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Fused, glued or stuck together labia is a term used to describe an increasingly common intimate defect in girls. Fused labia can cause periodic wetting as well as urinary tract infections, so the condition requires a medical consultation as soon as possible. Why do the labia stick together? What do the fused labia look like and how is the treatment of girls with this defect?
Fused, stuck togetherorsticky labiais a colloquial term for synechia - an increasingly common defect intymnegoin girls . Glued labia, both larger and smaller, occur in about 2% of girls, most often in the first two years of life and between 6 and 7 years of age. They are less common in teenage girls.
fused labia in girls: causes
During childhood, due to the reduced estrogen content ( hypoestrogenism ), the labia are covered with thin, dry epithelium. Therefore, they are easily damaged as a result of inflammatory processes or mechanical irritation, which causes the damaged, adhering surfaces to stick together, and then, in the course of the healing process, to their delicate growth. Low estrogen levels also make vaginal secretions alkaline, which can also cause irritation and local inflammation.
In recent years, doctors have observed an increase in the number of small patients with this defect, which is why some of them suspect that the cause of fusion of the labia may also be poor care habits (changing the diaper too rarely may cause diaper dermatitis, i.e. ammonia, caused by prolonged contact of moist skin with urine and feces), the use of disposable diapers, new cosmetics or nursing wipes (cosmetics can cause irritation and inflammation of the vulva, resulting in gluing of the labia). According to specialists, special attention should also be paid to glued labia in older girls, as they may indicate sexual harassment.
What do fused labia look like?
After parting the labia majora, from the clitoral side towards the posterior commissure, a transparent middle suture with a small opening for the flowing urine just below the clitoris is visible. The vestibule and the outer opening of the urethra are completely obstructed by the fusion of the smaller labia.
Labia sticking - symptoms
A small defect usually does not cause any discomfort. Larger adhesions cause a restricted outflow of urine, some of which flows into the vagina, and a recess produced by the adhesions, usually manifested by wetting (residual urine, after getting up from the potty or toilet, may gradually flow out). In addition to disorders related to urination, there may also be pain, itching and redness in the intimate areas, which are caused not only by residual urine. They can also be a symptom of a urinary tract infection, as residual urine causes bacteria to multiply.
Clumped labia: treatment
If you suspect glued labia, see a pediatrician. He should order a consultation with a urologist, gynecologist or pediatric surgeon who will decide on further treatment.
Treatment of fused labiadepends on the size of the defect. If it is small and does not cause problems with urination and other discomforts, wait until the girl enters puberty, when estrogen levels are rising. Then the labia should come apart naturally.
Whenunsticking of the labiais necessary, the doctor usually recommends applying estrogen ointments along the adhesion line. The treatment lasts about 2-3 weeks, during which there may be a temporary discoloration of the vulva or swelling of the mammary glands, which disappears after the end of the treatment. Much less often, less effective steroid ointments are prescribed. If, despite the use of the ointment, the labia do not separate, the doctor may attempt to manually and very gently separate the lips after applying a local anesthetic cream.
When the fusion is very strong or when the above-mentioned the methods are not effective, the treatment involves mechanical separation of the labia in the midline under general anesthesia.