Delhi-NCR doctors perform rare surgery on 18-year-old girl from Congo born without a cervix and vagina |

Doctors at Gurugram-based Max Hospital, successfully reconstructed the cervix and vagina of an 18-year-old girl from the Democratic Republic of Congo who was born without these organs due to an exceptionally rare congenital condition. The complex surgery restored the natural passage for menstrual flow after years of severe pain and four unsuccessful surgeries in her home country.Since attaining puberty, the young woman had experienced severe lower abdominal pain every month despite never menstruating. Although she had developed normal secondary sexual characteristics, had normal hormonal function, and all her other organ systems were functioning normally, she suffered from primary amenorrhoea (absence of menstrual periods), leaving the underlying congenital condition undiagnosed for years.She underwent four open abdominal surgeries in her home country, including an appendectomy, a hernia repair, a repeat hernia surgery and an unsuccessful attempt to create a cervical opening. Despite these procedures, her symptoms persisted, and she was left with multiple abdominal scars and a prominent keloid (a permanently raised scar).In search of advanced care and hope, the family travelled to India. Following detailed clinical evaluation and imaging, she was diagnosed with cervicovaginal agenesis, an extremely rare congenital anomaly in which the uterus and ovaries develop and function normally, but the cervix and vagina fail to form during fetal life.As a result, although her ovaries were functioning normally and she was undergoing monthly menstrual cycles, the menstrual blood had no passage to exit the body. It accumulated inside the uterus, causing recurrent severe pain and placing her at risk of complications such as infection, endometriosis, and infertility if left untreated.While such congenital anomalies are among the most complex reproductive tract disorders to manage, the surgical team performed a complex cervico-vaginoplasty, creating a new vagina and reconstructing a neo-cervical canal to establish continuity between the uterus and the newly formed vaginal passage. A vaginal mould and cervical catheter were placed temporarily following surgery to support healing and maintain the reconstructed tract.Commenting on the case, Dr. Suman Lal, Senior Director & Unit Head, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Max Hospital, Gurugram, said, “This was an exceptionally challenging case because the patient had a normally functioning uterus and ovaries but was born without a cervix and vagina, leaving menstrual blood with no natural outlet. She had already undergone four surgeries elsewhere without a definitive diagnosis.”“Our objective was not only to relieve her pain but also to reconstruct the reproductive tract while preserving uterine function. Such procedures require meticulous planning, advanced surgical expertise and coordinated multidisciplinary care to achieve a successful outcome,” the doctor said.The patient’s post-operative course required close, sustained monitoring. She was discharged after 8 days of surgery and readmitted after 18 days for a planned examination under anaesthesia, during which doctors found a minor infection and a small fluid collection near the surgical site. This was treated promptly with targeted antibiotics and monitored closely, including a follow-up ultrasound, until doctors confirmed it had fully resolved before she was discharged the next day in stable condition . Within roughly three weeks of her surgery, she was healing well, with good reconstruction of her anatomy.Speaking on the importance of early diagnosis, Dr. Lal added, “Young girls who attain puberty but do not menstruate despite developing normal secondary sexual characteristics should undergo timely evaluation. Persistent monthly abdominal pain without periods should never be ignored, as it may indicate a congenital reproductive tract anomaly. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent repeated surgeries, chronic pain and long-term reproductive complications.”This case highlights the benefits of advanced reconstructive gynecological surgery in managing highly complex congenital disorders.