Treatment of hymen remnant

Hymen, as you probably may already know is a membrane in the vagina that is a leftover of a primitive embryo membrane whose main purpose was to prevent anything from getting into the vagina. After birth an orifice in the membrane appears that stays open till the woman loses her virginity by penile penetration or some other way. Hymen may also be broken during sports activities so penile penetration isn’t necessary sometimes. After the hymen is broken sometimes a traces of connective tissue that used to make up hymen remain attached to the internal wall of the vagina and may cause pain during every day activities and especially during sex. Those traces of hymen tissue are called hymen remnant. It is usually removed surgically and that’s the simplest way of treating it, but some medications that increase the connective tissue absorption may also be used. For more information and modes of treatment you should talk to your GP or your gynecologist.

For years I suffered with a particular painful area of my vagina when having sex and for almost the same amount of time I was told "it was all in my head"/psychological. There wasn't a doctor I went to that didn't come up with the same suggestion and since I had (indeed) been sexually abused as a child, this explanation suited everyone way too quickly, including my first husband who felt our sexual problems were ALL my fault anyway.
But the problem never went away and over the years it seemed that it became worse despite having 2 children (which surely should have improved something). Even during historic examinations, when I would say "Ouch, that hurts", I always got the same doctor reply of, "Well it shouldn't" (but no further show of suggestion, interest or diagnosis in the matter....., but then, why would they when "psychological" is such an easy dumping ground on women).
I therefore had spent the vast majority of my sexually active life trying to deal with the problem, yet not fully buying into their explanations. I was the one having the pain, it was always located in the same general area, and it was "real" it me.
Finally, in my 50's and arising out of an examination by a new doctor (educated in surgery for female cancer patients), I explained the years of frustration and lack of help from the medical profession, and asked that he specifically examine that particular area of my vagina. He did his thing with the "tongs" and said he was going to perform a "test", telling me to relate to him what I "felt" during the examination (now there was a new approach, to ask me "what I felt" during an exam). Shortly thereafter I felt little pains in the exact area (where I always had pain with sex). I inquired, "Doctor, are you sticking me repeatedly with a pin?", to which he replied, "No, I'm touching you repeatedly with a cotton swab" and to prove his assertion, he held up the cotton swab for me to see.
He stated that I had developed a "cluster/nerve bundle" in the scar tissue of that area, and that it had never been properly diagnosed. He told me that with surgery it could be repaired (the nerve cluster removed) but there was always the possibility of another nerve cluster reforming. It was worth the effort to me, and when having another procedure done, I had him repaired (remove the nerve cluster in) that area also.
The nerve cluster never redeveloped and I felt vindicated that "I was right, the pain was real/phsyical and not psychological" and those other doctors weren't interested enough (or not educated enough) to perform such a simple test when I informed them of my experiences.
I don't know the proper medical terminology for that "nerve cluster development" problem at the site of scar tissue, but I will testify to you that too many doctors dump the problem of female sexually related pain (like they dump menstrual cramps) into a psychological diagnosis and women go on suffering needlessly.
Yet, may I add, that a large portion of menstrual cramping and painful sex, is related to a prolapse uterus.

Hi...when my husband and I have sex, sometimes I feel pain where my cervix is when he touches it. I feel it more when he gets me from behind and it goes in further that way. Sometimes it doesnt always hurt. I am curious about it and I was told and also read that it could all be phsycological. I do get tense sometimes out of fear that he will hurt me..and believe me it really hurts that I yell out loud. And it seems when I get tense out of fear it hurts me more. I dont know. I did have my fourth baby "naturally" in September 2006. And there are non cancerous abnormal cells on my cervix. Does anyone think that could make me feel so sore on my cervix? I do get really sore when we have sex a couple times in one day ..(if at all possible with 4 kids!) and he doesnt understand that I really get sore there and "raw" feeling. I was also sexually abused (raped ) by an ex boyfriend 8 years ago. Thanx

Thank you sreay, i can't agree with you more. Today was quite a relief for me. I have been with my boyfriend for 6 years and he is my only sexual partner. And in the 6 years we have been together i could probably count the amount of times we've had sex on both hands. The reason for this is that EVERY time it was painful and everything we tried was useless. I became disheartened and avoided sex at all cost, putting a strain on our relationship. But lucky me, he is as supportive as can be and understands. After countless GP visits & pap smears all i got was "try and relax a little" and "have yo tried lubrication?". So I asked THEM for a referral to a Gyn and today, with one quick examination she diagnosed me. I have something along to lines of "excess hymenal remnant", where a clean break hasn't been made and all the hymen is sticking around inflicting pain. She was pretty sure that would have been causing my 6 years of agonizing intercourse. I am now booking myself in for a hymenectomy and i am over the moon. I just cannot believe that this has so clearly been the problem for so long and now something is being done. Fingers crossed it helps, and that our relationship is not too far gone for intimacy. Just some advice to others, please see a gynecologist and push your GP for a referral. Because my problem was "staring them right in the face" and they couldn't even see it. Good luck to all, it's glad to know we're not alone.

Also, i must add that i am 22, and like sreay, I felt very very low for some time. The doctors just wrote it off as though it was in my mind and my self confidence for sex plummeted. For so long i thought i was mentally and physically uptight, and there is a medical explanation after all.

Hey sreay, That was really helpful! I was wondering, where are you based. The reason, I ask is, because I have the same problem. I am almost 30 years old. And doctors keep teling me that it is vaginismis. One doc. earlier told me that it was remnent hymen!

