Removal of a Persistent Hymen

The hymen may be a complete or partial tissue wall separating the vagina and vestibule. The hymen is usually ruptured at breeding or disrupted manually during artificial insemination. Once the hymen is opened, the remaining tissue is referred to as the vestibulo-vaginal fold. The purpose of the vestibulo-vaginal fold is to act as a one-way valve, helping to prevent air and contaminants from entering the vagina. Care should be taken to ensure that there is a complete reproductive tract on the vaginal side of the hymen, as segmental aplasia of the reproductive tract could be present with thickened hymenal tissue. Ultrasound may be used to visualize accumulated fluid within the vagina/cervix/uterus to confirm the presence of the reproductive tract. The chapter discusses the step by step procedure for performing removal of the persistent hymen with illustrations.