Skip to main content
Top
Published in: International Urogynecology Journal 9/2019

01-09-2019 | Clinical Opinion

Labial adhesions in postmenopausal women: presentation and management

Authors: Priyanka Singh, How Chuan Han

Published in: International Urogynecology Journal | Issue 9/2019

Login to get access

Abstract

Labial adhesion is defined as complete or partial fusion of the labia minora in the midline through flimsy or dense adhesions. It may be congenital or acquired. Acquired cases are mainly seen in oestrogen deficiency states in prepubertal girls and postmenopausal women. Aggravating factors include chronic inflammation due to poor hygiene, eczema, lichen planus or sclerosus, seborrhic dermatitis, eczema, local trauma and recurrent urinary tract infections. Patients may be asymptomatic or present with urinary or vulval symptoms. Management in mild cases includes the application of topical oestrogen with or without topical steroids. If there is no response to topical therapy, surgical separation under anaesthesia should be performed. Herein, we report six cases of complete labial fusion in postmenopausal women who presented to our clinic with various urinary and vulval complaints. The mean age of these patients was 76 (range 61–85) years.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Chang CH, Fan YH, Tong-Long Lin A, Chen KK. Bladder outlet obstruction due to labial agglutination. J Chin Med Assoc. 2012;75(1):40–2.CrossRefPubMed Chang CH, Fan YH, Tong-Long Lin A, Chen KK. Bladder outlet obstruction due to labial agglutination. J Chin Med Assoc. 2012;75(1):40–2.CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Julia J, Yacoub M, Levy G. Labial fusion causing urinary incontinence in a postmenopausal female: a case report. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2003;14:360–1.CrossRefPubMed Julia J, Yacoub M, Levy G. Labial fusion causing urinary incontinence in a postmenopausal female: a case report. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2003;14:360–1.CrossRefPubMed
3.
go back to reference Ong NCS, Dwyer PL. Labial fusion causing voiding difficulty and urinary incontinence. Aust New Zealand J Obstet Gynaecol. 1999;39(3):391–3.CrossRef Ong NCS, Dwyer PL. Labial fusion causing voiding difficulty and urinary incontinence. Aust New Zealand J Obstet Gynaecol. 1999;39(3):391–3.CrossRef
4.
go back to reference Kaplan F, Alvarez J, Dwyer P. Nonsurgical separation of complete labial fusion using a Hegar dilator in postmenopausal women. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2015;26(2):297–8.CrossRef Kaplan F, Alvarez J, Dwyer P. Nonsurgical separation of complete labial fusion using a Hegar dilator in postmenopausal women. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2015;26(2):297–8.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Palla L, De Angelis B, Lucarini L, Spallone D, Palla G. Cervelli V. a case of labial fusion and urinary pseudo-incontinence in an elderly woman. A surgical treatment and a review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2010;14(5):491–3.PubMed Palla L, De Angelis B, Lucarini L, Spallone D, Palla G. Cervelli V. a case of labial fusion and urinary pseudo-incontinence in an elderly woman. A surgical treatment and a review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2010;14(5):491–3.PubMed
6.
go back to reference Pulvino JQ, Flynn MK, Buchsbaum GM. Urinary incontinence secondary to severe labial agglutination. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2008;19(2):253–6.CrossRefPubMed Pulvino JQ, Flynn MK, Buchsbaum GM. Urinary incontinence secondary to severe labial agglutination. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2008;19(2):253–6.CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference Bradford J, Fischer G. Surgical division of labial adhesions in vulvar lichen Sclerosus and lichen planus. J Lower Genit Tract Dis. 2013;17(1):48–50.CrossRef Bradford J, Fischer G. Surgical division of labial adhesions in vulvar lichen Sclerosus and lichen planus. J Lower Genit Tract Dis. 2013;17(1):48–50.CrossRef
8.
go back to reference Prahl R, Gebhard M, McGerald G, Klein R. The case files: a rare case of labial fusion. Emerg Med News 2014:13(2A). Prahl R, Gebhard M, McGerald G, Klein R. The case files: a rare case of labial fusion. Emerg Med News 2014:13(2A).
9.
go back to reference Savona-Ventura C. Labial adhesion in potmenopausal women with hip joint disease. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1985;25(4):303–4.CrossRefPubMed Savona-Ventura C. Labial adhesion in potmenopausal women with hip joint disease. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1985;25(4):303–4.CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Muppala H, Meskhi A. Voiding dysfuction due to long standing labial fusion in elderly woman: a case report. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2009;20:251–2.CrossRefPubMed Muppala H, Meskhi A. Voiding dysfuction due to long standing labial fusion in elderly woman: a case report. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2009;20:251–2.CrossRefPubMed
11.
12.
go back to reference Ahyan D, Eray H. Labial fusion causing urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection in as postmenopausal female: a case report. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2011;22:119–20.CrossRef Ahyan D, Eray H. Labial fusion causing urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infection in as postmenopausal female: a case report. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2011;22:119–20.CrossRef
