Because your vulva is a very personal area, talking to anyone, even a doctor, about vulval problems can be very embarrassing. Most people would rather live with discomforts, and problems then deal with talking about them to someone. However, it is important to note that there are certain health problems that can affect the vulva, some are minor, and some are more serious. So, discussing any problems you have with a health care professional so that you can get the proper treatment is important to good health. Let's take a look at vulval and vaginal problems in general:

First, what is the vulva?

The vulva is the area that surrounds the vaginal opening. The vulva has two lips, the outer lip which is usually fleshly and covered with hair and skin, and the inner lips, which are usually thin. Of course, no two vulva are exactly alike, they come in all shapes and sizes. In fact, some have outer lips that completely enclose the inner, while others have inner lips that hang down further than the outer. There is no normal, or one that is better than another.

The vulva is composed of several parts that have other names as well. Let's take a look at this. It is important to understand the area in questions so that you can understand the problems that most commonly affect this area.

The area inside the inner lips round the vaginal opening and the urethra (which is the technical name for the hole from which you urinate from) in general this area is moist and pink. The medical name for this area is the `vestibule'. The vagina and the urethra open into the vestibule. In addition to the vestibule you have the clitoris, which is at the top where the outer lips meet. The vulva is in general the outside of the female genital area. The fleshy part of this area that lies directly over the pubic bone is called the mons veneris. The outer lips that have been discussed are technically called the labia majora. The inner lips are called the labia minora. The perineum is the area between the anus and vagina. Ok, now that you understand the terms and areas around the vulva, we can discuss the problems most common in these areas.

The most common problems to the vulvar area include: yeast infection, genital warts, STDs,
Herpes, and contact dermatitis. Before we take a more indepth look at these particular problems, let's discuss how you find out if you have vulval problems.

To find vulval problems you would do something similar to how you check your breasts for problems. Basically you give yourself an examination, and should do so regularly so that you can recognize if you have any change or problems in that area. For a vulva exam you need to use your eyes and your other senses, including your sense of smell, and touch.

When you examine your vulva, you should look for indicators of problems such as redness, swelling, dark or light spots, blisters, bumps, and other changes. You want to also determine if there is any sort of foul odor coming from that area, as it can be an indicator of infection.

If you see and changes or have symptoms such as itching, bleeding (not your menstrual cycle), discomfort, or burning, it is wise to at least talk to your doctor, possibly even go in for an examination.

The reason you want to see your doctor is that there are a number of problems that may occur on the vulva. Many problems of the vulva share the same symptoms. So, without doing an examination it may be difficult for your physician to know which problem is yours.

Ok, now let's look at the common vulval problems:

Yeast Infections: These are by far the most common type of vulvar infections. The vagina often is infected, as well when you have a yeast infection. These infections generally show symptoms that include itching and redness, but if left untreated it can get worse, and lead to burning and other discomfort.

Contact Dermatitis: This particular vulval problem is caused by irritation of the skin of the vulva. This could be caused by any number of things including an allergy to the soap you wash your panties in. It is not always easy to find the cause, but the main symptoms of contact dermatitis are redness and itching, which, as you can see are the same symptoms of yeast infection.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases: If you are sexually active, and have multiple partners, there is a higher likelihood that your vulval problems stem from STDs which affect the vulva. You would want to talk to your doctor immediately to prevent the problem from worsening, and to treat it so that you do not spread it. The following are some of the most common vulval problems caused by STDs:

Genital Warts. Genital warts are also called condyloma. They are just like warts on other parts of the body in that they are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). However, these particular warts are spread through sexual contact. They also can be quite painful. Usually when they are on the vulva they are raised and sometimes reddened patches that hurt or itch.

Genital Herpes. Genital herpes are caused by the herpes simplex virus. The symptoms vary from person to person.

What other types of vulval problems are there?

Well, besides problems that are typical of jus the vulval or vaginal region, there are some more complex problems that affect other parts of the body, that manifest symptoms, or affect the vulva as well.

Psoriasis, which is a skin disease may appear on your vulva. If it does, it will likely be red, thick, scaly patches that may itch.

Sometimes Crohn's disease (a disease where ulcers form in the digestive system) manifests its first sores and symptoms on the vulva.

A woman with diabetes may have yeast infections frequently, again this is a bigger problem that is being manifested by a vulval problem.

So, as you can see, it is important to understand that your vulva is subject to all sorts of problems. While it can be very embarrassing to discuss a vulval problem with a doctor, it is important to realize that most vaginal and vulval problems are highly uncomfortable, but are easily treated. In addition to that, if your vulval problem is an indication of something more serious, such as cancer, or an infection, prompt treatment is necessary. Being embarrassed about it, and thus ignoring it can make the problem far worse. While it is embarrassing to you, your health care professional is used to examining the genital area, as it is part of their job, and will handle it with professionalism. If you are too embarrassed to see your regular physician, consider seeing a specialized physician, such as an Gynocologist, or even an OBGYN, at the very least speak with a nurse.

It is important to recognize that there are all sorts of problems that can affect the vulval and vaginal area. Vulvodynia is the term for vulvar pain, which usually means you have burning, stinging, irritation, or rawness; vulvar dystrophy on the other hand is the growth of abnormal skin on the vulva, which can be either too thick or too thin, and usually has symptoms that include redness or whiteness, itching, and burning; cancer of the vulva may be present, it is usually a skin cancer and is easily removed or treated, but only if caught early, the symptoms usually include itching, growths, pain, changes in skin color, etc.; prepubertal pruritus vulvae may also be a symptom of other vulvar or vaginal problems, including everything from skin disease to infections that are not sexually transmitted. So, as you can see, there are lots of problems to choose from, and if you are too embarrassed to go in and see your doctor, it can be hard to pinpoint what your specific problem is as most have similar symptoms. If you are going to talk to your nurse or doctor over the phone about a vulval or vaginal problem it is important that you overcome your anxiety and be honest with the doctor and yourself. Many women have these problems, so you are not going to be a freak for having pain, itching, smell, or discharge. What you need to do, however, is make sure that you are specific with your doctor, and can give them details about your symptoms so that they can best determine your actual problem. Determine which of the following common symptoms you have: Painful vulva, vulval itching, fishy smell, vaginal discharge, change in color, dry vagina, etc.

The best way to prevent vulval problems is to keep the area clean and dry. Do not have multiple sex partners, and select the partners you do have carefully. Give yourself regular exams so that if any sort of problem starts to manifest you can treat it quickly.