Hymenoplasty
Day 17 after hymenoplasty: two separate rules for the pool and the sea
Day 17 · permanent hymenoplasty, flap technique
For patients with a holiday or summer plans, the question on their mind is often when they can go into the water. The same date does not apply to the pool and the sea; the rule for each was set separately.
As of today, neither is allowed. The day you are waiting for the sea is close; for the pool, what decides is not a calendar day but the follow-up examination. We explain the difference calmly below.
The sea: not before day 20
For the sea the rule depends on a number of days: it is not entered before day 20. Today you are on day 17, so this period is not over yet. Having only a few days left does not relax the rule; days 18 and 19 are also within this period.
Ask your doctor on exactly which day you can go in once day twenty is complete; if you were given a different period, you follow that.
The pool: not recommended until the follow-up examination
For the pool, the measure is not a number of days. The pool is never recommended until complete healing, that is, until the follow-up examination. So being past day 20 is not enough for the pool; your doctor needs to see the healing at the examination. Your doctor tells you on which day the follow-up examination takes place; before that day comes, it is not possible to give a date for the pool.
Where does the difference between the two come from?
What the two rules have in common is that the area is still healing. Your doctor has set a day limit for the sea and an examination requirement for the pool; we do not give any reason beyond this on this page. If you want to know the details, you can ask your doctor at the check-up. That is why it is sensible to think about the two questions separately: for the sea you look at the calendar, for the pool at your appointment.
If you are planning a holiday
- Go by day 20 being complete for the sea, and by the follow-up examination for the pool.
- If you do not know the date of your check-up appointment, find out from the clinic.
- Keep in mind that the stitches stay on the tissue for 25–35 days on average.
- If your doctor gave you a longer period, plan according to that period.
- If your holiday dates are fixed, share them with your doctor at the follow-up examination.
Do today
- Find out the date of your follow-up examination.
- Leave your sea plans until after day 20.
- Leave the decision about the pool to the assessment at the examination.
Avoid today
- Do not go into the sea today.
- Do not go into a pool, even briefly.
- Do not assume the pool is allowed once the sea is.
Call us if
- If a discharge becomes persistent, is yellow, smells different or you cannot describe it, let the clinic know for an examination.
- If you are unsure about going into the water or about something you see in the area, consult the clinic.
Frequently asked questions
When can I go into the sea after hymenoplasty?
No sea before day 20. If you are on day 17, this period is not over yet. After day twenty, your doctor will tell you exactly on which day you can go in and whether there is an additional period specific to you; the date your doctor gives takes priority over the general information on this page.
Why is the pool not allowed after hymenoplasty?
The pool is never recommended until complete healing, that is, until the follow-up examination, because the area is still in the process of healing. This rule ends with an examination, not with a number of days. Once your doctor has seen the healing, they will tell you separately when they allow the pool.
Once the sea is allowed, can I also go into a pool?
No, the two rules are independent of each other. For the sea the measure is day 20; for the pool it is the follow-up examination. Even if you are past day twenty, the pool is not recommended if the check-up has not been done. If you do not know your examination date, you can find out from the clinic. You need to follow the order: check-up first, then the pool.
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: