Common Gynecological Symptoms before Puberty in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecological Practice

Gynecological symptoms are relatively common before puberty, although serious pathology is rare. Nonspecific vulvovaginitis and labial adhesions contribute to a significant proportion of the workload of a pediatric gynecologist. Clinicians must be able to confidently identify and manage these common conditions as symptoms can be prolonged and last for many months before resolution. In addition, clinicians also need to be aware of the rarer causes of vulvar symptoms including dermatological disease, recurrent vulvar ulceration, and genital lesions. Vaginal bleeding is uncommon but can indicate more serious underlying pathology and should be carefully investigated.