What are labial adhesions?

Also known as: sticking together of labia.

The labia (two pairs) are the outer lips of the vagina. The labia majora (outer labia) are the thicker fatter folds of skin that cover and protect the inner more delicate parts of the girls external genitalia (labia minora, clitoris, urinary and vaginal orifices).

Ordinarily both pairs of labia are separated from one another. In some young girls however the labia minora stick together (fused labial adhesions). Adhesions are most often seen in girls aged 3 months to 6 years and may be mild (with approximately half of the labia minora length being fused) or severe where most of it is stuck together.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM