Hymenoplasty
Day 13 after hymenoplasty: taking the stairs one step at a time
Day 13 · permanent hymenoplasty, flap technique
Stairs crop up during the day without you noticing: the entrance to your building, the metro exit, a shopping centre, the floors at work. For the first 15 days, stairs are not taken two or three at a time; on day thirteen this rule is still in force.
It is easy to skip steps out of habit, especially when you are in a hurry. This page explains the reason for the rule and how to apply it in typical situations during the day.
The difference between one step and two
When you climb one step, your knee rises a little and the angle between the thigh and the torso stays small. When you take two or three steps at once, the knee rises much higher, the stride opens and the hip angle increases.
The doctor asks that this angle never goes beyond 90 degrees for the first 15 days. The rule against skipping steps is how this limit applies on the stairs.
So climbing stairs itself is allowed; what is restricted is taking more than one step in a single stride. A high kerb has a similar effect; be careful with every step that makes you pull your knee up.
Stairs during the day
- On the metro, use the lift or escalator if there is one.
- At home, do not rush between floors; put your foot on each step separately.
- At work, do not skip steps even if you are late for a meeting.
- Hold the handrail if there is one; it helps you keep your stride small.
Going down and in a hurry
Although the rule is explained in terms of going up, it is also appropriate to take the steps one at a time going down; skipping steps on the way down opens the stride. Running is part of the same fifteen-day restriction, so do not hurry along at a run on the stairs.
Slowing down may feel hard when you are in a hurry; even so, a few minutes' delay is better than breaking the rule.
Two days from now
This rule ends at the end of day fifteen. If your doctor gave you a longer period, the date they gave applies; some patients may need additional restrictions, and this does not mean the healing is going badly.
Do not break the habit during the two days left until then.
Do today
- Put your foot on each step separately.
- Prefer the lift or escalator if there is one.
- Set off a few minutes early; hurrying makes you skip steps.
Avoid today
- Do not take the stairs two or three at a time.
- Do not run on the stairs.
- Do not skip steps to catch a departing metro.
Call us if
- If you see a discharge that is yellow, smells unusual or that you cannot identify, and it does not go away, have an examination.
- If you accidentally skipped a step and something afterwards makes you uneasy, let the clinic know.
Frequently asked questions
Can I climb stairs after hymenoplasty?
Yes, you can climb stairs; stairs have been an ordinary part of your life since the first day after the procedure. The restriction is about how you climb: for the first 15 days, stairs are not taken two or three at a time. When you climb each step separately, the hip angle stays below 90 degrees.
Does taking the stairs two at a time harm the stitches?
Skipping steps increases the hip angle and opens the stride; the doctor does not want this angle to go beyond 90 degrees for the first 15 days. That is why taking the stairs two or three at a time is among the restrictions. If you did it once by accident and there is something you are unsure about, you can call the clinic for advice.
For how many days should I be careful on the stairs after the procedure?
The stairs rule covers the first 15 days. On day thirteen there are two days left before the rule ends. Some patients may need an additional restriction from the doctor; if you were told a different period, that period applies. Running is also not recommended during the same fifteen days.
This page is for general information only; it does not replace an examination or your doctor's advice. Some patients may need additional restrictions. The durations and rules your doctor gives you always take priority over those on this page.
References
- A new surgical technique of hymenoplasty. Wei SY, et al. International Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, 2015.
- Hymenoplasty and Muslim Patients: Islamic Ethico-Legal Perspectives. Bawany MH, et al. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2017.
Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Şükrü Sanus, Obstetrician & Gynecologist · Last medical review: