Hydrocolpos is the distension of the vagina caused by the accumulation of fluid due to congenital vaginal obstruction. The obstruction is often caused by an imperforate hymen or less commonly a transverse vaginal septum. The fluid consists of cervical and endometrial mucus or in rare instances urine accumulated through a vesicovaginal fistula proximal to the obstruction. In some cases, it is associated with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome.[rx] If it occurs in prepubertal girls, it may show up as abdominal swelling. It may be detected by using ultrasound. Prenatal diagnosis and early newborn imaging studies lead to early detection and treatment of these cases.[rx] It may also present at birth as a distended lower abdomen and vagina. It also associated with vaginal atresia. A high index of suspicion for hydrocolloids in a newborn presenting with a fetal diagnosis of infraumbilical abdominal mass will facilitate timely intervention and prevention of complications.[rx]
Causes of Hydrocolpos
There can be four possible causes of hematocolpos[rx]
- Imperforate hymen: An imperforate hymen is a medical condition where the girls are born with a hymen which covers the whole opening of the vagina. An imperforate hymen may be diagnosed at any age. However, when a girl hits puberty, this type of hymen blocks the blood from flowing out and the bloods pools in the vagina. this condition is called Hematocolpos. As the blood backs up in the vagina, it causes:
- Mass or fullness in the lower abdomen
- Stomach ache
- Back pain
Problems in urinating and bowel movements,[rx]
- Cervical atresia: Cervical Atresia is a relatively rare Mullerian duct anomaly of the female reproductive tract. It is associated with acute or chronic pain in the abdomen or pelvic pain along with other reproductive problems. A significant share of the women with cervical atresia have it since birth, that is, they congenital cervical atresia. However, Cervical Atresia is distinct from other Mullerian duct anomalies.[rx]
- Vaginal atresia: Vaginal atresia is another congenital defect that results in uterovaginal outflow tract obstruction. it occurs when the caudal portion of the vagina fails to form and is rather replaced with fibrous tissues only. Vaginal Atresia has three basic categories of anomalies- Vaginal Agenesis, ambiguous genitalia, and imperforate anus and urogenital sinus variants. The different features associated with ambiguous genitalia which might eventually lead to a blockage of menstrual blood flow are i) Rugal folds over the labia ii) Mass in an apparent labium iii) Excess citoral tissue. [rx] Due to these anomalies, there are chances that the menstrual blood would not be able to flow out of the vagina, eventually leading to Hematocolpos.
- Transverse vaginal septum: A transverse vaginal septum is another medical condition whereby an extra horizontal wall of tissue that has formed during embryological development creates a blockage in the vagina. Transverse vaginal septa are relatively rare anomalies, occurring in about 1 in 70,000 girls. The diagnosis can be made at various ages, from neonates presenting with hydrocolloids to young women presenting with primary amenorrhea and pelvic pain due to the development of hematocolpos. Often, women might have a normal hymeneal opening but this wall of tissue might be blocking access to the vaginal canal. A small opening in the septum called the fenestration allows the menstrual blood to flow out of the vagina. However, it takes longer than the usual menstrual cycle. For the women who do not have a fenestration, blood will pool in the upper vagina and this would lead to serious abdominal pain. This also results in infertility.[rx]
Symptoms of Hydrocolpos
- On and off lower abdominal pain lasting more than a week
- Pain with cramping, with episodes of worse pain in between
- Vomiting without blood or bile
- Abdominal bloating and distention
- Constipation and changes in urine output
- Tender breasts
- Vaginal bleeding or discharge
- Severe cyclic pelvic pain
- Urinary retention
Treatment of Hydrocolpos
As the causes for Hematocolpos are diverse, there are different surgical treatments which needs to be undertaken to cure it. Surgical interventions for congenital cervical atresia range from complete hysterectomy with canalization to conservative options, such as uterine cavity catheterization.[rx]
For the women who have an imperforate hymen, a minor surgery is required incising the extra hymen membrane. It is generally treated surgically, with a hymenotomy or other surgery to remove any tissue that blocks the menstrual flow. Also, post surgery, the patient is required to insert dilators into the vagina for a few minutes each day for a few days post the surgery to avoid the incision being closed on its own. Once the patient has recovered from the surgery- that is, there are no burning sensation around the vaginal, they can have regular periods, normal sexual intercourse. Unlike an imperforate hymen which can be easily corrected, surgical correction of a transverse septum can be difficult if the surgery is not carefully planned. Postoperative complications, such as vaginal stenosis and re-obstruction can occur, especially when the septum is thick. The thickness and location of the septum is most commonly evaluated by transperineal ultrasound or MRI before attempting its resection.[rx]
REferences
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