Lumps in the vagina are generally harmless. However, you need to be alert if the lump does not go away or even gets bigger. This is because lumps that appear can be caused by certain medical conditions, such as cysts or vaginal cancer.
Lumps in the female genital area can appear in the vagina or around the vulva . The vagina is a tube-shaped organ that functions as a connection between the uterus and the cervix. Meanwhile, the vulva is an external genital organ consisting of the labia minora, labia majora , and Skene’s gland.
In addition to being uncomfortable, lumps in the vagina and around the female genital area can certainly cause anxiety. Especially if the lump is accompanied by other symptoms, such as itching, irritation or rash, vaginal bleeding, and pain.
Various conditions that cause lumps in the vagina
The following are some medical conditions that can cause the appearance of lumps in the vagina and vulva:
- Vaginal cyst
A lump in the vagina can be a sign of a cyst. Cysts can be soft or hard in texture and vary in size. However, most vaginal cysts are generally small in size.
There are several types of vaginal cysts, namely Bartholin cysts , inclusion cysts, Gartner cysts, and Müllerian cysts. Of the four types of cysts, inclusion cysts are the most common. These cysts usually appear after giving birth or when there is an injury to the vagina.
Vaginal cysts are generally painless. It’s just that, if the size is large, it can cause discomfort during sex, walking, exercising, and wearing tampon-type pads.
If the cyst starts to cause pain, it is a sign that it is infected and needs to be treated by a doctor immediately.
- Coffin vulva
Vulvar cysts occur when the glands around the vulva become blocked. These cysts vary in size, but are generally just small, hard lumps that don’t hurt unless they’ve become infected.
Vulvar cysts usually go away on their own without treatment. However, treatment steps need to be taken immediately if the vulvar cyst becomes infected.
- Genital warts
Genital warts are a type of sexually transmitted disease . This condition is generally marked by the appearance of small lumps around the lips of the vagina, inside the vagina, cervix, or around the anus.
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The spread of this virus can occur through sexual intercourse, either vaginally (via the vagina), orally (by mouth), or anal (through the anus).
Symptoms of genital warts usually start from a group of small bumps that are pink or reddish brown in color. Some genital warts do not cause pain, but some can cause itching and soreness.
- Genital herpes
Genital herpes is also a sexually transmitted disease. This disease caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) is usually characterized by itching, tingling, and lumps or blisters appear on the genitals that contain clear fluid.
The various symptoms are sometimes also accompanied by fever and pain in the genital area and buttocks. Genital herpes can be transmitted through vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
Until now, there is no effective medicine to overcome genital herpes. However, the severity and duration of the symptoms that appear can be controlled by antiviral drugs.
- Skin grows in the vagina
Lumps in the vagina can also be caused by vaginal skin tags or skin growing in the vagina. This condition, which is also called vaginal polyp, is characterized by colored lumps resembling the color of the skin or darker and generallysmall, which is around 2-10 millimeters.
The condition of growing skin in the vagina can be caused by pregnancy, obesity, insulin resistance, hereditary factors, or HPV virus infection.
6 . Fordyce spots
Fordyce spots are small yellowish-white bumps or spots measuring around 1-3 mm. Fordyce spots generally appear on the inside of the vulva, but can also be seen on the cheeks,upper and lower lips , or even the penis.
These spots usually start to appear during puberty until adulthood, are harmless, and do not cause pain.
However, fordyce spots can sometimes resemble bumps caused by other sexually transmitted diseases, such as genital warts.
- Vaginal varicose veins
Vaginal varices are varicose veins that occur on the outer surface of the vagina. Varicose veins usually appear during pregnancy, especially during second pregnancies, due to increased blood volume in the pelvic area and increased levels of pregnancy hormones .
Vaginal varicose veins don’t always cause symptoms and usually go away on their own about 1 month after giving birth. However, vaginal varicose veins can sometimes cause lumps accompanied by the following symptoms:
- The vulva feels painful and swollen
- Pain during sex or walking
- Vagina itches
- Vulvar cancer and vaginal cancer
Although rare, a lump in the vagina can be a sign of vulva cancer or vaginal cancer . This cancer occurs more often in elderly women, who have a smoking habit, or who have a history of HPV infection in the vagina.
In addition to causing lumps in the vagina, vulvar cancer and vaginal cancer can also cause various other symptoms, such as:
- Genital skin changes color and thickens
- The genital area feels itchy, burning, or painful
- A wound appears that does not heal in a few weeks
- Unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge
- Pain or bleeding during intercourse
In addition to these causes, menopause can also look like a lump in the vagina.
A lump in the vagina can generally disappear on its own and is not a dangerous condition if it does not cause other complaints.
However, if the lump in the vagina is getting bigger or is accompanied by other complaints, such as pain, itching, and blood or fluid coming out of the vagina, immediately check yourself with a doctor to get the right treatment.
