The Truth About Labial Adhesions
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What Are Labial Adhesions?
No one seems to talk about this one, but Labial Adhesions are a common occurrence in little girls. It's when the inner vaginal lips (labia minora) fuse together appearing to close off the opening to the vagina. It's thought to occur in 1-2% of girls aged 3 months to 6 years.
A parent may notice labial adhesion, but they usually cause no symptoms and are noticed only at a routine well-child checkup with a pediatrician. They are easy to treat, if they need to be treated, but the doctor may want to rule out any other vaginal disorders before treatment.
What Causes Labial Adhesions?
Experts aren't 100% sure what causes labial adhesions, but most agree they are caused when the labia become irritated or inflamed, as could be the case in a wet diaper. When the raw skin heals, it creates tissue that fuses the labia together. Soap residue on clothing may play a part as well as low levels of estrogen, which is normal before puberty. They may be the result of sexual abuse, but this is certainly not the reason for the majority of cases.
Labial adhesions can cause blockage of the urinary tract. A child may also complain of ‘drips' or parents may notice urine-stained underwear. Even if the adhesions are not fully blocking the urethra, a pocket of skin may form, trapping small amounts of urine, which are released when the child stands.
Bladder infections may be more common in girls with labial adhesions. Urine trapped in the extra tissue may make it's way back up into the urethra cuasing infection.
If you want to see a picture of what it looks like in a baby, there is one at the bottom of this page:
Effects of Estrogen Cream
It's important to note that estrogen cream can have side effects. Girls and even infants may show some minor breast development during estrogen treatment. The skin around the labia and/or nipples may darken. Stopping estrogen may even cause vaginal bleeding, but this should be very minimal and not a cause for concern. These symptoms usually subside after estrogen treatment is stopped and most girls will use estrogen without any side effects.
Treatment
Some doctors like to treat labial adhesions, while others believe that left untreated they most like will resolve on their own at puberty.
Treatment usually consists of the application of topical estrogen cream to the affected area. This causes the tissue fusing the labia to dissolve, separating the labia. Once separate, antibiotic cream is used to promote healing.
If your doctor opts to treat your daughter's labial adhesions, don't be surprised if they separate, heal, then later return.
Always follow the advice of your pediatrician. Never try to separate the labia with force. It will hurt and traumatize the child and usually cause the adhesions to heal worse than they started. In rare cases, the labia may need to be surgically separated by a doctor.
Prevention of Recurrence
Good vulvar care includes avoidance of irritants. Keep diapers dry and use fragrance free detergents. Don't scrub, but clean the vulva daily with water. Stay away from the bubble bath! And teach your daughter to wipe from front to back. Let the area get some air every day. Apply a lubricant like petroleum jelly to the labia at night.
The main thing is to remember it's nothing you did wrong, and it's a very common occurrence - even if no one says so!
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Comments
I chose not to put a picture on this Hub. However, I did feel it was useful for those who wanted to know what the condition looks like to have that resource. Many girls suffer from urinary tract infections because of labial adhesions. The picture I linked to is on a medical website. I'm sorry that you were offended by the picture. I certainly didn't want to offend, which is why I did not post the picture, but only a link. If you don't want to view the photo, please do not click the link.
Thanks to you, i now realise that my young daughter probably has this condition. The photo link did help as all the rest i looked at on the internet showed adult women and not a child. It was easier to compare. I was not aware untill today of its symtoms (of which my daughter has told me she has had, over the course of time). My doctor did say to wait unitll puberty.
My daughter was born with this and starting at 4 or 6 months we started on the estrogen cream. There were no physical side effects and the adhesion opened up after about 4 weeks of using the cream every day. Once opened, we kept it from re-fusing with a touch of vaseline to the area. I had no idea this could happen when she was diagnosed, but I'm happy there was a quick resolve! Thanks for this informative Hub. - Blogger Mom
The biggest thing you need to watch for is that girls are not getting bladder infections, which are pure misery.
Very well written about this problem,concised and easy to follow for everone.
I disagree with the first responder: Thank you for the picture. It has helped me to determine what the doctor was talking about. Our pediatrician just diagnosed my daughter with this condition 2 days ago. I was mortified when he was explaining this condition. I've never heard of this - now I feel bad that I didn't prevent it. I was in such shock at the time he was explaining things that I didn't absorb everything he was saying. I've been doing online research to find out the causes and to see what all of our options are. Your article has been very informative.
