vaginal septum

{{redirects here|Duplicate vagina|the two lateral vaginas which are normally present in female marsupials|Marsupial female reproductive system}}

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| image = Double vagina Vagina duplex from Golay 1875.png

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| field = Gynecology

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A vaginal septum is a vaginal anomaly that is partition within the vagina; such a septum could be either longitudinal or transverse. In some affected women, the septum is partial or does not extend the length or width of the vagina.{{Cite journal|last=Heinonen|first=Pentti K.|date=2006-03-01|title=Complete septate uterus with longitudinal vaginal septum|url=http://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(05)03968-3/fulltext|journal=Fertility and Sterility|language=English|volume=85|issue=3|pages=700–705|doi=10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.039|pmid=16500341|issn=0015-0282|doi-access=free}} Pain during intercourse can be a symptom. A longitudinal vaginal septum develops during embryogenesis when there is an incomplete fusion of the lower parts of the two Müllerian ducts. As a result, there may appear to be two openings to the vagina. There may be associated duplications of the more cranial parts of the Müllerian derivatives, a double cervix, and either a uterine septum or uterus didelphys (double uterus).{{cite journal |vauthors=Perez-Brayfield MR, Clarke HS, Pattaras JG |title=Complete bladder, urethral, and vaginal duplication in a 50-year-old woman |journal=Urology |volume=60 |issue=3 |pages=514 |date=September 2002 |pmid=12350504 |doi=10.1016/S0090-4295(02)01808-3 }} A transverse septum forms during embryogenesis when the Müllerian ducts do not fuse to the urogenital sinus. A complete transverse septum can occur across the vagina at different levels. Menstrual flow can be blocked,{{Cite web|url=https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/vaginal-abnormalities-congenital-vaginal-obstruction/causes|title=Urology Care Foundation - What Causes Congenital Vaginal Obstruction?|website=www.urologyhealth.org|language=en|access-date=2018-03-09}} and is a cause of primary amenorrhea. The accumulation of menstrual debris behind the septum is termed cryptomenorrhea. Some transverse septa are incomplete and may lead to dyspareunia or obstruction in labour.{{cite journal |author=Üstün Y |author2=Üstün YE |author3=Zeteroğlu Ş |author4=Şahin G |author5=Kamacı M |year=2005 |title=A Case of Transverse Vaginal Septum Diagnosed During Labour |journal=Erciyes Medical Journal |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=136–138 |url=http://tipdergisi.erciyes.edu.tr/project6/69.pdf |access-date=2008-07-03 |archive-date=2012-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324114744/http://tipdergisi.erciyes.edu.tr/project6/69.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=miALDgAAQBAJ&q=Vagina+cyst&pg=PA41|title=Essentials of Gynecologic Pathology|last=Dey|first=Pranab|date=2017-02-06|publisher=JP Medical Ltd|isbn=9789386261205|language=en}}