What is the vulva?

'Vulva' is the general name given to the external parts of the female genitals.

The vulva includes:

• The mons pubis (the pad of fatty tissue covered with pubic hair)
• The labia majora (the outer lips which are covered with pubic hair)
• The labia minora (inner lips which are hairless)
• The clitoris and its hood or covering which is at the front of the genital area
• The vestibule which immediately surrounds the vaginal opening and the urethral opening
• Urinary opening
• Vaginal opening
• The perineum which is the area of skin between the vagina and the anus

What is normal?

Because it is difficult for women to see their own vulva, many women do not know what their vulva looks like and / or what is normal for them. If you don’t know what your vulva looks like, it is a good idea to use a hand mirror to have a look. Once you are familiar with what is normal for you, it can be a lot easier to detect any changes in appearance such as changes in colour, bumps, thickening or thinning of the skin or dry, cracked skin.

Each woman’s vulva is unique in size and appearance including differences between the right and left labia. This variation from one woman to another is completely normal.

What is vulva irritation?

The skin of the vulva is extremely delicate, making it susceptible to a wide range of conditions. Vulva irritation or vulvitis is when a part of the vulva, or sometimes the entire vulva, has some of the following symptoms:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Burning
• Itching
• Fissuring (skin cracking or splitting)
• Leukoplakia (whitening of skin)
• Associated vaginal inflammation or discharge

Some of the reasons for vulval irritation include:

• Sweating or vaginal secretions
• Skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, lichen sclerosus
• Fungal, bacterial or viral infections such as candida or thrush, trichomonas or herpes
• Some medications, preservatives and local anaesthetics
• Tight clothing / pantyhose / g-strings
• Allergies to substances such as:
  - Soaps, bath and hair products
  - Synthetic underwear or sanitary pads
  - Feminine hygiene products
  - Perfumes or scents
  - Laundry detergents
  - Toilet paper which is scented or coloured
  - Waxing
  - Spermicides
  - Condoms
  - Lubricants used for intercourse
  - Douches (vaginal irrigation) ) – recommended not to be used

Management of vulva irritation

Measures you can take to help yourself include:

• Not using any soap or perfumed bath products to wash your vulva – just use water
• Wear cotton underpants and if possible, wash them in pure soaps
• Never use talcum powder on your vulva
• Preferably, swim in salt water
• After swimming change out of swimwear immediately and avoid wet clothing
• Wear loose fitting pants, not tight jeans and avoid pantyhose
• When passing urine, lean slightly forward to avoid burning and always wipe or pat from front to back
• Use 100 per cent cotton menstrual pads and tampons
• Avoid commercial lubricants with intercourse; natural oils such as olive or almond oil may be suitable

Diagnosis and treatment

See your health practitioner to determine the cause. Investigations such as blood tests, urine tests, vulval or vaginal swab tests, or a vulval biopsy may be necessary. Do not self diagnose or treat. The treatment will depend on the cause of the irritation.

You may be prescribed cortisone cream / ointments for some of the possible causes and may be instructed to wash prior to application of the cream / ointment.

One of the bathing techniques sometimes suggested is to bathe in water with bicarbonate of soda:

• In a basin of water (e.g. a plastic wash bowl) add 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda; or in a bath add 1 cup of bicarbonate of soda
• Sit in the basin / bath with the water covering your vulva for 5-10 minutes
• Pat dry then apply the cream or ointment
• Bathe once or twice a day

If your symptoms do not get better with the recommended treatment, see your health practitioner again.

For further information:

http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/

http://www.gain.org.au/ – Gynaecological Awareness Information Network

http://www.shfpa.org.au/ – Family Planning Australia

Irritation of the Vulva (75.22 KB)

Content Updated March 2010