Overview

A half moon of thin membrane normally surrounds a young girl's vagina. Sometimes, the hymenal membrane extends all the way across the hymenal area with only a very small hole in the center. This is called a microperforate hymen.

Menstrual blood and mucus may still be able to escape the vagina, but since it's flowing through such a small hole, the period may last longer than the normal four to seven day cycle.

Your daughter may not be able to insert a tampon, or she may have pain when she tries to fit it in.

Sometimes a microperforate hymen resolves spontaneously as the girl grows older, or it may tear away with some pain when she inserts a tampon or when she has sexual intercourse. There is also a minor surgery than can remove the extra tissue and create a normal sized vaginal opening.

How Boston Children's Hospital approaches microperforate hymen

At Children's Center for Congenital Anomalies of the Reproductive Tract, an interdisciplinary team of pediatricians, gynecologists, urogynecologists and colorectal surgeons will work to best treat your daughter's microperforate hymen.