Labial Adhesions
What are labial adhesions?
Labial adhesions occur when the folds of the skin of the vagina (labia) stick together. This closure may be partial (either upper or lower labia) or complete. The adhesions normally occur in pre-pubertal girls. The cause of closure is often from vaginal irritation that when healing occurred, adhesions formed. The possible causes of irritation are from stool (wiping form back to front), bubble baths or something unknown.
What are the symptoms?
Sometimes there are no symptoms, but there is often pain from the pulling sensation, difficulty with urination, recurrent urinary tract infections, or recurrent vaginal infections.
How are labial adhesions treated?
Labial adhesions do not need treatment if only a small portion of the vagina is infected and no symptoms are occurring. Symptoms may resolve spontaneously once puberty occurs and estrogen levels rise naturally. However, for those patients with recurrent infections and discomfort, application of topical estrogen cream (Premarin) should be applied twice daily until the labia separate – usually for up to six weeks. Following the estrogen therapy, vaseline may be applied daily to prevent the adhesions from forming again.
There are no complications from labial adhesions. However, some patients may develop urinary tract infections and should be monitored.
Apply the cream:
Contact Us
If you have questions, please contact the Teen Health Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 513-636-4681.
Rev 01/10
