Pros and Cons of Hymenectomy and Hymenotomy

What is a hymenectomy and what is a hymenotomy? According to doctor Andrew Goldstein, who has written various online articles, including one on www.OurGyn.com called "Imperforate Hymen or Vulvar Vestibulitis? Finding the Real Reason for Doing a Hymenectomy", "A hymenectomy is a medical procedure involving the surgical removal of the hymenal ring. A hymenotomy is a less invasive procedure, where the hymnal ring is opened but not removed. It is done to treat an imperforate hymen or other situations where the hymen is unusually thick or rigid in order to allow normal menstruation or sexual intercourse." For whatever reason you are having either procedure done, under the referral and care of an experienced and trustworthy physician such as your personal gynecologist or urologist, there are things to consider. As with most decisions in life, you must weigh the pros and the cons in the balance, so to speak. Here is a list of such things that can help you make your decision.

The Pros

Relief of discomfort that comes from sexual intercourse. Most women choose to have surgery done on their hymen because sexual intercourse has not been able to thoroughly break or stretch the hymen so as to make sex comfortable or pleasurable. When the hymen is worked on, however, after the healing period is complete, a woman can enjoy a very satisfactory sex life. It may be, too, that her hymen has remained intact enough where sexual intercourse actually aggravates the urethra and can cause recurrent bladder infections. In this case, too, surgery on the hymen can bring a lifetime of relief.

Avoid health problems associated with menstrual flow. In girls and young women just starting their menstrual cycle, they may find that surgery on the hymen is necessary for proper flow of blood. Some girls have no opening at all in the hymen, and so to avoid serious medical conditions and even death that can result from build-up of menstrual blood in the vaginal cavity, surgery on the hymen is crucial.

Ability to use tampons. Along with the last point, a woman can use tampons much more easily and freely once surgery on the hymen is done. Some women have never been able to use a tampon due to inability to insert it because of the hymen, or fear that it may catch on tissue that may stretch across the vagina. Thus, the procedure brings much comfort and more ease to life when a woman can now use a tampon - think of times you've needed to use one when swimming, wearing a bathing suit, or other times!

The Cons

Expense/lack of insurance. One of the biggest issues for all people usually comes down to finances or medical insurance's lack of coverage for the procedure needed. The procedure itself is not that expensive, but it may just be too much for some.

Discomfort after the procedure. It is true, once the procedure is done and over with, you will experience burning for two months or so later during urination. Your vaginal area is healing itself during this period, and things can be rather uncomfortable. As mentioned, you should probably expect to be uncomfortable for about two months or so.

Refrain from vaginal sex. For at least two months after the procedure, the woman must refrain from vaginal sex. She is healing, and there should be no aggravation to this healing process. This can be difficult for some people, especially the man, and especially so if vaginal intercourse is the way the two are used to pleasing one another sexually.

Indeed, as with every choice we must make, there are always pros and cons. You can probably see that the pros may easily outweigh the cons, but that is still a choice that is totally up to you as a woman who is in control of her own body.