Hymenal Tag

A hymenal tag is typically a small piece of extra tissue that sticks out from the edge of your hymen. It’s kind of like a skin tag.

Your hymen is a small, thin piece of tissue at the opening of your vagina. The size, shape and thickness of your hymen are unique to you and can change over time.

Your baby may be born with a hymenal tag. Tags can also appear later in life after your hymen tears or after vaginal childbirth. A hymenal tag may look darker or lighter than the surrounding skin, but it will usually blend in. It’s usually very small, so it may be difficult to see.

Your hymen tearing is a normal part of your development. It can happen with physical activity, tampon use or intercourse (sex).

Hymenal tags typically don’t cause health problems. But they can cause discomfort. In some cases, a healthcare provider may recommend surgically removing it.

Hymenal tag symptoms

You may not realize you have a hymenal tag. But some people feel discomfort or irritation. This can happen:

• During sex, especially with penetration
• When you insert a tampon
• When your underwear rubs against it
• When you masturbate

The tag may sometimes swell or become discolored.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you feel irritation or pain around your vaginal opening. They’ll want to check the area for any signs of problems.

Hymenal tag causes

A hymenal tag can develop in a few ways:

• You’re born with it. Healthcare providers consider this a harmless difference in how a baby’s hymen forms during fetal development. They don’t know why it happens.
• It develops after your hymen tears. There may be a bit of tissue that doesn’t go back (recede) into your vagina after it tears.
• You have a vaginal delivery. If you give birth vaginally, there’s a chance you can develop a hymenal skin tag from pushing during labor. But sometimes, a hymenal tag goes away after vaginal birth.

There’s nothing you can do to prevent a hymenal tag from forming.

How doctors diagnose this condition

Talk to a healthcare provider if you think you have a hymenal tag. They can diagnose it with an exam of the area.

In addition to a visual exam, they may do a pelvic exam or Pap test to rule out other conditions. In rare cases, they may take a biopsy.

How is a hymenal tag treated?

You may only need treatment for a hymenal tag if it’s causing discomfort or irritation. If this is the case, a healthcare provider can remove the skin tag with surgical scissors or a scalpel. It’s a simple procedure they can do in their office.

Never attempt to remove a hymenal tag on your own.

Will it go away?

Yes, some hymenal tags go away on their own. This often happens for hymenal tags that are present at birth. Most of these tags go away by the time your child is 3 years old.

What is the difference between a hymenal polyp and a hymenal tag?

Hymenal polyps are small growths in your baby’s hymen that are present at birth. They look like small stalks. Hymenal tags are pieces of extra tissue that shoot off from your hymen.

Hymenal polyps often disappear a few weeks after birth. They typically don’t cause any health problems. But they may cause bleeding or spotting if they tear. Almost all hymenal polyps are benign (not cancerous).

If you think you have a hymenal polyp, it’s important that you follow up with a healthcare provider to be sure, even if it’s not bothersome.