Acute Urinary Retention Due to Labial Adhesion as the Presenting Symptom of Lichen Sclerosus in an Adolescent Girl

A rare case of acute urinary retention caused by labial adhesion secondary to lichen sclerosus in a sexually inactive adolescent girl is described with emphasis on the unusual presenting symptomatology. An 18 year old virgin girl presented to the gynecological outpatient department of our hospital with acute pelvic pain and bladder distension. Genital examination revealed labia minora fusion from the clitoris to the vaginal fourchette. The labia minora were completely separated by surgical intervention. Skin biopsies revealed lichen sclerosus. Urinary retention may be caused by complete adhesion of the labia minora which is a rare event in postpubertal individuals and is an unusual initial presentation of lichen sclerosus. Lichen sclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of the labial adhesion.