13.
go back to reference Madhavi J, Vibha More, Satia MN. Labial agglutination in a postmenopausal female. J Postgraduate Gynecol Obstet 2015;2(6). Madhavi J, Vibha More, Satia MN. Labial agglutination in a postmenopausal female. J Postgraduate Gynecol Obstet 2015;2(6).
14.
go back to reference Dube R. An approach to women with labial agglutination at different stages of life- a review. Int J Adv Multidiscip Res. 2016;3(2):1–10. Dube R. An approach to women with labial agglutination at different stages of life- a review. Int J Adv Multidiscip Res. 2016;3(2):1–10.
15.
go back to reference Tsianos GI, Papatheodorou SI, Michos GM, Koliopoulos G, Stefos T. Pyosalpinx as a sequela of labial fusion in a post-menopausal woman: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011;5:546.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Tsianos GI, Papatheodorou SI, Michos GM, Koliopoulos G, Stefos T. Pyosalpinx as a sequela of labial fusion in a post-menopausal woman: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011;5:546.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
16.
go back to reference Tumbal PS, Majumdar R. Postmenopausal complete labial fusion: a rare case study. Int J Reprod, Contracep, Obstet Gynecol. 2016;5(5):1646–8.CrossRef Tumbal PS, Majumdar R. Postmenopausal complete labial fusion: a rare case study. Int J Reprod, Contracep, Obstet Gynecol. 2016;5(5):1646–8.CrossRef
17.
go back to reference Dănău R, Petca R, Predoiu G, et al. Chronic urinary retention due to labial fusion – case report. Roman J Urol. 2016;15:47–50. Dănău R, Petca R, Predoiu G, et al. Chronic urinary retention due to labial fusion – case report. Roman J Urol. 2016;15:47–50.
18.
go back to reference Acharya N, Ranjan P, Kamat R, et al. Labial fusion causing pseudoincontinence in an elderly woman. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007;99(3):246–7.CrossRefPubMed Acharya N, Ranjan P, Kamat R, et al. Labial fusion causing pseudoincontinence in an elderly woman. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007;99(3):246–7.CrossRefPubMed
19.
go back to reference James R, Sammarco A, Sheyn D, Mahajan S. Severe labial agglutination release in a postmenopausal woman. Open J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;4:822–5.CrossRef James R, Sammarco A, Sheyn D, Mahajan S. Severe labial agglutination release in a postmenopausal woman. Open J Obstet Gynecol. 2014;4:822–5.CrossRef
20.
go back to reference Gopalakrishnan G, Bhatnagar A, Raju A. Complete labial fusion in a post-menopausal woman - a possible explanation. Ind J Urol. 2001;18:98–9. Gopalakrishnan G, Bhatnagar A, Raju A. Complete labial fusion in a post-menopausal woman - a possible explanation. Ind J Urol. 2001;18:98–9.
21.
go back to reference Bika O. Complete labial fusion in the postmenopausal woman- a review of literature. ePoster. RCOG World Congress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2013. Bika O. Complete labial fusion in the postmenopausal woman- a review of literature. ePoster. RCOG World Congress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2013.
22.
go back to reference Mayoglou L, Dulabon L, Martin-Alguacil N, et al. Success of treatment modalities for labial fusion: a retrospective evaluation of topical and surgical treatments. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2009;22:247–50.CrossRefPubMed Mayoglou L, Dulabon L, Martin-Alguacil N, et al. Success of treatment modalities for labial fusion: a retrospective evaluation of topical and surgical treatments. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2009;22:247–50.CrossRefPubMed
23.
go back to reference Hatada Y. Two-step surgical approach to labial adhesions in a postmenopausal woman. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2003;82:1054–5.CrossRefPubMed Hatada Y. Two-step surgical approach to labial adhesions in a postmenopausal woman. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2003;82:1054–5.CrossRefPubMed
24.
go back to reference Fakheri T, Saeidiborojeni H, Jalilian N, et al. Urinary retention due to labial fusion; bloodless correction. A case report. Prof Med J. 2011;18(2):328–30. Fakheri T, Saeidiborojeni H, Jalilian N, et al. Urinary retention due to labial fusion; bloodless correction. A case report. Prof Med J. 2011;18(2):328–30.
25.
go back to reference Johnson N, et al. A new surgical technique to treat refractory labial fusion in the elderly. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989;161:289–90.CrossRefPubMed Johnson N, et al. A new surgical technique to treat refractory labial fusion in the elderly. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989;161:289–90.CrossRefPubMed
26.
go back to reference Saito M, Ishida G, Watanabe N, Abe B. Micturitional disturbances due to labial adhesion. Urol Int. 1998;61(1):50–1.CrossRefPubMed Saito M, Ishida G, Watanabe N, Abe B. Micturitional disturbances due to labial adhesion. Urol Int. 1998;61(1):50–1.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Labial adhesions in postmenopausal women: presentation and management
Authors
Priyanka Singh
How Chuan Han
Publication date
01-09-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
International Urogynecology Journal / Issue 9/2019
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Electronic ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3821-1

Other articles of this Issue 9/2019

International Urogynecology Journal 9/2019 Go to the issue