Fusion of small lips in girls, which is commonly called synechiae, can occur in early infancy or a little later. As a rule, a similar ailment is observed in children whose age is up to 6 years. Often the disease is completely asymptomatic, and parents discover it during the care of their girl, or the doctor does it during a medical examination.
Determining the fusion of small lips in girls is quite simple. You can do this by carefully examining your child’s genitals. The disease can constantly recur. So, let's take a closer look at what the fusion of small lips in girls is, how to conduct an examination, what are the symptoms and causes of the development of this disease.
Inspection
First of all, you should start by examining your child. Before doing this, wash your hands thoroughly with soap, cut off your nails, so that in no way injure the baby's delicate skin. To determine the fusion of small lips in a girl, spread her legs, carefully examine the genitals. Pay attention to the presence of a sexual gap through which the vagina is visible.
If you see only a whitish strip, and you can not part your labia minora, then there is a possibility of this ailment. Sometimes, fusion of the labia majora is also observed.
Symptoms
But how to determine the signs of small lip fusion in girls? Photos in specialized publications can clearly show how this disease looks.
As a rule, the disease does not cause the child any discomfort. Sometimes there may be problems with urination, and during this process, the girl begins to groan, cry and push. However, after urination, as a rule, relief comes. So, we will consider the symptoms of small lip fusion in girls (photos are not presented in our article for ethical reasons). Signs will be as follows:
- Redness of the skin in the genital area, as well as the formation of a rash.
- Irritation of the mucous membrane.
- Crying baby, which indicates pain during touch when washing or bathing.
- The stream during urination is directed upward, however, this symptom is characteristic of boys.
Girls over 1 year old suffer from urine leakage, even if they already use the potty.
Dangerous diseases
In order to prevent complications in the fusion of the small lips in girls, treatment should begin immediately after the detection of symptoms. But what will be the danger of this disease?
This ailment cannot be regarded as a natural process of the body that can be ignored. It is rarely accompanied by severe consequences for the baby's body. Nevertheless, this condition can cause the development of various infectious processes. During the progression of the disease in the future, the girl may experience problems with the growth of the genitals, as well as improper formation of the perineum. In addition, a woman in the future may suffer from problems with conception, as well as delivery.
We have determined how the fusion of small lips in girls looks like. At the initial stage, the ailment makes itself felt in the form of swelling of the vulva, redness, irritation, and soreness during urination. If you have suspicions of fusion of small lips with large lips in girls, then you should immediately consult a doctor.
Synechiae is an insidious disease that has a tendency to relapse. You should not hope for an independent solution to this problem. As a rule, the disease can be completely cured by the time of puberty. In the case of this pathology, the child should be constantly observed by a pediatric gynecologist, who determines the appropriate treatment for small lip fusion in girls (a photo-diagram of this ailment is given above).
Causes of the disease
The causes of the development of the disease can be in many ways. If you notice symptoms in a newborn girl, then this can be caused by a complicated pregnancy, as well as intrauterine infection of the fetus. The causes of fusion of small lips in girls of preschool age will be as follows:
- Postponed infectious diseases of the genitourinary sphere, for example, vulvitis, cystitis, vulvovaginitis, when bacteria enter the area of inflammation, causing the development of the disease.
- Transmission of various microorganisms by domestic means, for example, through a towel or other household items.
- Improper intimate hygiene, the use of too aggressive cosmetic gels and soaps that eliminate the bacterial environment necessary for the body.
- The tendency to an allergic reaction as a result of contact of the skin with the remnants of the washing powder that accumulates on linen, with hygienic wet wipes, as well as diapers, which lead to swelling of the vulva, as well as to the further formation of synechia.
- Disruption of the hormonal background, which can be caused by a deficiency of estrogen in the body.
- The use of underwear made from synthetic low-quality materials.
- Intestinal dysbiosis, helminthic infestations, the use of certain drugs.
Please note that partial fusion of the small lips in girls may also be observed. Photos in medical publications can clearly show how this disease looks. However, it is worth noting that even such an ailment needs compulsory treatment. Incomplete fusion of small lips in girls can also provoke unpleasant consequences in the future.
Treatment
If fusion is observed in a small area of the labia minora, then the problem can be solved by observing the rules of personal hygiene, as well as caring for the genitals. However, the greatest danger is a complete fusion, which can only be cured if a specialist is contacted in a timely manner.
