Transverse Vaginal Septum | Overview
Transverse Vaginal Septum | Symptoms & Causes
What are the symptoms of transverse vaginal septum?
Common symptoms include:
- the absence of a menstrual cycle, called amenorrhea
- periods that last beyond the normal four to seven day cycle
- abdominal pain from blood collecting in the upper vagina.
What causes transverse vaginal septum?
A transverse vaginal septum forms during embryological development when the tubes that eventually become a vagina don't fuse together properly. The cause of this genetic abnormality is unknown.
Transverse Vaginal Septum | Diagnosis & Treatment
How is a transverse vaginal septum diagnosed?
During an examination, your daughter's gynecologist can confirm that a wall of fibrous tissue is blocking the vagina. Usually, a transverse vaginal septum isn't diagnosed until menstrual problems appear in her teenage years.
How is transverse vaginal septum treated?
A surgical procedure is performed to "resect," or remove the fibrous tissue creating a blockage in your daughter's vagina.
There is a risk of stenosis, or scarring where the surgery took place. This is why the gynecologist may have your daughter use a vaginal dilator for a while to aid the healing process and prevent the vagina from taking on an hour-glass shape.