Foreign body in the vagina is a foreign object that has entered the lumen of the vaginal tube through the genital slit. The presence of a foreign body in the vagina is manifested by symptoms of vulvovaginitis – whites, hyperemia of the vestibule, burning, bloody discharge. With prolonged presence of the object in the vagina, bedsores, tissue necrosis, ulcerative processes can develop. Diagnosis of a vaginal foreign body includes gynecological examination (vaginal or rectal), colposcopy, vaginal probing, smear examination. Treatment consists in extracting the detected object using a finger, irrigation, tools, or surgically.
General information
Among the foreign bodies of the vagina that gynecology encounters in its practice, there may be objects that have fallen accidentally or with injuries to the external genitals, as well as specially introduced (for sexual gratification, contraception, termination of pregnancy, medical manipulations).
In girls, lumps of baby powder, grains of sand, pins, threads, small parts of toys, buttons, buttons, etc., caught accidentally or during the game, pranks, can be found in the vagina. During puberty, various foreign bodies are more often introduced into the vagina during masturbation. Foreign objects get into the vagina of sexually mature women during masturbation, attempts to prevent pregnancy or the desire to cause spontaneous abortion, as well as, much less often, during gynecological manipulations.
Symptoms
Once in the vagina, a foreign body may not cause any disorders and pathological symptoms for a long time. In the future, prolonged irritation of the mucosa or the addition of a microbial infection is accompanied by the phenomena of colpitis (in girls – vulvovaginitis): swelling of the vulva, hyperemia of the vestibule, whites of a liquid nature and milky color or mucopurulent discharge, sometimes with the presence of blood admixture and a sharp putrid odor. Copious discharge often causes maceration of the skin of the perineum and pyoderma.
Ascending infection can lead to the development of cervicitis, endometritis, urethritis, cystitis and intra-abdominal infection, adhesions in the pelvis, infertility. When pointed objects are found in the vagina, damage to the vaginal wall may occur with the development of bleeding, requiring urgent care. In severe cases, penetrating wounds of the vaginal wall with injuries of the bladder, rectum, and pelvic organs are possible. With prolonged presence of a foreign body in the vagina, bedsores, necrosis and ulceration of tissues, vaginal stenosis, genitourinary and vaginal-rectal fistulas can develop.
Diagnosis
The presence of foreign bodies of the vagina is recognized during gynecological examination, examination with mirrors and colposcopy. In virgins, bimanual recto-abdominal examination, vaginal probing and vaginoscopy are performed. With the phenomena of vulvovaginitis, a bacteriological examination of the smear is necessary.
Prolonged, persistent and untreatable vulvovaginitis in children, always cause the gynecologist to assume that there is a foreign body in the vagina. In case of suspicion of migration of a foreign body from the vagina, it may be necessary to conduct an overview radiography of the abdominal cavity, ultrasound, CT. Conducting diagnostics allows you to find out the nature of the foreign body of the vagina and choose the right way to remove it.
Removal of a foreign body in the vagina
A difficult task when extracting a foreign body is the need to avoid injury to the walls of the vagina and, with the preservation of the hymen, violation of its integrity. In typical cases, a foreign object can be removed from the vagina with a finger, urethral forceps, tweezers or a clip with long narrow brushes, a Volkman spoon. When smooth, round objects (balls, beads, buttons, etc.) get into the vagina, a foreign body can be pushed out with a finger inserted into the rectum and a hand helping through the abdominal wall.
To remove fibrous tissues (cotton wool, threads), vaginal flushing is the preferred method. In case of suspicion of injury to the vagina, as well as the detection of traumatic objects, the extraction of a foreign body is performed in the operating unit. The presence of vaginal stenosis, which prevents the extraction of a foreign body, requires scar dissection. In severe cases, vaginoplasty is necessary after removal of a foreign body. In the future, vaginal douching and antibiotic therapy are carried out to stop the phenomena of vaginitis.
Prevention
Prevention of foreign bodies entering the vagina is reduced to careful monitoring of children, their games and hygiene, proper upbringing of girls in families and children’s groups. The use of items not intended for insertion into the vagina should be carried out strictly according to their intended purpose, and vaginal hygiene and contraceptives – in accordance with the instructions. Also, in order to prevent foreign bodies from entering the vagina, careful gynecological manipulations are necessary.
