Hydrocolpos Complicated by Chronic Urine Retention. A Case Report and Current Literature Review

Hydrocolpos is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by a fluid-filled distension of the vagina, resulting from the retention of cervical and vaginal secretions behind a vaginal obstruction. An imperforate hymen is the most common etiology. Diagnosis can be made prenatally or at birth. It can present with lower urinary tract symptoms due to an anterior mass effect on the bladder. Early treatment is necessary to prevent the mechanical and infectious complications associated with chronic infravesical obstruction. Treatment is surgical, and several techniques have been described, some aiming to preserve the hymenal architecture to address sociocultural considerations, although scientifically, hymenal integrity is not an indicator of virginity. We report a case of hydrocolpos due to an imperforate hymen, diagnosed late in a 5-year-old girl and complicated by chronic urinary retention. She was successfully treated with hymenoplasty preserving the hymenal architecture. The postoperative course was uneventful, with a return to normal micturition.