Hymenectomy Procedure

A hymenectomy is a minor procedure to surgically remove or open the hymen. It is done for a variety of reasons, most of which have to do with the malformation of the hymen. Some women have this surgery to increase their comfort during intercourse, while others need it for health reasons. Depending on your condition, your gynecologist may perform a septate hymen surgery, a microperforate hymenectomy or a partial hymenectomy. Risks, including bleeding after hymenectomy procedures, are minimal, especially when performed by a one of the top OB/GYN in Queens, NYC that are part of the Forest Hills Medical Services team.

Hymen Myths

There is a myth that hymen is the barrier denoting a woman's virginity. This myth has long been debunked, as the hymen must already be partially open to allow for menstruation in all women of childbearing age. The hymen is designed to move with pressure.

Usually, the hymen looks like a fringe of tissue around the vaginal opening. It is not an intact piece of tissue draped across it. Some girls are born without a hymen, others have only a fringe of tissue. Moreover, for all its fabled mystery, the hymen is just a body part.

Hymens can come in different shapes

The most common hymen in young women is shaped like a half moon. This shape allows menstrual blood to flow out of the vagina and rarely requires any medical intervention.

Some hymen shapes can lead to medical issues, but all of these conditions are highly treatable.

Imperforate hymen: An imperforate hymen can sometimes be diagnosed in a newborn. More often, the diagnosis is made when the girl becomes an adolescent. An imperforate hymen is a thin membrane that completely covers the opening to the vagina preventing menstrual blood from flowing out of the vagina. This usually causes the blood to back up into the vagina, which often develops into a vaginal mass and may lead to abdominal or back pain. Some girls may also have pain with bowel movements and trouble passing urine.

The treatment for an imperforate hymen is minor surgery to remove the extra tissue and create a normal sized vaginal opening.

Microperforate hymen: A microperforate hymen is a thin membrane that almost completely covers the opening to the vagina. Menstrual blood is usually able to flow out of the vagina, but the opening is very small. A young woman with a microperforate hymen usually will not be able to use a tampon and may not realize that she has a very tiny opening. If she is able to place a tampon into her vagina, she may not be able to remove it when it becomes filled with blood.

The treatment is minor surgery to remove the extra hymenal tissue creating a normal sized opening for menstrual blood to flow out, and to allow for use of a tampon.

Septate hymen: A septate hymen is a thin hymenal membrane with a band of extra tissue in the middle that causes two small vaginal openings instead of one. Young women with a septate hymen may have trouble getting a tampon in or trouble getting a tampon out. The treatment for a septate hymen is minor surgery to remove the extra band of tissue and create a normal sized vaginal opening.

Reasons for Hymenectomy Procedure.

There are several reasons for performing a hymenectomy, including:

• Decreased comfort or pain experienced during sexual intercourse
• Absence of normal menstruation, which can cause the blood to back up into your vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, or your abdomen, a life-threatening condition
• Severe abdominal pain during your periods

Septate hymen surgery or a microperforate hymenectomy can resolve these issues.

The Hymenectomy Procedure

The surgery is a simple outpatient procedure usually performed in your doctor's office in Forest Hills, Queens. Your hymen is opened with scissors or a scalpel, and the tissue is cut away. To close the incisions, your gynecologist will use the sutures that will dissolve on their own.

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