“Genesis” means the origin and growth of something. Adding the prefix “a” to a word generally means you’re adding a “not.” So “agenesis” means “not developed.” “Vaginal agenesis” is the name for when a girl or woman did not develop a vagina when she was growing as a fetus in her mother’s womb.
Please note that, although some people use the term “vagina” when they are talking about female external genitalia, the medical term for female external genitalia is actually “vulva.” “Vagina” is the specific name for the tube that runs from the perineum to the uterus. It is the organ through which babies are born, and the organ used for penis-vagina sexual intercourse. The cervix sits at the juncture of the vagina and the uterus.
There are a number of causes of vaginal agensis. (One common origin is a condition called MRKH syndrome, which is described in the next FAQ.) If a girl is born with vaginal agenesis, it is important that she be seen by pediatric specialists who can determine if she has any of the other development anomalies that sometimes accompany vaginal agenesis. A notable percentage of girls with vaginal agenesis also have atypical kidney development. Some girls with vaginal agenesis have uteruses, but others have not developed uteruses.
In the past, doctors often recommended that girls without vaginas have vaginas surgically constructed for them in early childhood. Nowadays the consensus is that it is better to wait until a girl is older if she is going to have surgical construction of a vagina. The surgical outcomes are better when done later, and holding off also allows the patient to participate in the decision-making and to herself do the after-care necessary with this type of surgery. Non-surgical options may also be available to some girls and women with vaginal agenesis. Pressure dilation is one of the non-surgical techniques that can sometimes be considered for vaginal enlargement.
Posted in: Specific Conditions