Hymen Restoration: An Experience from a Moroccan Center

Abstract

Background: Hymenoplasty is one of the least described vulvovaginal procedures in plastic surgery without any surgical standard that attempts to restore the hymen's ability to bleed during sexual intercourse on a couple's wedding night. Objectives: The objective of this study was to report outcomes from a Moroccan retrospective study of a series of 529 patients who underwent either a hymenorrhaphy or a hymenoplasty. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 529 patients who underwent hymen restoration at a center in Morocco between April 2010 and April 2019. The data were collected according to the requirements of the center through preoperative and postoperative consultations and in-person or phone post-coital interviews. The procedure consisted of suturing the edges of the hymen remnants with Vicryl 5-0, leaving a small opening in the newly reconstructed hymen. Two techniques-hymenal flap hymenoplasty and vaginal flap hymenoplasty-were employed depending on the presence or absence of hymen remnants. Results: A total of 529 patients underwent hymen restoration, including 42% hymenorrhaphies, 58% hymenoplasties, 39% hymenal flap hymenoplasty, and 19% vaginal flap hymenoplasty. The mean age of the patients was 32 years. Of the 227 women who underwent a hymenorrhaphy, no failure was reported, and all the patients who had sexual intercourse within 15 days of the procedure experienced vaginal bleeding. Of the 99 hymenoplasties employing vaginal flaps, only 1 failure was reported. Conclusions: The techniques utilized in our cohort are safe and the complications are minor with general satisfaction of patients. Level of Evidence: 4: