Vaginal injuries during coitus in Calabar: a 10-year review.

Unlabelled: Injuries during coitus could result in considerable morbidity and mortality in women. Identifying their pattern of presentation and predisposing factors will aid in their prevention.

Study Design And Setting: A descriptive study of patients with coital injuries seen in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (U.C.T.H) Calabar, between 1991 and 2000, with data obtained from case records.

Results: Coital injuries constituted 0.7/1000 gynaecological emergencies. Rape (68.0%) was the commonest aetiological factor. It was more common in nulliparous patients (88.0%) and toddlers and teenagers formed the age group most affected. The lower vagina was the most common site of injury (44.0%). Vaginal bleeding was the commonest mode of presentation and hypovolaemic shock, the most common complication.

Conclusion: Rape is the commonest cause of coital injury in Calabar. Coital injuries should be considered as a differential diagnosis in all cases of abnormal vaginal bleeding particularly in children.