| Vaginal septum | |
|---|---|
| Classification and external resources | |
| ICD-10 | Q51.1 |
| ICD-9 | 752.49 |
A vaginal septum is a congenital partition within the vagina; such a septum could be either longitudinal or transverse.
A longitudinal vaginal septum develops during embryogenesis when there is an incomplete fusion of the lower parts of the two mullerian ducts. As a result there is a double vagina.[1] There may be associated duplications of the more cranial parts of the mullerian derivatives, a double cervix, and either a uterine septum or uterus didelphys (double uterus).[2][3]
The person with a longitudinal vaginal septum may be asymptomatic and not aware of the condition. If dyspareunia is a problem a simple resection of the septum could be performed.
A transverse septum can form during embryogenesis when the mullerian ducts fuse improperly to the urogenital sinus. A complete transverse will block menstrual flow and is a cause of primary amenorrhea. The accumulation of menstrual debris behind the septum is termed cryptomenorrhea. Some transverse septa are incomplete and may lead to dyspareunia or obstruction in labor.[4] A surgical incision will relieve the situation.
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