what is a vaginal stricture

Hello ladies--Not sure where to go for this answer. On exam yesterday, my MD made reference to a stricture on my left vaginal wall. Said she was keeping an eye on it and generally doesn't do anything about them unless they interfere with sex. I was wondering...I asked (but frankly while on the table, I have trouble taking in new info) if she meant hypertrophic healing. Don't remember her response. Anyone out there every had or heard of this? Know where I can go to find out? I'm seven weeks post of (TVH/BSO) with a&p repair and TVT sling. Thanks a bunch. New Yorker

Hi there I'm so sorry you have yet one more thing to worry about

I don't have personal experience with this condition, however, hopefully, someone will come along soon with some insight. While you wait, it you do a "search" with the keyword "stricture" you might find answers to your questions.

Also, since you're no longer so vulnerable, lying on the table, you might want to call your doctor and ask for additional information and the possible scenarios you're looking at.

Sending lots of healing s your way. Don't forget that you're still a and still need and deserve lots and lots of pampering.

Hi New Yorker! A stricture is just a physical restriction, and could be due to lots of things, scar tissue being one of them. It sounds like there was an incision made during your TVH that ran up the left vaginal wall, and some extra scar tissue has formed along the healing incision. I assume the DR is saying it's just a slight restriction, and unless it makes penetration difficult it's well to leave it alone.

Hypertrophic healing is when the new collagen tissue in a healing incision forms around the old tissue which hasn't broken down yet, leaving a red, raised scar. I'm not sure whether it's applicable in a vaginal incision; couldn't find any references to it there.

If it helps, I had a vaginal adhesion from my A&P repair. That happened when the two healing incisions decided to form a bridge of scar tissue between them. I ended up having to have surgery to have it removed, because obviously that would interfere with penetration. After that surgery, my gyn had me use vaginal premarin cream for three weeks to soften up the new healing tissue. It healed perfectly and there's been no further problem there. She also told me that if it hadn't been such a large adhesion, it's possible that just rubbing the Premarin on it daily for a couple of weeks might have softened it up and helped it to disappear on its own.

You might ask your DR if it would be worth it for you to consider using a little vaginal Premarin to soften up the stricture, and see what she thinks? It's simple to do, no great risks involved, and it might work. Just a thought.

s,
-Linda

Dear Dany and Linda--Thanks for getting back to me. Apologies for the delay in responding, don't know what happened but didn't see Linda's response until today! Thanks for your good wishes, Dany, and for your info, Linda. Gosh, sometimes I think you could go into practice yourself! Lots of good infor; I was going to call my MD re: vaginal dryiness (a posting you responded to in another forum) and will include this question in my list, i.e., the use of vaginal Premarin to ease the stricture. Again, thanks so much! New Yorker