My gynac is now telling me to practice Physio therapy etc to work with the muscles that hurt. Basically dilating them using dilators!! IT DOES NOT WORK! the pain stays! I am not sure, how to convince my doc that surgery is the simple solution to my poblem. They keep discouraging me for surgery!!

I am based in US. Is there anything you can suggest! I am realy sad and frustated!! Thanks!!

...until I gave birth to my son vaginally. After I was healed, sex no longer hurt. It was AMAZING, until I noticed something "sticking out" of my vagina. After seeing my OBGYN, I found out it was a hymeneal remnant; probably the same one that was causing me pain before. Since I had a difficult labor (not to mention vaginal, which should have done the trick regardless), it was "broken again" to the point where it no longer hurt. When I mentioned the pain I had prior to my remnant physically sticking out, I was told by the nurse practitioner that I needed to use more lube and essentially that it was all in my head.

DON'T listen to someone who tells you pain is in your head. Pain is your body signaling there is a problem. Physical or mental, if you feel it, then it's REAL PAIN.

hi im 23 hav a baby boy got married 2 yrs back... sex really hurts me.. my hubby says its in my mind... but i just cant take the pain:S... its really veryyyyy painful... unbearable.. i hope it can b cured.... wen i read abt vaginismus i really thought its tat... and therev is no proper treatment for tat.. but after reading all of ur comments may b im also the lucky one like u guys ... i reallyh hope so... its not affecting my relationship with my hubby but i think it might cause trouble later on. im helpless... i hope something can be done...:-(

Hi I have 3 lumps which are the samecolour of my vagina just inside the entry hole. Is this normal? I don't know what this could be as it doesn't hurt and when I went to the clinic about 4 years ago the nurse told me its normal and it's just where your body is changing as you are getting older. She quoted you grow extra bits? Is this right? As my boyfriend says it looks like 3 little claws inside the juicy bit? I have great sex I'm never in pain but since seein this aim worried.

Wow, what happened to you is almost identical to what happened to me with respect to finally finding a GYN who tested me like your doctor did, made the same diaganosis, and said it could be fixed but there may be scarring. I'm 45 years old and always thought it was in my "head" until I finally found the "right" doctor. I also had doctors who didn't listen to me when I said the exam hurt too much. I even knew it wasn't the right answer when one GYN who was suppose to address the pain problem I was having during sex, said after examining me that I should have more sex to "loosen" up the painful area.Well, I couldn't and didn't follow her advice because sex hurt too much. Due to the pain all these years, I just stopped wanting to have sex whichcaused problems in my marriages to my ex-husband and my deceased husband.

I am a man. I sympathize with you and don't doubt anything you say. I would, however, like to inform of a fact I have had to face many times in my extended stay on this earth: doctors don't treat women that way because they are women, they treat them that way because they are patients. I have a graduate degree in physics and am older than most of my doctors, and they still treat me like a child or an id**t. It's just their way.

Hi everyone, I just underwent outpatient surgery to have a hymenal tag removed from my vaginal opening. I suffered from excessive bleeding after the surgery and wanted to share a few tips on here as I received no advice from my healthcare professionals. I am 29 years old, no kids, no major health issues. My OBGYN performed the surgery under general anesthesia because mine was in a "complex location." It was basically inside/outside. I went home and they told me to expect bleeding similar to a normal period. By the evening, however, I couldn't keep up with changing my pads fast enough and whenever I sat on the toilet blood poured out. I tried to call my doctor/nurse on call but kept getting transferred and got no useful advice. I went to the ER . My blood count was slightly low but they told me I was fine and sent me home. The next morning I had huge blood clots coming out and went to my OBGYN. She thinks she may have cut a blood vessel and didn't stitch or notice it. I learned a few things from this...ALWAYS get your surgeon's personal pager or phone number after a procedure in case there are complications. NEVER take Advil/Asprin or anything with them in it after surgery EVEN IF the doctors say you can!! They told me Advil was perfectly fine, but it thins your blood! When I stopped taking it, the bleeding eased up. If you have this procedure done, SIT UP afterwards as much as you can. This applies pressure to the area and helps stop bleeding (no one told me this either). If blood is pouring out of you and you have large clots, it is NOT normal, you are not crazy. Make sure you do what you can to control the bleeding as soon as possible. Mine is probably a rare case, but I think it is important to learn from it.

My first recommendation for any painful sex- lube and foreplay.
i sometimes experience similar pain on my cervix during sex, especially when he is behind me and thus, goes deeper. I find it helpful when it happens to kind of clench my legs together. It keeps him from getting so deep that he hits my cervix, but since it's my body stopping it he doesn't have to guess about how far is toofar. Hope it helps!

I had a large skin tag, which was a remnant of my hymen, removed under general anaesthetic last year.  I noticed something sticking out of my vagina several years ago but did nothing as I was too embarrassed.  I had numerous smears and a full sexual health check, not one medical professional commented.  An ex asked me what it was, I just said it's the way I am made.  Sometimes it would be very sore and swollen after sex or using tampons, in the end I asked to see my female GP, who diagnosed a prolapse!  Fortunately I was referred to a surgeon who knew what she was going and who made correct diagnosis and performed the surgey.  It was a large tag, it was sore for several days, but surely one would expect that!

ladies, please don't be shy, get to the docs.  Life is too short to waste energy on being shy.  Wish I had gone earlier, now I am very confident about how I look and feel down there, asymmetrical large labia included :-)

 

xxx