Haematocolpos

HAEMATOCOLPOS (from Greek haima- blood and colpos- vagina), accumulation of blood (blood tumor) in the vagina. It arises on the basis of vaginal atresia (see Gynatresias) and clinically manifests only with the onset of puberty, when with the appearance of menstruations blood begins to accumulate in the vagina. In hymenal atresia, the accumulating blood protrudes the hymen outward in the form of a dome. In vaginal atresia, blood, stretching the vaginal tube in all directions, forms a tumor which sometimes reaches considerable size; above the tumor the uterus can be palpated. Subsequently, blood can successively stretch the cervix, uterine cavity, and tubes, sometimes almost completely leveling the boundary between the vagina and uterus. The accumulated blood becomes thick, viscous, tar-like, and has a brownish color. Spontaneous healing of H. is observed very rarely and only when the hymen becomes sealed. Therapy for H. must therefore be operative (incision of the sealed area). The operation in the presence of haematometra (see), and especially haematosalpinx (see), should be considered a serious intervention.