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Fenton's repair - what is it??
Ever since I first had sex (about 3 years ago), I've had constant pain when my boyfriend enters me.
I've seen numerous specialists and they all seem a bit vague about the problem.
The last one I've seen has advised me to undergo a Fenton's repair operation and says she feels this is the only thing that could help me.
She told me to go away and look it up on the internet and get back to her if I decide to go ahead.
Trouble is I've been on loads of websites and I can't find anything about it!!
Has anybody had this and can tell me more about it or maybe where I could get the information from??
Thanks :)
I've seen numerous specialists and they all seem a bit vague about the problem.
The last one I've seen has advised me to undergo a Fenton's repair operation and says she feels this is the only thing that could help me.
She told me to go away and look it up on the internet and get back to her if I decide to go ahead.
Trouble is I've been on loads of websites and I can't find anything about it!!
Has anybody had this and can tell me more about it or maybe where I could get the information from??
Thanks :)
Hi Anne
I really feel for you. That sounds really terrible. You've probably read my story above (posted a week ago). I've also never had children and had tearing every time i had sex. Same as you, i had to wait a few days before we could have sex again. On top of that i have vulvadynia, which means i experience pain around the opening and inside with no actual symptoms. Just touching it with a cotton bud is painful. The tearing on the outside was caused by a skin bridge across the bottom of the opening, and apparently i also have a really small vagina. I had a modified Fenton's procedure a week and a half ago to remove the skin bridge and widen my vagina. Currently things arent great since the wound got infected and split open a few days ago. I've been to see the Gynae unit at my local hospital and the answer seems to be there is nothing that can be done and i just have to be on antibiotics and then let it heal from the inside out. This may or may not cause excess scarring which may have to be operated on again. It took 2 days at the hospital and being passed between 8 doctors who all had a prod around before i finally got a full explanation from someone (i spent three days thinking i had done something wrong to cause the stitches to split). One of the doctors today just started putting a speculum in (what they use when they do smear tests) without even telling me why! I told him he couldn't and he said he was just going to have a look, which he attempted to do until i was in tears from the pain. I still have no idea why he was doing it!! The wound is all external. He also initially looked at the wound i have at the top of my leg from a cyst removal at the same time and proclaimed that my stitches were actually still in place! This is after telling him what procedure i had done, which as far as i'm aware can only be performed on the vagina. Horrible experience in general.
My partner said it's looking a bit better now though, so i will keep you posted on how my recovery goes, and whether i have tearing when we eventually try sex again. I seem to have very sensitive skin around the whole area down there, so maybe we are similar.
In terms of what could help you right now, i would highly recommend seeing a psychotherapist. I was lucky to find one who has dealt with vulvadynia sufferers. She actually advised me against getting a vestibulectomy on top of a Fenton's procedure, which i am so glad of now. She is also just amazing at listening to me and talking to the doctors for me. Many doctors don't seem to worry about your mental state (which is hugely effected by an issue that is so private and central to your relationships) and generally go straight to the most invasive options to try fix things, without giving you all the facts, or at least not in a way you understand them. She used to be a surgeon, so she knows both sides of the picture. To be honest it's just helped my mental state hugely to have a medical person i can pour all my worries and experiences out to. I hope that you can find someone like her who can talk with you and decide what's best for you, rather than what may have worked for other people.
On that note though, one thing that did work for me for a while (until i developed a reaction to it) was dermal cream. It just seemed to help the skin in that area. But that was pre op, so i'm not sure if it would help now.
Best of luck though. I understand your pain and anxiety, and it's totally justified. I will let you know how my recovery goes.
I really feel for you. That sounds really terrible. You've probably read my story above (posted a week ago). I've also never had children and had tearing every time i had sex. Same as you, i had to wait a few days before we could have sex again. On top of that i have vulvadynia, which means i experience pain around the opening and inside with no actual symptoms. Just touching it with a cotton bud is painful. The tearing on the outside was caused by a skin bridge across the bottom of the opening, and apparently i also have a really small vagina. I had a modified Fenton's procedure a week and a half ago to remove the skin bridge and widen my vagina. Currently things arent great since the wound got infected and split open a few days ago. I've been to see the Gynae unit at my local hospital and the answer seems to be there is nothing that can be done and i just have to be on antibiotics and then let it heal from the inside out. This may or may not cause excess scarring which may have to be operated on again. It took 2 days at the hospital and being passed between 8 doctors who all had a prod around before i finally got a full explanation from someone (i spent three days thinking i had done something wrong to cause the stitches to split). One of the doctors today just started putting a speculum in (what they use when they do smear tests) without even telling me why! I told him he couldn't and he said he was just going to have a look, which he attempted to do until i was in tears from the pain. I still have no idea why he was doing it!! The wound is all external. He also initially looked at the wound i have at the top of my leg from a cyst removal at the same time and proclaimed that my stitches were actually still in place! This is after telling him what procedure i had done, which as far as i'm aware can only be performed on the vagina. Horrible experience in general.
My partner said it's looking a bit better now though, so i will keep you posted on how my recovery goes, and whether i have tearing when we eventually try sex again. I seem to have very sensitive skin around the whole area down there, so maybe we are similar.
In terms of what could help you right now, i would highly recommend seeing a psychotherapist. I was lucky to find one who has dealt with vulvadynia sufferers. She actually advised me against getting a vestibulectomy on top of a Fenton's procedure, which i am so glad of now. She is also just amazing at listening to me and talking to the doctors for me. Many doctors don't seem to worry about your mental state (which is hugely effected by an issue that is so private and central to your relationships) and generally go straight to the most invasive options to try fix things, without giving you all the facts, or at least not in a way you understand them. She used to be a surgeon, so she knows both sides of the picture. To be honest it's just helped my mental state hugely to have a medical person i can pour all my worries and experiences out to. I hope that you can find someone like her who can talk with you and decide what's best for you, rather than what may have worked for other people.
