BACKGROUND So-called virginity testing, also referred to as hymen, two-finger, or per vaginal examination, is the inspection of the female genitalia to assess if the examinee has had or has been habituated to sexual intercourse. This paper is the first systematic review of available evidence on the medical utility of virginity testing by hymen examination and its potential impacts on the examin...

There are an estimated 130 million victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) worldwide, mostly in Africa, and two million such procedures are performed every year. FGM is associated with many immediate and long-term complications. This study examines a case of an imperforated hymen in a premenarcheal adolescent girl presented with acute retention of urine. Eight months prior, she was treated i...

An imperforate hymen is not a rare condition in female newborns, but is often ignored in a genital examination by physicians. Lobar nephronia is a rare condition in pediatric patients that can be screened by ultrasound or computed tomography to distinguish it from a renal abscess. Treatment for lobar nephronia requires at least 14 days of antimicrobial therapy and a follow-up assessment by rena...

BACKGROUND Hymenal abnormalities are most commonly a result of incomplete apoptosis of the urogenital sinus during embryology. Infrequently, however, noncongenital abnormalities of the hymen can occur that can cause significant sequelae such as severe introital dyspareunia. CASES We report on two adult women who developed severe introital dyspareunia secondary to hymenal stenosis and fibrosis...

We designed this pilot study to assess physician knowledge and comfort evaluating child sexual abuse in Malawi and to evaluate the feasibility of a brief educational intervention to improve physician knowledge. A survey was administered to 21 physicians before receiving training on child sexual abuse. The survey was administered again, 3 days later, to assess improvement. Prior to the training,...

The paper focuses on anatomical varieties of developmental anomalies of female vagina’s outlet, emphasizing the role of their early recognition in preventing retrograde menstruation by surgical treatment at the beginning of puberty. Three different types of vaginal outlet obstruction are described: imperforate hymen from the group of hymen misdevelopment, transversal vaginal septum from the gro...

Hematocolpometra is one of the important cause in which there is accumulation of menstrual blood in endometrial cavity and vagina due to imperforate hymen in adolescent girls. Because urinary retention is rare in female patients, there is need for a thorough examination including ultrasound, CT or MRI to determine its exact cause and nature of fluid content. We herein present an interesting cas...

background: leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors of the uterus. removal of the prolapsed pedunculated submucous myoma represents a distinct entity. evaluation and treatment of such cases may need intervention via the hymen.mini-laparotomic management of a pedunculated submucous myoma while preserving hymen integrity in a virginal patient is described as a safe alternative.. case: a 30-y...

Hydrometrocolpos is a rare congenital disorder consisting of cystic dilation of the vagina and uterus and accumulation of mucus secretions resulting from genital tract obstruction.1 The obstruction can be produced by imperforate hymen, transverse vaginal membrane, or some degree of vaginal atresia.2 Excessive intrauterine stimulation of the cervical mucus glands by circulating maternal estrogen...

BACKGROUND Hymen reconstruction is a controversial measure performed to help young females under threat of honour-related violence. Official guidelines often reject offering hymen reconstructions. On the other hand, extraordinary measures in order to enable operations of Jehovah's Witnesses who want a bloodless operation in order to avoid religiously related sanctions are often considered prais...