Foreign Body in Vagina: A Year-Long Retained Toothbrush Cap

Abstract

The presence of a foreign body (corpus alienum) in the vagina is a rare condition that can occur in women of all ages. These objects may be inserted for various reasons, including medical treatment, contraception, sexual gratification, or concealment of illicit substances. Diagnosis is often delayed due to patient denial or embarrassment, which can lead to serious health complications.This report presents the case of a 21-year-old woman who experienced brown-black, foul-smelling vaginal discharge after inserting a toothbrush cap into her vagina and leaving it in place for one year. She first sought medical attention at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of UNS Hospital on August 20, 2024. She also reported amenorrhea for the past four months. Physical examination revealed that the toothbrush cap was embedded in the vaginal tissue. Surgical removal was performed under spinal anesthesia. During the procedure, hardened vaginal tissue was observed, and histopathological analysis showed suppurative chronic inflammation, granulation tissue formation, and fibrosis. This case of retained corpus alienum in the vagina serves as a valuable learning opportunity in the fields of diagnosis and therapy within urogynecology, highlighting the importance of addressing uncommon yet significant medical conditions.