Clitoral Adhesiolysis: Technique and Patient Selection

  • Rubin, R, Trikhacheva, A, Dengler, K, Vaccaro, C, Johnson, E
  • E. S. Johnson, A. S. Trikhacheva, K. L. Dengler, R. S. Rubin, C. M. Vaccaro
  • VJSM 2025 1: 203
  • 06:56
Image

Abstract

Authors

E. S. Johnson, A. S. Trikhacheva, K. L. Dengler, R. S. Rubin, C. M. Vaccaro

Key Words

clitoral adhesions, clitoral phimosis, clitoral adhesiolysis, clitoral pain

Description

Clitoral adhesions occur when the clitoral prepuce fuses to the glans clitoris and obscures visualization of the corona. This finding can correlate with clitoral hyper- or hyposensitivity, discomfort or clitorodynia, and/or difficulty with arousal and orgasm. In this video, we present a visual demonstration of clitoral adhesiolysis using three patient examples, each with increasing complexity. We provide an overview of patient selection and pre-procedure set-up, and patient analgesia. We include descriptions of several techniques for troubleshooting severe causes, including use of mosquito forceps, fine-tipped forceps and lacrimal duct dilators. A method for making a small incision in the prepuce is presented, if other techniques are inadequate. Finally, we discuss our approach to post-procedure care aimed at preventing recurrent adhesions. Lysis of clitoral adhesions is a low-risk procedure that has the potential to improve sexual function in symptomatic patients. Increased provider awareness and comfort with performing non-surgical clitoral adhesiolysis can improve patient access to this intervention.

Acknowledgements

None.

Disclosures

The authors have nothing to disclose

References

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3. Aerts L, Rubin RS, Randazzo M, Goldstein SW, Goldstein I. Retrospective Study of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Clitoral Adhesions: Women’s Health Providers Should Routinely Examine the Glans Clitoris, Sexual Medicine.,2018;6(2):115-122.

4. Munarriz R, Talakoub L, Kuohung W, Gioia M, Hoag, L Flaherty E, Min K, Choi S, Goldstein I. The Prevalence of Phimosis of the Clitoris in Women Presenting to the Sexual Dysfunction Clinic: Lack of Correlation to Disorders of Desire, Arousal and Orgasm, Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 2002;28(sup1):181-185.

5. Myers MC, Romanello JP, Nico E, Marantidis J, Rowen TS, Sussman RD, Rubin RS. A Retrospective Case Series on Patient Satisfaction and Efficacy of Non-Surgical Lysis of Clitoral Adhesions, The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2022;19(9):1412-1420.

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