Non –Obstetrics Vaginal Lacerations from Consensual Coitus.

A Case Series

Abstract

Consensual coital lacerations are commonly encountered in clinical practice, though not as common as lacerations sustained during childbirth, they account for significant morbidity and occasional mortality among sexually active women. Sexual intercourse which is consensual should ideally not cause any form pain or injury as opposed to rape. When minor injuries occur, it usually resolves with minimal or no intervention. Occasionally, severe coital lacerations may occurs and they are usually deeper and more extensive resulting to life threatening blood loss, which can result in morbidities and in rare cases, mortalities. Coital laceration commonly results from inadequate foreplay prior to penetration leading to non-lubrication of the vagina. Coital injuries are unlikely to be reported or may be misdiagnosed and eventually mismanaged.
The authors reported their experiences in the management of patients with coital laceration, the mechanism of injury and associated risk factors were also highlighted. The authors presented five cases.. All five patients were not adequately lubricated prior to penetration due to inadequate foreplay. All were consensual and were either with their lovers or the spouses. None of them was circumcised or had had any form of genital mutilation.
These case series bring to front burner the common mechanism of injury in consensual coital laceration, common anatomical location of injury and the need for clinicians to have high index of suspicion when reviewing sexually active women with history of vaginal bleeding , as the history might be grossly inadequate and misleading due to socio-cultural stigma. Timely diagnosis and prompt intervention, which may require surgical repair, can be live saving.