Foreign Body, Vaginal

Presentation

Vaginal foreign bodies occur in both children and adults. The patient presents for care with a foul-smelling, bloody or brown purulent discharge, or pain. Children may insert a foreign body and not tell their parents or may be the victims of child abuse. Vaginal foreign bodies in the adult may be a result of a psychiatric disorder or sexual practices. Frequently, patients are reluctant to inform the examiner of the presence of the foreign body. Common vaginal foreign bodies in adults include condoms, contraceptive diaphragms, drug-smuggling devices, and sexual stimulation devices. Occasionally, a retained tampon or pessary is forgotten or lost and causes discomfort and a vaginal discharge. One study in children found the most common vaginal foreign bodies were toilet paper, beads, small parts of toys, cap of watercolor brush, and crayons.