure and removed the sutures under general anaesthesia. Postoperative care included systemic metronidazole, counselling, vaginal dilators and topical estrogens for 1 month. There were no complications during the postoperative follow-up, and a month later, the woman confirmed a satisfactory outcome. The aim of this paper is to discuss the practice of so-called 'virginity reconstruction', currently classified among female cosmetic genital surgeries despite being very similar to what is defined as female genital mutilation, and the care that can be provided to women in such cases.

Keywords
  • Ethics
  • Global Health
  • Migration and health
  • Obstetrics and gynaecology
  • Public health
Citation (ISO format)
PACE, Margherita et al. Complications of hymenoplasty. In: BMJ case reports, 2023, vol. 16, n° 10, p. e251008. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-251008
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Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Journal ISSN1757-790X
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120downloads

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