Use of autologous buccal mucosa for vaginoplasty: a study of eight cases

BACKGROUND: Vaginal agenesis is a rare condition and treatment methods are varied. The difference between most of the surgical techniques is the graft material used. The purpose of this study was to describe the procedure and outcome of creating a neovaginal pouch lined with autologous buccal mucosa. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between August 2000 and February 2002, eight patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome were admitted to our hospital. All of the patients successfully underwent neovaginoplasty with autologous buccal mucosa as graft material. The buccal mucosal wound completely healed 2 weeks after the operation and the neovaginal length and calibre were well formed. Follow-up ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 years. One patient encountered post-operative vaginal bleeding and another patient suffered from urinary bladder injury. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported procedure of vaginoplasty with autologous buccal mucosa as graft material. Our method is ideal in its simplicity, provides good cosmetic results, and improves the vaginal length of the patient.