What is the real cause of labial synechia

Objective: Labial synechia is almost certainly an acquired condition in girls and results from inflammation that causes adhesion of the labia minora. The exact cause of labial synechiae is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the underlying cause of labial synechiae. Material and Methods: We report 23 girls with labial synechia among the private outpatient population after prospective analysis of the last 45 months. Results: The mean age at presentation was 18 months. None of them had symptoms of urinary tract infection. All patients with labial synechia were screened for bacteruria. Two girls had proven bacteruria and two girls had diaper dermatitis. History and/or physical findings were not consistent with sexual abuse in any patient. No child had vulvovaginitis, or known genital trauma. In our series the most remarkable findings were that none of the patients had poor perineal hygiene and secondly these mothers were very careful and very scrupulous about the perineal cleaning of their children. Conclusions: According to our observation, we think that microtraumas like overcleaning causing mechanical mucosal injury of the perineum may lead to adhesion of labia minora, because all mothers were cleaned the perineum of their daughter too much.