Labial Adhesions

 

About 2% of female children will develop labial adhesions before they reach puberty. At Texas Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, Oluyemisi Adeyemi-Fowode, MD, and the team offer physical exams on-site to confirm labial lesions. Conservative therapies and minimally invasive surgeries are available to address symptoms like vaginal pain and difficulties urinating caused by labial adhesions. To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for labial adhesions for your child, call Texas Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology in Sugar Land, Texas, or book a consultation online today.

 

Labial Adhesions Q & A

 

What are labial adhesions?

 

Labial adhesions occur when the inner skin folds (lips) of the vulva stick together. The underlying cause of labial adhesions isn’t well understood, but the condition may develop due to low estrogen levels. It is most common in infants and adolescents.

 

When the labial tissues block the vaginal opening or cause symptoms that interfere with your daughter’s health or quality of life, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at Texas Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology.

 

 

What are the symptoms of labial adhesions?

 

Labial adhesions may not cause symptoms in infants or young girls. However, as girls get older, they may complain of:

 

• Vaginal pain
• Difficulty urinating
• Vaginal discharge
• Frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs)

 

The team at Texas Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology can physically examine the vagina to identify adhesions, which can look like a piece of tissue that covers the vaginal opening.

 

Adhesions can also cover the opening of the urethra — the tube that carries urine out of the body. This tissue growth can interfere with urination and increase your daughter’s risk for UTIs.

 

 

How are labial adhesions treated?

 

Not all labial adhesions require treatment. The team at Texas Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology can monitor the situation in girls who haven’t entered puberty. Once they start producing estrogen, the adhesions may go away.

 

If symptoms of labial adhesions interfere with urination or cause pain, the team may prescribe an estrogen cream that you apply over your child’s vaginal tissue. Typically, the skin separates after the use of the estrogen cream. You may need to apply petroleum jelly to the skin for up to 12 months afterward to prevent the tissues from sticking together again.

 

Steroid creams may also be a part of your treatment plan. You also need to ensure your daughter keeps her vulva tissue clean and dry to prevent infections and other complications.

 

When topical medications aren’t enough to treat labial adhesions, a minor surgical procedure might be needed to separate the tissue. The medical team provides complete after-care instructions following surgery to protect you from infection and ensure tissues heal properly.

 

To schedule a diagnostic evaluation for your daughter’s labial adhesions, call Texas Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology today or book an appointment online.