General Medical Information

Imperforate Hymen

Joe Leigh Simpson

Ordinarily the central portion of the hymen is patent (perforate), thereby allowing outflow of mucus and blood. If the hymen is imperforate, mucus and blood accumulate in the vagina or uterus (hydrocolpos or hydrometrocolpos). An imperforate hymen is easily corrected by surgical incisions, preferably cruciform. McIlroy and Ward reported affected siblings. Recently, Stelling reported two monozygotic twins concordant for imperforate hymen. One twin had an affected daughter.