What happens when you Google “What is that bump on my vagina?” I’ll tell you what happens. Fear. Shock. Questions that lead to more questions.
Let me boil it down for you. Because yes, it could be vaginal boils. But there are plenty of other – most perfectly treatable – things it could be as well.
Vaginal boils are real and treatable
Bacteria, skin conditions and cysts are all considered common causes of vaginal boils, which Medical News Today define as “a pus-filled lump that develops outside the vagina as a result of a blocked hair follicle or oil gland.”
Can that be caused by landscaping? Absolutely. Please do not misunderstand: it is completely your choice what you do or do not do to keep your lady parts landscaped to your liking. That being said, take precaution when you choose to shave or wax this very sensitive area of the body.
Not taking proper precautions can cause folliculitis, which can cause vaginal boils when bacteria infects a hair follicle. To avoid that happening, the most important thing you can do is focus more on trimming than anything else. Trim, trim, trim! Close shaving or waxing is where you can run into bacterial trouble, which is a problem none of us wants to deal with.
Fast facts on vaginal boils, courtesy of Medical News Today:
- They often begin as a skin irritation that becomes infected with bacteria that naturally live on the skin.
- If the boil is filled with pus and appears severely infected, a doctor may drain the boil using a special sterile needle.
- When a person develops a vaginal boil or boils, they can try several home remedies to help the boil resolve.
The good news to draw from that? There are home remedies you can try to avoid the area getting infected. The most important things you can do are to NOT try to poke or pop it, wear loose clothing, and keep the area clean.
Cysts are not as scary as they sound
The two most common types of cyst in the lady parts arena include vulvar and vaginal. There are several types of both, but the common link is that a cyst occurs when a gland becomes clogged.
The good news is most cysts aren’t painful unless they become infected. Most go away without being treated.
One cause for concern regardless of location is if there is pain during sex, in which case please consider seeking medical attention.
Fordyce spots, vein issues could be the culprit
And most are painless, not harmful, and go away on their own. They are most common on your lips or inside your cheeks, but can pop up in sparkle valley occasionally.
They look like small white or yellow bumps and commonly appear during puberty, but again, they are not painful, harmful, or itchy and most resolve themselves over time.
Swollen veins that look like blush, raised bumps can occur around your vulva in a very small percentage of women due mostly to being pregnant or aging. Itching and bleeding are possible, but not necessarily likely, particularly in pregnant women.
Genital warts: Yet another reason to practice safe sex
Vaginal, anal, and even sometimes oral sex can be to blame for genital warts, which are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). What’s kind of alarming is that most people who have genital warts don’t even know it.
What you’re looking for in this case includes groups of small, skin-colored bumps and rough patches of warts that may cause itching and burning. They can pop up on your vulva, anus, or vagina and are a prompt to see a doctor for proper treatment.
While there is not a cure, the warts can be removed by your doctor using a variety of treatment methods. These are something to take very seriously as they could increase your risk for cervical cancer, so I would strongly encourage you to see your doctor if you experience these symptoms.
Keep calm and cover all the bases
The most important thing to remember in this case is that cancers of the vulva are incredibly rare and cancers of the vagina are like a white peacock. (Read: very rare!).
That being said, it is necessary to broach the topic to cover all the bases. Flat or raised bumps, skin discoloration, thickened skin, itching, burning, pain, sores, and discharge could indicate more reason for concern.
Again, there’s no need to go through any of this alone.
Finding bumps in your places is a stressful thing, and I beg you not to listen to the scariness you may find when you type those fateful words into your Google search. Instead, listen to me. Seek help if you think you need it. And if you don’t know where to turn, I’m always here to help you put that dang phone down or close the stupid laptop.