Hymenoplasty
Day 2 after hymenoplasty: pricking sensation and tightness
Day 2 · permanent hymenoplasty, flap technique
The second day may be a day when sensations in the area come to the fore. During the day you may notice a feeling like a needle prick or a sense of stretching.
A pricking sensation may occur in the first days; it is felt more when the area is oedematous, that is, swollen. A feeling of tightness is also considered normal in this period. Below we look at these two sensations, the habits that can make them worse, and the question of medication.
When does the pricking sensation become noticeable?
According to the doctor's information, pricking appears especially when there is swelling. Oedema means swelling of the tissue; while the area is swollen, a pricking feeling may be felt around the stitches.
The curve on this page illustrates how this sensation decreases as the swelling goes down. It is not based on an actual measurement, and your own days may progress differently.
A feeling of tightness
It is normal to feel stretching or pulling in the stitched tissue. Pricking and tightness are not the same sensation: pricking, as the name suggests, resembles the tip of a needle; tightness is a pulling feeling. Mentioning the two separately when you describe them to your doctor makes the assessment easier.
Stretching the tissue by hand or in front of a mirror to test the tightness, however, is not recommended; it creates a risk of harming yourself.
To avoid making the sensation worse today
- Choose loose bottoms; tight, close-fitting trousers put unnecessary pressure on the area.
- Keep your steps an ordinary length, and do not run.
- Climb stairs without skipping steps.
- Do not lift anything heavy; lifting causes straining in the area.
- Keep using the thick night pad; spotting may also be seen today.
About medication
Whether you may take a painkiller for the pricking or tightness, and which one is suitable, is not stated on this page; your doctor will tell you specifically. If you were given an antibiotic as a preventive measure, keep taking it regularly.
If you were given a solution, use it as you were shown. If your doctor set an additional restriction for you, follow that rather than the general information on this page.
Do today
- Wear comfortable, loose bottoms.
- Note at which time of day the sensation increases; it helps when you describe it to your doctor.
- Ask your doctor about painkillers.
Avoid today
- Do not stretch the area to see the source of the sensation.
- Do not take medication without consulting your doctor.
- Do not wear tight trousers.
- Do not take the stairs two at a time.
Call us if
- If, alongside the pricking sensation or separately from it, there is a persistent discharge that is yellow, smells different or that you cannot name, let the clinic know for a check-up.
- If you cannot tell whether what you feel is the expected pricking or something else, call the clinic and describe it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pricking sensation normal after hymenoplasty?
A pricking sensation may occur in the first days; it is felt especially when the area is oedematous, that is, swollen. This is one of the sensations the doctor expects during the healing period. This page cannot say how many days the pricking will last for you. If the sensation does not feel usual to you, or you find it hard to describe, it is appropriate to call the clinic and ask.
I feel as if the stitches are pulling; has something happened?
A feeling of tightness in the area is normal during the healing period. Do not open and stretch the tissue in front of a mirror to check; this movement carries a risk of harm. If you have concerns about the tightness, the assessment is made by your doctor, who examines you; you can call the clinic and explain the situation.
Can I take a painkiller for the pricking sensation?
No medicine name or dose is given on this page. Your doctor will tell you specifically whether you may use a painkiller and, if so, which one and how to take it. If a medicine was prescribed for you on the procedure day, use it as instructed; if not, call the clinic before taking anything.
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: