Genital Injuries in Females
Alternate Names : Vulvar Injuries, Vaginal Injuries, Injury to the Genitals, Straddle Injury
A genital injury to a female is an injury to the reproductive organs of a girl or a woman.
What is going on in the body?
The external genitalia has a rich blood supply. As a result, relatively minor injuries to the area may bleed excessively. This is particularly true when injuries involve the hymen, vagina, or labia. The injury may be the result of childbirth, rough intercourse, sexual assault, or an accident or other trauma.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
Childbirth is the most likely cause of genital injury. A tear in the vulva or vagina during pregnancy and delivery may occur as a result of:
an episiotomy, which is a cut made in the opening of the vagina during childbirth
tears in the vaginal opening from delivering a large infant
the use of forceps or vacuum suction during childbirth
Accidental injuries can be caused by:
falls
straddle injuries, for example falling on monkey bars, a bicycle bar, or a fence
chemical burns or burns from hot objects
pelvic fractures
high-pressure liquid injection, such as from water-skiing or jet-skiing
Injuries related to sex or assault are due to:
rough sex
unusual positions during sex
having sex for the first time
sexual abuse
rape
physical abuse or assault, such as a foreign object forcibly placed into the vagina or anus
child abuse
|
