Septate Hymen
- Causes & Risk Factors A septate hymen is a congenital disorder, meaning it is present at birth. It occurs when the hymen membrane does not form properly during development of the fetus. ...
- Symptoms & Types There may be no symptoms until a girl reaches puberty and begins using tampons during her periods. Symptoms may include: ...
- Diagnosis & Tests ...
- Treatment & Care ...
What is the difference between a septate hymen and a hymen?
The hymen is a ring-like piece of tissue that surrounds the opening of the vagina. It shouldn't cover or block your vaginal opening. If you have a septate hymen, extra hymenal tissue creates two small vaginal openings instead of one. The extra band tissue blocks your vaginal opening. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.
What is a septate hymenectomy?
Hymenectomy — septate hymen surgery If the septate hymen tissue doesn’t tear naturally or through intercourse, the doctor might recommend a hymenectomy. A hymenectomy is a simple surgical procedure to remove the excess hymenal tissue from the vaginal opening.
Can you put tampons in a septate hymen?
Instead of one small opening in the center, there are two. A young woman with a septate hymen may have trouble inserting a tampon or have difficulty removing it once it is filled with blood. Sometimes a girl has no problem because one or both openings are large enough for tampons.
How is a septate hymen diagnosed and treated?
Your healthcare provider can diagnose and treat a septate hymen with a safe and effective surgery that removes extra tissue from your vagina. Most people who get treatment for a septate hymen can enjoy pain-free sex and use tampons regularly.
What causes a septate hymen?
What causes a septate hymen? A septate hymen forms during embryological development when the tubes that eventually become a vagina don't fuse together properly.
Does septate hymen go away?
If you have a hymenal anomaly – for example, a septate hymen – it might resolve on its own when it breaks during sex or using a tampon. You can also have minor surgery to correct it if necessary.
What should a hymen look like?
What does a hymen look like? Your hymen is the same color as the skin around your vagina (flesh-colored). It can form a crescent moon beneath your vaginal opening or surround your vaginal opening. It doesn't cover the vaginal opening entirely because that would prevent menstruation blood from leaving your body.
How much is septate hymen surgery?
On MDsave, the cost of a Partial Removal of Hymen (Hymenectomy) ranges from $3,279 to $6,250. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can save when they buy their procedure upfront through MDsave. Read more about how MDsave works.
Does the hymen heal itself?
No, the hymen can't grow back once it's been stretched open. The hymen is a thin, fleshy tissue that stretches across part of the opening of your vagina. The hymen can be stretched open the first time you have vaginal sex.
What exercise can break your hymen?
Myth 2: The hymen breaks the first time you have sex (Or, hymen = “virgin”). The hymen can stretch or even tear during many intense physical activities like cycling, swimming, horse riding, etc. Use of tampons and inserting something in your vagina (fingers, sex toys, etc) can also stretch the hymen.
What do you do if you have a Microperforate hymen?
If you have been diagnosed with a microperforate hymen, it can be corrected with surgery. In some cases, it resolves over time on its own.
How can I check my hymen at home?
Hold the mirror in front of your vagina and angle it upwards to that you can see the opening. Use your index or middle finger to spread open the labia (vaginal lips) You should be able to see a thin, moon-shaped fleshy membrane across the lower section of your vaginal opening if the hymen is intact.
What is the shape of a hymen?
Typically, the hymen is a small doughnut-shaped ring of tissue that encircles the opening of the vagina. It may also look like a crescent or half-moon shape toward the bottom end of the vaginal opening. A septate hymen is when the hymen encircles the vaginal opening and has an additional string of tissue that connects the top and bottom ends ...
What is the name of the hymen that covers the entire opening of the vagina?
Others include: A cribriform hymen, which is perforated with many small holes. An imperforate hymen, which covers the entire opening of the vagina. A microperforate hymen, which covers the opening of the vagina but still has a small hole in it. There’s no known cause for an abnormally shaped hymen, and these anomalies are congenital, ...
What is the procedure to remove the hymenal tissue from the vagina?
Hymenectomy — septate hymen surgery. If the septate hymen tissue doesn’t tear naturally or through intercourse, the doctor might recommend a hymenectomy. A hymenectomy is a simple surgical procedure to remove the excess hymenal tissue from the vaginal opening.
Why do people have hymenectomy?
For people with an imperforate hymen (one that completely covers the vaginal opening), a hymenectomy can reduce the risk of developing serious health complications such as infections or abdominal pain from blocked menstrual flow. Most patients who have septate hymen surgery are starting puberty, which is when their hymenal tissues have become “estrogenized,” which makes them thicker and block more of the vaginal opening.
How to know if a hymen is causing problems with using tampons?
To determine if your hymen is causing issues with using tampons or having sex, your doctor will perform a vaginal exam. For a septate hymen, the way to correct the abnormality is with a hymenectomy procedure.
Why do babies have a thick hymen?
The hymen is a thin membrane-like sheath that covers the opening of the vagina. Babies have a thick hymen because of how the vaginal canal develops in utero. Over time, the hymen will become thinner and eventually break, possibly from exercise, inserting a tampon, or through sexual intercourse. Hymens come in all shapes and sizes.
How long does it take for a septate hymenectomy to heal?
Hymenectomy recovery. After a septate hymen surgery, it can take several weeks before you can resume your regular routine. Your doctor will tell you what to expect with a hymenectomy recovery and how you can help with the healing process. Following a septate hymen removal procedure, your doctor may recommend:
What is the hymen in women?
The hymen is a thin membrane that surrounds the opening to a women’s vagina. A normal hymen has a small hole within the center. A “septate” hymen means there is extra hymeneal tissue (more hymen than usual) that looks like a band in the middle. Instead of one small opening in the center, there are two. A young woman with a septate hymen may have ...
Can a septate hymen be used for tampons?
Instead of one small opening in the center, there are two. A young woman with a septate hymen may have trouble insert ing a tampon or have difficulty removing it once it is filled with blood. Sometimes a girl has no problem because one or both openings are large enough for tampons. If a young woman wants to use tampons and/or have vaginal ...
What is septate hymen?
A septate hymen is a condition you’re born with, but many girls don’t become aware of it until puberty.
When is a septate hymen discovered?
A septate hymen might not be discovered until a young woman struggles with tampon use repeatedly or until she experiences pain during sexual play or penetration.
What is the procedure to remove the septate hymen?
The recommended treatment for a septate hymen is a hymenectomy, a minor and often simple procedure that removes the extra tissue around the vaginal opening.
Where is the hymen located?
The hymen is a stretchy, thin, and flexible piece of tissue that’s located just inside of a woman’s vaginal opening. It’s actually composed of material that’s left behind after the vagina forms in utero. Normally, a hymen doesn’t stretch across the entire vaginal opening, sealing it off like a lid. Instead, it is usually crescent-shaped, leaving ...
Can you use a tampon with a septate hymen?
Using a tampon is difficult , if not impossible, for many individuals with a septate hymen because the two openings created by a septate hymen may be too small to accommodate a tampon. If a tampon does fit and passes through one side of a split hymen, it may be difficult to later remove it through the same side.
Can hymen tears cause bleeding?
In these instances, bleeding and pain may occur when the hymen tears, but there’s usually no need for further intervention.
Can you get sepsis from not using a clean tool?
Not only will you run the risk of getting a severe infection, which could later turn into sepsis as a result of not using clean tools, but potential blood loss and scarring are also a major concern.
Is the Hymen close to the opening?
No. The hymen is very close to the opening.
Do females have hymen after giving birth?
Females very regularly still have their hymen healthy after giving birth.
Can septated hymen be detected before puberty?
Some birth anomalies* might dissappear as a child grows, however septated hymen is rarely detected before puberty, and that means that it's probably one of those that's staying.