Before proceeding to the main treatment, the child takes a general analysis of urine and blood, a smear for bacterial inoculation from the vagina, as well as tests to detect hidden infections.
If the disease was caused by an allergic reaction, then in this case you will need to consult an allergist.
What does Dr. Komarovsky say?
Below you can watch a video in which Dr. Komarovsky advises on the treatment of small lip fusion in girls.
Ovestin ointment
As a rule, local creams and ointments are used to treat this disease. Often, specialists prescribe Ovestin ointment, which is a hormonal external agent used for various ailments that are associated with a lack of estrogen in the body. The main active ingredient in this agent is estriol. Ointment treatment is performed for 3 weeks, after which a ten-day break is made. Then the course of therapy is repeated. This ointment is recommended for use no more than 1 time per day. Experts advise to treat the affected area before bedtime.
This external agent is applied in a thin layer. Processing is performed by rubbing with careful movements. In no case should you press on the genital area, trying to separate the labia independently.
Ointment "Contractubex"
This cream is quite often prescribed by specialists in the fusion of the labia minora in girls. The composition contains the perfect combination of active ingredients: heparin sodium, onion extract, allantoin. This ointment has a bactericidal effect, has an anti-inflammatory effect, it is also able to heal wound surfaces.
It is necessary to apply the product on the problem area twice a day with a thin layer. The greatest effect can be achieved if you combine this drug with Bepanten. The duration of treatment will be 3 weeks, after which a pause is made. Since synechia is a relapsing disease, an external agent can also be used for prevention. The drug has practically no contraindications. The only thing will be increased intolerance or hypersensitivity to the individual components that are present in the composition of the ointment.
Ointment "Bepanten"
This cream is effective if the disease is not complicated by inflammation. The cream eliminates sores, cracks, as well as erosion on the delicate skin. The use of an external agent can prevent the development of infections.
This tool belongs to a safe group of drugs. You can use the medicine for both newborn children and older girls. Processing is carried out after washing, as well as thoroughly drying the genital area.
Home remedies
In combination with the main therapy, you can use the bath with the addition of calendula, chamomile, and oak bark. In the treatment of fusion of the labia at home, vegetable oils are used, for example, peach, sea buckthorn, grape seed, almond.
Surgical intervention
If conservative therapy did not give the expected results, then the specialist prescribes surgical treatment. In this case, a dissection is performed. The operation is performed with local anesthesia. This procedure does not pose any danger to the health of the child, while it does not cause discomfort in the baby, nor does it provoke bleeding. The duration of the operation is only a few minutes. After this procedure, the wound is treated with a special antiseptic solution, after which the child can go home after 20 minutes.
After surgical treatment, the genitals should be regularly treated for a period of time. As a rule, ointments and creams are used for this, as well as vegetable oils. In addition, you can use a simple baby cream. Soothing baths prepared on the basis of a decoction of calendula, chamomile, string or sage can also be prescribed.
Treat the area of the labia minora with ointment for at least 1 month. In the future, this procedure is carried out once a week for prevention.
Prevention
Unfortunately, this disease can repeatedly return to the child, even if there was a surgical separation of the labia. You can solve the problem only after puberty. To reduce the risk of relapse, it is necessary to adhere to preventive measures, as well as observe hygiene rules. Prevention will be as follows:
- Washing a child with plain tap water without using cosmetics and soaps that dry the vaginal mucosa and wash out the beneficial microflora.
- Do not use bath foam.
- Linen must be worn from natural materials, such as cotton. In these panties, the skin of the child breathes freely. It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that underwear should not squeeze and rub the crotch area, as this provokes an inflammatory process.
- Diagnose and treat viral and infectious diseases in a timely manner. In most cases, fusion occurs due to improper treatment of certain ailments.
- You should also regularly visit a pediatric gynecologist.
- Timely change the diapers of the child.
- As a prophylaxis, ointments containing estrogen can be used (only on the recommendation of a doctor!). This is especially important for those girls who have previously been diagnosed with fusion of the labia.
- Use cosmetics, toilet paper without artificial colors.
If you follow these simple recommendations, you can protect your child from the development of this unpleasant disease.