Treatment of imperforate hymen by application of Foley catheter

Objective: To treatment of patients with imperforate hymen without damaging the structure of hymen. Materials and methods: Foley catheter was applied to 15 patients with the history of pelvic pain and diagnosed as imperforate hymen in Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, between 1 January 1996 and 25 December 2000. After performed oval-centralize closure on imperforate hymen membranes, Foley catheter was inserted through closure of hymen and then balloon of Foley catheter was insufflated 10 cm(3). Catheter was removed after 2 weeks. Results: Mean age of patients was 14.3 +/- 2.6. After procedure, closure of hymen was open. Hymen was seen annular and intact. Following the patients, closing of the closure of hymen was not seen. After marriage of six patients, hymeneal bleeding and defloration was seen in all of them. Ceftriaxon (Rocephin, Roche, Istanbul) I g was given to all patients only one dose as prophylactic antibiotheraphy. Any pelvic and vaginal infection were not seen due to this procedure during follow up. Conclusion: This new technique is less invasive than other methods and prevents many social problem by preventing destruction of the architecture of hymen and providing annular-intact hymeneal ring. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.