Hymenoplasty

What is Hymen?

The hymen is a ring-shaped structure located at the entrance of the vagina. It has a small hole in the middle. Its structure and shape differ among women. Its color is similar to our oral mucosa. It is thought to protect the internal genital organs against the external environment during infancy and childhood.

The hymen is classified to many types according to the number and shape of the hole in the middle. There are the several hymen types such as round, oval, crescent, septal, multi-hole, fimbrial, dentricular and microperforated. The most common of these is the round hymen shape, which is 80-90%.

What are the Stages of Hymenoplasty?

The hymen can rupture due to sexual intercourse or other reasons such as sports (karate, taekwondo, football),masturbation, falling, hitting the genital area, genital area surgeries at a young age, infections related to the vaginal entrance.

In some societies where hymen is a symbol of virginity , women may demand hymenoplasty because. Hymenoplasty is performed on women 18 aged and over. The stages of hymenoplasty are:

• The woman is taken to the gynecological table.
• It is covered with a sterile surgical drape.
• The vagina is cleaned with sterile solutions.
• Local or sedation anesthesia is applied.
• Hymenoplasty surgery is performed at the vaginal entrance.
• The woman wearing her post-operative clothes goes to the observation room.
• The person is observed for 45-60 minutes by monitoring the bleeding and general condition.
• At the end of this period, people who do not have any complications can be discharged.

How is Hymenoplasty Performed?

Hymenoplasty is operated to the entrance of the vagina. The procedure is performed painlessly under local or sedation anesthesia. Basically, repairs are made with 3 different techniques. These:

1. Vaginal entrance can be narrowed with dissolvable surgical threads. This is called temporary hymenoplasty. The threads begin to dissolve spontaneously. Entrance of the vagina turn back to previous style 10 days later.
2. In case of incomplete rupture of the hymen or if the procedure is performed in the early period, there are sufficient number and size of residual tissue pieces at the entrance of the vagina. The hymen can be repaired by suturing these residual tissue pieces end to end with surgical threads.
3. If there is no residual tissue from the hymen at the entrance to the vagina and a permanent surgical repair is desired, the flap method is used. In the flap method, the hymen is formed with tissue pieces removed from the vaginal entrance.

Hymenoplasty takes about 15-30 minutes. Recovery time in permanent hymenoplasty is 4-6 weeks. There is usually no need for a special dressing after the surgery. The doctor checks the procedure area 1-2 months later. Another check is done before the wedding.

Hymen Examination in Antalya Turkey

The hymen can be damaged for many reasons. Some single women wonder about the condition of the hymen when they have suspicious non-menstrual vaginal bleeding.

Hymen examination is done easily and quickly in Antalya Turkey.

The visual evaluation of the hymen by the gynecologist is called the hymen examination. The hymen examination takes 3-5 minutes. The doctor indicates the damage, tear or deterioration in the hymen by describing it in a clockwise direction.

It is not correct to do the hymen examination by oneself with a mirror. Shape differences and normal anatomical variations of hymen can cause confusion. It is not determined whether a person has intercourse via the hymen examination or how many people she had sex with.

Recommendations After Hymenoplasty Procedure 

• Care of the genital area is rather substantial after hymenoplasty surgery procedure. The genital area should be cleaned from front to back with warm water and should not be kept wet.
• Shower is taken standly within the first 2 months,. Bathtub, pool and sea should not be used for 2 months. During this period, leg sports should be avoided.
• Strong coughing, straining or sneezing may cause the sutures to open as they will increase the intra-abdominal pressure suddenly. You should pay attention in terms of these cituations.
• To avoid constipation, fibrous foods should be consumed and plenty of water should be drunk. Constipation can increase intra-abdominal pressure.
• Clothes such as tight jeans and leggings tightening and sweating the genital area should not be worn.

Considerations After Hymenoplasty

Minor bleeding in the form of spotting may occur after hymenoplasty. Excessive bleeding is not expected. In such a case, your doctor should be informed.

One week after hymenoplasty, there may be a slight itching in the genital area due to the melting of the stitches. Excessive itching and being seen in other parts of the body suggest allergic causes.

After hymenoplasty, there may be a slight vaginal discharge in the form of transparent, light yellow or pink. Dark yellow, green, or white, foul-smelling discharge is a sign of vaginal infection.

Swelling in the vagina after the repair is a sign of intra-tissue blood accumulation. This is called a hematoma. The most common cause of hematomas is the opening of the sutures. In such a situation, your doctor may make additional interventions after the examination, if necessary.

Reasons for Failure of Hymenoplasty

Hymenoplasty may fail due to tissue healing problems, bleeding, recurrent vaginal infections, moist genital area, chronic cough, strong straining, use of sauna, bathtub, sea and pool.

Smoking, alcohol use, diabetes, hypertension and vascular diseases adversely affect tissue vascularisation and prolong the healing process.

Vaginal infections can adversely affect the healing process, causing deformation at the surgical site, opening of the sutures and abscess formation.

Bleeding is a complication seen at the surgical site. The most common cause of bleeding is the opening of the stitches. The stitches may open as a result of not following the advices, doing leg exercises and sports, hitting the genital area or falling.

All these reasons reduce the success of hymenoplasty. In such situations, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will take the necessary action.