You have provided us with an excellent advice and with a condition that I didn't know existed, I had 5 girls and I am happy to say that none of them developed that. Thank you for a well writen explaination, and I too disagree with the first responder, I see very well that your intentions where noble, and not "morbid". As a Mom, I didn't take offence as you only posted a link. Thank you again. Many moms feel guilty when their children develop some unknown problems, but this is not their fault!, it could happen to anyone's little girl.
My daughter is in her 30's and has 4 children, but when she was an infant the pediatrician did somthing while he was examining her genital area and she jumpped and then cried and he said, he fixed what could be a big problem for her when she grew up. I was very young at the time and didn't ask for details, but I trusted him completely - now I'm wondering if that isn't what he 'fixed' or was it something else?
Thanks for the support! We need to understand our bodies - they belong to us after all! Celebrate 10 Years of the Vagina Monologues
I have visited different sites for information on labia adhesion--my daughter was diagnosed at age 2 1/2--and she is now 4 years old. Initially, the area did open with the use of the topical cream, however, i am still battling this problem. It is starting to close again and she is always complaining that it 'hurts'..i continuously use vaseline on the area but am also frustrated--i don't know if she has any other infections--the doctor just looked at it and says it is fine--but I don't believe that. I am considering seeing a specialist.
Thank you for the article and most of all thanks for the link to e-Medicine: we are taking our daughter to the doctor because we think she has this condition and it was very helpful to see what it looks like. I completely disagree with the first comment. Plus, in order to post that picture on a medical website, the doctor would have had to have authorization from the parent. Thank you so much, this article really helped.
I found this site very helpful. My daughter had a stomach virus that caused a diaper rash and yeast infection. Her doctor gave her some cream a few days ago. Her rash has improved but then lastnight i noticed that her vagina was closing!! I was in comlete shock!! I had NEVER heard of this. Then I got upset b/c I didn't know what I did wrong I mean I bathe her and keep her clean. I talked to the doctor and he said that she was raw from the rash and that when it healed, her vagina healed together. . . no problem. I take her to the doctor today. It is just nice to know that this is normal and that it can happen to anybody...thanks for this site!!
Instead of petroleum and instead of antibiots use coconut oil unless allergy presents itself.
coconut oil is much more safe, natural, and inexpensive.
it might work instead of the estrogen cream also, don't know.
and coconut oil can be taken and is very helpful to take orally and to use as cooking oil. (instead of the toxic cooking oils sold in most grocery stores)
I just noticed that my 6 year old daughter has developed labial adhesions. The pediatrician is prescribing Premarin to be used. I was wondering if anyone has noticed if the child experiences any discomfort on the adhesions from the cream "thinning" the area and when it separates. I am also concerned with the possible breast enlargement because she is so much older than the norm. She is six and is very aware of her body and changes.
Any opinions or advice would be welcomed before I actually begin treatment on her.
Thanks for this lens. I was only vaguely aware of this condition (thankfully my daughter was relatively drama-free health-wise when she was a baby).
After we noticed some complaining when she urinated, my 2.5 year old was diagnosed with labial adhesion, and her Dr. did prescribe premarin cream once a day at bedtime. I am just now noticing that it is starting to open up a little, after about three weeks of treatment. Also tonight we noticed her nipples are a little swollen, and I can feel little bumps underneath. This totally freaked me out. I guess I need some reassurance that this treatment will not hurt her, and it will go away once we stop treatment...yikes. I keep reading various articles, and of course I find contradicting info (one article said that estrogen cream should not be used for more that two weeks).
working
DebbieCookie says:
11 months ago
I dislike the act of the person responsible of adding such picture of that innocent little baby encolse - using her ,exploiting childrens without a voice by exposing her private body part to show examples of Labial Adhesions in a child.That is a big NO NO. Grow up people ,Since she does not have a voice I am here to stand up for her and complaining about this in her defense.Things like This can only be convinient to sexual predators out there,is it that you are one of them and with this your supporting there crimes.Do you know your doing the same thing?OPen your eyes and protect the child.You could ve use a drawing as example not an child .That is so unacceptable and very offensive to me and I am sure for other mother and people that care. Stop crime like this dumb ass .