Referral to emergency

If any of the following are present or suspected, please refer the patient to the emergency department (via ambulance if necessary) or seek emergent medical advice if in a remote region.

  • urinary retention

Please contact the gynaecology on-call registrar to discuss your concerns prior to referral.

For clinical advice, please telephone the relevant metropolitan Local Health Network switchboard and ask to speak to the relevant specialty service.

Women's and Children's Health Network

Exclusions

  • asymptomatic labial adhesions
  • concerns of ‘childhood non-accidental injury’, refer to Child Protection Services for further information
  • labial adhesions without trial of first-line treatment

Triage categories

Category 1 (appointment clinically indicated within 30 days)

  • nil

Category 2 (appointment clinically indicated within 90 days)

  • symptomatic labial adhesions with any of the following:
    • foul-smelling vaginal discharge
    • inability to control urine flow or involuntary leakage
    • recurrent urinary tract infections
    • tender, irritated, or infected vaginal region

Category 3 (appointment clinically indicated within 365 days)

  • nil

For more on outpatient referrals, see the general referral information.

All referrals for people less than 16 years of age, or those less than 18 years with intellectual disabilities, complex medical conditions, primary amenorrhea, pubertal delay, or Mullerian anomalies are to be sent to Women’s and Children’s Hospital (WCH).

Central Adelaide Local Health Network only accept referrals for people greater than 18 years of age.

Due to limitations in infrastructure and resources, the WCH cannot accommodate referrals for individuals with a body mass index equal to or greater than 45, as well as individuals over the age of 69 years of age.

Essential referral information

Completion required before first appointment to ensure patients are ready for care. Please indicate in the referral if the patient is unable to access mandatory tests or investigations as they incur a cost or are unavailable locally.

  • identifies as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • identify within your referral if you feel your patient is from a vulnerable population, under guardianship/out-of-home care arrangements and/or requires a third party to receive correspondence on their behalf
  • interpreter requirements
  • past medical/surgical/psychosocial history
  • current medications and allergies
  • presenting symptoms history, including:
    • concerning features e.g., recurrent urinary tract infections, trouble voiding
    • trial of topical agents to date
  • vulval examination

Clinical management advice

In most cases, management of labial fusion can be coordinated with first-line treatment by a General Practitioner, and will not require specialist service involvement.

Clinical resources

Consumer resources