About labial fusion
In girls, the external genitals are called the vulva. The vulva has inner lips (labia minora) and outer lips (labia majora). The labia cover the vaginal opening.
Labial fusion is when the skin of the inner lips joins together. This changes the way this part of the body looks, and it can sometimes make it harder for urine to get past where the labia are stuck together.
Labial fusion tends to happen more in early childhood, between 6 months and 2 years. It can also happen later in childhood.
Labial fusion is also sometimes called fused labia or labial adhesions.
Some babies with ambiguous genitalia have fused labia, but this article doesn’t cover ambiguous genitalia.
Symptoms of labial fusion
Labial fusion usually doesn’t cause any issues or pain in early childhood.
Sometimes, labial fusion might cause some dribbling after urination, because urine gets trapped behind the skin that’s joined together. This can lead to urine leaking onto underwear or difficulties with toilet training.
Sometimes labial fusion might lead to urinary tract infections, particularly in children with significant labial fusion.
Vulvovaginitis might happen at the same time as labial fusion.
Medical help: when to get it for children with symptoms of labial fusion
Take your child to see your GP or paediatrician if your child:
- experiences frequent symptoms of vulvovaginitis, like a discoloured or sore vulva
- keeps getting urinary tract infections
- has labial fusion and you’re worried about it.
Treatment for labial fusion
Labial fusion is likely to sort itself out without treatment by puberty.
Good toilet habits can help with dribbling after urination. Encourage your child to wriggle around for 5 seconds after urinating to make sure all the trapped urine comes out.
Causes of labial fusion
We don’t really know what causes labial fusion. We think it happens after the skin around the vulva gets irritated.
Labial fusion doesn’t affect fertility, sexual function or menstruation.