Membranous hypertrophy of the posterior fourchette as a cause of dyspareunia and vulvodynia

Abstract

Twenty-one women were treated surgically for entry dyspareunia and vulvodynia. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 39 years (mean, 24.5). Physical examination showed the presence of membranous hypertrophy of the posterior fourchette with consequent stricture of the vaginal introitus in all the patients. Eighty percent of the patients had erythema and tenderness of the vestibule, particularly in the posterior part. The histologic findings were somewhat enigmatic and quite unimpressive, frequently suggestive of chronic nonspecific inflammation; in only two cases were histologic changes suggestive of human papillomavirus infection observed. All the patients underwent excision of the posterior part of the vestibule with vaginal advancement under general anesthesia. Follow-up showed elimination of the symptoms in 19 patients and an improvement in the symptoms in the remaining 2.