Demystifying the Longitudinal Vaginal Septum: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment
– A vertical or complete vaginal septum is a condition where there is a vertical wall of tissue dividing a girl’s vagina into two cavities
– Also known as “double vagina” or longitudinal vaginal septum (LVS)
– The condition is present at birth and occurs when the two parts that should join together during development don’t properly fuse
– The cause of this abnormal fetal development is unknown
– Girls with this condition may not have any symptoms and may not be aware of it until puberty
– Difficulty using tampons or discomfort during intercourse may occur during puberty
– Symptoms may include pain when inserting or removing a tampon, menstrual blood leakage even when using a tampon, and pain during intercourse
– Diagnosis involves a thorough medical history, physical exam, and additional testing such as imaging
– Treatment strategies vary
– Additional testing such as ultrasound or MRI may be used for diagnosis
– Treatment strategies vary for longitudinal vaginal septum