The vulva is the external female genital area that includes the labia majora and labia minora. Labia majora are the outer folds of the skin while the inner folds are known as the labia minora. Women can experience a number of problems with their vulva that can include swelling, infection, cancer, allergy, skin problems, etc. In this article, we will talk about the most commonly occurring problems in your vulva.
Skin disorders
The following types of disorders can occur on the skin of your vulva and areas around it:
Lichen planus
The lichen planus occurs on the mucous membranes in your genitals. It may cause soreness, burning, stinging, and abnormal discharge in the vagina. To treat this, your doctor will prescribe medications in the forms of pills, creams, gels, or injections.
Lichen simplex chronicus
Lichen simplex chronicus is a women’s sexual health-related skin problem that is marked by the presence of plaques on the skin of the vulva. It happens when other skin conditions have been left untreated for a long time. You may feel scaly and thick skin around the vulva. It can be treated by the ointments or creams as prescribed by your doctor.
Contact dermatitis
This is a condition that is caused by irritants such as perfumes, soaps, and mixed fabric. You may feel itching, burning, stinging, or rash in contact dermatitis. You can use ice packs, soothing creams, or petroleum jelly to heal the rash and avoid the product that is causing it.
Lichen sclerosis
It is a women’s sexual health condition in which you might experience tears in the skin, itching, burning, and stinging pain during sex. It makes the skin around the vulva to become thin and wrinkled and white bumps that are purple in color may appear. Your doctor will prescribe the medication to apply to the affected area to treat it.
Bartholin gland cysts
These glands are located under the walls of the vagina at its entrance. Bartholin glands release secretions that help the vagina to get wet during any sexual activity. Sometimes, these glands can get blocked causing a cyst to be formed at the opening of the vagina. It can be painful if it gets infected. It does not require any treatment if it isn’t painful, but if it is, you must go to a doctor for a check-up.
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a condition that is marked by the appearance of little red bumps that can be painful sometimes. These bumps are caused by the bacteria present in the hair follicles because of activities like rubbing, shaving, or waxing. It requires no treatment as it gets fine by itself. But in order to avoid it and to speed up the healing process, one can wear loose and cotton clothing. If the bumps do not get fine on their own, make sure to see your doctor at once.
Vulvar cancer
The abnormal growth of cells in the vulva is known as vulvar cancer. Other types of cancers that can affect the vulva are Paget disease or melanoma. Paget disease may indicate the presence of cancer in other parts of your body, for example, colon cancer or breast cancer.
Cause
Vulvar cancer can be caused by the infection due to HPV, the human papillomavirus.
Symptoms
The presence of cancer in the vulva can make you experience burning, itching, and pain. It may cause soreness, inflammation, lumps in the skin. The color of the vulva might change due to the presence of cancer in the area. It might cause a bump in the groin too.
Treatment
Cancer of any type and in any organ requires surgery or therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy. At times, both are required, surgery along with therapy. The type of treatment certainly depends on what stage of cancer you are in.
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia is also known as vulvar pain. This pain can be felt anywhere all over the area.
Cause
There are no specific causes for vulvodynia, but it is considered that any kind of irritation in the nerves surrounding the area or any previous allergies can cause vulvodynia.
Symptoms
The symptoms of vulvodynia or vulvar pain include a sensation of irritation, stinging, soreness, burning, etc. The area around the vagina may be swollen or inflamed and you may feel aching and throbbing. It is possible that these symptoms of vulvodynia come and go or remain constant. Some women with vulvodynia say that they only feel the pain when the area is touched. The others say that activities like having sex, wearing a snug panty, or inserting a tampon trigger their pain.
Treatment
Treatment of vulvodynia includes prevention from triggering products, changes in medication, sex counseling, or physical therapy. Your doctor will tell you what to do depending on your symptoms.
Vulvovaginitis
Vulvovaginitis is commonly known as vaginitis. It is a condition marked by swelling and infection in the vulva and vagina.
Cause
The most common cause of vaginitis is an infection due to bacteria and the less common cause of vaginitis include poor hygiene, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, etc.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vulvovaginitis or vaginitis are redness, pain, cracks in the skin.
Treatment
Treatment of vaginitis depends on your condition, symptoms, and cause. Treatment will be prescribed by your doctor.
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia
VIN is a women’s sexual health problem that is caused by the growth of abnormal cells that are not cancer.
Cause
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is usually caused by the human papillomavirus HPV infection.
Symptoms
The symptoms of VIN include burning, itching, irritation in the skin. The skin around the vagina may show bumps, smoothness, or a different color such as brown, red, or white.
Treatment
VIN must be treated at once in order to avoid cancer. Its treatment includes cream, surgery, or laser treatment.