On that note though, one thing that did work for me for a while (until i developed a reaction to it) was dermal cream. It just seemed to help the skin in that area. But that was pre op, so i'm not sure if it would help now.
Best of luck though. I understand your pain and anxiety, and it's totally justified. I will let you know how my recovery goes.
I'm so sorry to read what you are going through. I've not had the Fenton done because I didn't know what it was, no one explained it to me so I cancelled the op.
From where the Gyne took your scar tissue away, that in itself will produce scar tissue, did she not think about that.
Would changing sexual position lessen the chance of tearing for you?
From where the Gyne took your scar tissue away, that in itself will produce scar tissue, did she not think about that.
Would changing sexual position lessen the chance of tearing for you?
Hi There,
I am 32 years old. I have never had a child but I have the issue of tearing at the base of my vagina when I have sex. The type tearing someone would have if they gave birth but I didn't give birth! If I use lubricant it's not as bad and in a couple days I can have sex again. Although, sex it's that enjoyable because I always had a little tear! At first my Gyno said I had thin skin down there and gave me estrogen cream to thicken the skin. This did not work. I developed scar tissue (from repeated tears) and my gyno thought it was the scar tissue that was ripping repeatedly every time I have intercourse. She removed the scar tissue (not a full fenton's.. because she did this in her clinic with just a local anesthetic and I don't think I had any widening done.. well she didn't mention anything about that). Anyway I waited two months to have sex again and when I did, I ended up tearing very badly (the whole area where she removed skin) which is bigger than my original tear was. So instead of having to wait 2 or 3 days now to have sex again. I have to probably wait a good week and a half or two weeks to let it heal up because this tear is so much bigger. (I guess it's kinda like a cavity, the dentist has to drill a bigger hole to give you a filling, well she had to remove a bigger section to make sure she got all the scar tissue). Anyway, now I have a bigger tear (but I don't have any scar tissue, that was all removed). It's my actually operation site that is tearing! I'm at my lowest point! :( I'm so stressed out! I don't sleep or eat worrying about this! My boyfriend lives away right now and he knows I have issues but he doesn't realize the extent! And how much more damage has been done! I don't know what to do. I scared to get the full Fenton's in fear it will only make me tear even more!!! or even bigger! (with a longer heal time). I don't really understand the procedure either? does it remove scar tissue and WIDEN the vagina so there is more space ( less stretching at the opening). Can someone give me some advice? or has anyone ever had this done with success to help the issue of thin skin??? or widening the vagina to reduce friction or tearing. I have read many success stories but mostly with people who have had children and the birth causing the tears not just because they have thin skin, etc.... PLEASE HELP!!!! Thanks!
I am 32 years old. I have never had a child but I have the issue of tearing at the base of my vagina when I have sex. The type tearing someone would have if they gave birth but I didn't give birth! If I use lubricant it's not as bad and in a couple days I can have sex again. Although, sex it's that enjoyable because I always had a little tear! At first my Gyno said I had thin skin down there and gave me estrogen cream to thicken the skin. This did not work. I developed scar tissue (from repeated tears) and my gyno thought it was the scar tissue that was ripping repeatedly every time I have intercourse. She removed the scar tissue (not a full fenton's.. because she did this in her clinic with just a local anesthetic and I don't think I had any widening done.. well she didn't mention anything about that). Anyway I waited two months to have sex again and when I did, I ended up tearing very badly (the whole area where she removed skin) which is bigger than my original tear was. So instead of having to wait 2 or 3 days now to have sex again. I have to probably wait a good week and a half or two weeks to let it heal up because this tear is so much bigger. (I guess it's kinda like a cavity, the dentist has to drill a bigger hole to give you a filling, well she had to remove a bigger section to make sure she got all the scar tissue). Anyway, now I have a bigger tear (but I don't have any scar tissue, that was all removed). It's my actually operation site that is tearing! I'm at my lowest point! :( I'm so stressed out! I don't sleep or eat worrying about this! My boyfriend lives away right now and he knows I have issues but he doesn't realize the extent! And how much more damage has been done! I don't know what to do. I scared to get the full Fenton's in fear it will only make me tear even more!!! or even bigger! (with a longer heal time). I don't really understand the procedure either? does it remove scar tissue and WIDEN the vagina so there is more space ( less stretching at the opening). Can someone give me some advice? or has anyone ever had this done with success to help the issue of thin skin??? or widening the vagina to reduce friction or tearing. I have read many success stories but mostly with people who have had children and the birth causing the tears not just because they have thin skin, etc.... PLEASE HELP!!!! Thanks!
Hi StaceyLo
Do hope the hospital you see give better advice and help, to leave the wound like that, without attaching the edges together again will leave you with a bigger scar, and that's not what you need down there.
Do report back on here
Best Wishes
Do hope the hospital you see give better advice and help, to leave the wound like that, without attaching the edges together again will leave you with a bigger scar, and that's not what you need down there.
Do report back on here
Best Wishes
Ok, so 8 days since the op. Somehow the stitches have all split open and now i just have a raw wound. Went to my GP (it's the holidays so i can't contact my surgeon) and they said this happens sometimes and that i just have to go on antibiotics and wait for it to heal from the inside out. Likely to be quite extensive scarring now as the skin has to grow in from the edge. Really disappointed as i was so careful. Pain's not too bad most of the time, altho it's been unbearably itchy and sore at times, especially when i try sleep. Going back to a different hospital on Monday to reassess.
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