Vaginal Septum

Vaginal Septum
Congenital abnormality
A piece of flesh exists inthe vaginal either
longways (longitudinal) or sideways
(transverse)
Can causevaginal blockages,painful sex,
impossible tampon use, and difficulties
during labour

Transverse vaginal septum

Occur to one in 3,000-80,000 women
Rarest urogenital tract congenital abnormality

Etiology:
The cause of this genetic abnormality is unknown
A transverse vaginal septum forms during
embryological development when the tubes that
eventually become a vagina don't fuse together
properly.

Pathology
Vertical fusional defect.
failure in reabsorption of the tissue
between the vaginal plate and the caudal
aspect of the fused Mullerian ducts.
A transverse vaginal septum can be either
perforate (incomplete) or imperforate (complete)

Symptoms
As a newborn:unusual abdominal swelling
amenorrhea
periods thatlast beyond the normalfour to
seven day cycle
abdominal pain from blood collecting in the
upper vagina

Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis
Antenatal: in utero when there is obstruction causing significant
amount ofhydrocolpos(distension of the vagina)
MRI

Treatment by surgical excision of the obstructed septum

through a perineal approach

Longitudinal vaginal septum

Also known as double vagina
A septum formed longitudinally along vaginal line

Etiology
No cause is yet confirmed
Linked to autosomal recessive transmission

Pathology
A vertical fusion disorder between the Mllerian
ducts and the urogenital sinus
Starting from third month during intrauterine
development, the vaginal canals dont fuse like
theyre supposed to, which results in a vaginal
septum which divides vagina into two parallel
cavities

Symptoms
Can be asymptomatic
Painful sexual intercourse
Cyclic pelvic pain, hematocolpos
(accumulation of blood)

Diagnosis & Treatment

MRI

Surgical, called hysteroscopic resection