Female consensual coital injuries

To ascertain the pattern and management strategies of coital injuries in married females in Pakistan.

An observational, case series.

Gynaecology and Surgical wings - Fatima Medical Centre, Multan, over a period of seven years from January 1997 to December 2003.

Records of 33 adult married females sustaining coital injuries were studied. Only married females were included. Injuries raising suspicion of indecent assault, sexual abuse and trauma were excluded. Results were recorded and analyzed.

Three vulvar haematomas (9%) settled on conservative management. One labial (3%), 9 posterior fourchette (27%) and 16 vaginal wall lacerations (48%) were stitched. A broad ligament haematoma (3%) and a ruptured ovarian cyst (3%) were laparoscopically dealt with. One posterior fornix perforation (3%) with secondary peritonitis and a ruptured ectopic pregnancy (3%) with life-threatening haemorrhage underwent laparotomy. No mortality occurred in this series.

Varied presentation of the coital injuries demand careful evaluation to help correct diagnosis, timely management and successful outcome with minimal morbidity.