Female phimosis consists of the adhesion of the small lips of the vagina, making them stick and cover the vaginal opening, but it does not cover the clitoris and nor the urethra, which is the orifice through which urine passes. This problem is quite common in girls up to three years of age, but can be maintained until around age 10, requiring surgery to treat the problem.
The cause of female phimosis is not yet very well established, however, it may arise because of the low concentration of female hormones, which is characteristic of that age, and the irritation of the mucosa of the vagina by contact with the urine or faeces in the diaper.
The treatment for female phimosis is done according to the pediatrician's orientation and is usually done using specific ointments, such as Postec, for example. If the ointment is not sufficient to promote detachment of the labia minora, surgery may be indicated.
It is very important to perform the treatment the right way, because the female phimosis can increase the chances of having urinary infections, discharge, pain when urinating and bad smell of the urine.
How to treat female phimosis
Treatment of female phimosis is usually initiated after 12 months of age with the application of an estrogen-based ointment over the affected region, about 3 times a day, for a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
Ointments for female phimosis are usually sufficient to treat the problem, however, phimosis may recur and may require reapplication of the ointment or surgery, for example. See which ointments are used for phimosis.
Surgery for female phimosis
Female phimosis surgery is most often used when there is a complete closure of the vagina, not allowing the girl to urinate adequately, or when it was not possible to correct the problem solely with the application of the ointment.
Usually, the surgery is done with local anesthesia in the pediatrician's office and, therefore, no hospitalization is necessary. The main care is to apply the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory ointments prescribed by the doctor to avoid infections. Learn how phimosis surgery is done.
How to speed up the recovery of female phimosis
During treatment for female phimosis, it is important to have some care such as:
- Perform the intimate hygiene of the child in the direction of the vagina to the anus ;
- Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight or tight clothing;
- Use neutral soaps or indicated by the pediatrician to do the intimate hygiene of the child, avoiding products with aromas or scents;
- Avoid having the child touch the intimate area ;
- Put on ointment only in the anal area, if necessary.
These treatments speed up the treatment and prevent the reappearance of the phimosis if it has already been treated with the ointment or surgery.
