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You may or may not give your vaginal landscape much thought on the daily. But when a mysterious bump on your vagina pops upthe alarm bells likely sound.
Don’t panic because indentations and a bumpy surface in your vagina walls are usually normal parts of the vaginal structureor rugaesays Taraneh ShirazianMDa New York City-based ob-gyn and ambassador for Monistat. “This is part of your normal anatomy and just may not be something you noted before,” she explains. The vagina has a natural texture rather than being a smooth surfaceshe adds.
That saidyou should not ignore every bump or lump. If you have symptoms that you are concerned about (persistent painextreme vaginal itchingand/or if the bump is rapidly growing)make sure to bring it up with your ob-gynsays Jodie HortonMDan ob-gyn in WashingtonDC and the chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness. This is especially true if you have a darker skin toneshe notes. "Vulvar skin conditions may be more difficult to notice in women with darker skinespecially if the skin in the genital area is protected by pubic hair.”
Curious what you’re dealing with? Keep scrolling for the 12 most common causes of vaginal and vulvar bumpsplus how to identify the culprit—andof coursesome possible treatment options.
Meet the experts: Sameena RahmanMDis an ob-gyn at Center For Gynecology and Cosmetics in Chicago. Taraneh ShirazianMDis a New York City-based ob-gyn with NYU Langone and the director of the Center for Fibroid Care. She is also an ambassador for Monistat. Jodie HortonMDis an ob-gyn practicing in WashingtonDCand assistant clinical professor at Georgetown University. She is also the chief wellness advisor for Love Wellness. Eve EspeyMDis a professor and the chair of the department of obstetrics & gynecology and family planning fellowship director at the University of New Mexico. Melanie BoneMDis an ob-gyn in West Palm BeachFlorida and member of Daye’s medical board. Carolyn DeLuciaMDis of VSPOT Medi SPA in New York City. Allison HillMDis an ob-gyn at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and co-author of The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.
Vaginal Bump Causes
1. You have a breakout.
“Same as anywhere else on the bodywe may develop acne in the vaginal area as well,” says Carolyn DeLuciaMDof VSPOT Medi SPA in New York City. They look just like any other acne blemish would: redirritatedand sometimes filled with pus. (When they are pus-filledthey may appear as white bumps near the vagina.)
Uncomfortable as the zits may befight the urge to squeeze them. Dr. DeLucia recommends letting your skin clear up on its own: “Vaginal acne usually resolves itselfas it does on the face,” she says.
2. Your hair-removal routine is irritating your skin.
Removing hair down there can be a real pain. Aside from making the delicate skin along your bikini line red and itchyit can also lead to ingrown hairs and folliculitis—a fancy term for an infected hair follicle. Basicallyit's super easy for hair removal to lead to bumps in your vagina regionmore specifically the vulva.
“Due to efforts to treat the vaginal area with depilatoriesshavingand waxingthe hairs that grow back may get trapped [under the skin] and infectedcausing bumps and pain,” says Dr. DeLucia.
Toning down the hair removal for a week or two should help prevent a hairy situation from getting worsebut grooming-inflicted bumps on the vulva usually go away on their own anywaysays Eve EspeyMDa professor and the chair of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.
3. You have an allergic reaction or infection.
Irritation from either a vaginal infection or from an allergic response may cause minor bumps in the vaginal canalsays Dr. Shirazian. You can also develop vulvar inflammatory infections such as lichen sclerosuslichen simplex chronicusor lichen planus which cause the skin on your vulva to thicken and change texture due to an allergen or irritantadds Sameena RahmanMDan ob-gyn at Center For Gynecology and Cosmetics.
“Be careful using products on or in the vagina that can alter [its] pH and cause irritation,” she explains. The solution in this case may be as simple as changing your soap. If you have an infection caused by yeastfor exampleDr. Shirazian recommends trying over-the-counter products like miconazole nitrate creams to decrease inflammation and irritation and to treat the infection.
4. You have sebaceous cysts.
Between sitting at a desk from nine to fiveworking up a sweat at the gymand wearing constrictive underwear practically every minute of the dayyour vagina definitely doesn’t get nearly as much fresh air as it needs.
A constantly stuffy environment between your legs and incessant rubbing against clothing can lead to the growth of sebaceous cysts (fluid-filledpossibly white bumps on your vagina area that can appear like acne).
“They’re often found in the groin area,” says Dr. Espey. “They can become infectedbut the infection usually stays right in that area.”
Warm soaks and a visit to the doctor might be needed to treat sebaceous cystssays Dr. DeLuciabut they’re nothing to lose sleep over.
5. You have genital warts.
Vaginal warts are a type of sexually transmitted infection (STI)and they’re often caused by specific strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). They’re small in sizethey can be rough or smooth on the surfaceand they’re typically skin color or slightly darker.
“Warts do not cause health problems,” says Dr. Espey“though most women seek treatment because of the stigma and cosmetic concerns around having genital wartswhich are contagious through sexual contact.”
Although the warts themselves aren’t dangerousyou should still check in with your physician to find out if they were caused by HPVwhich could put you at risk for cervical cancer and other issues.
6. You have a Bartholin's cyst.
If the bump or lump is near the opening to your vaginait may be a Bartholin's cystsays Allison HillMDan ob-gyn at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles and co-author of The Mommy Docs' Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy and Birth.
You have glands on each side of your vaginal opening that are responsible for helping you stay lubricatedbut occasionally these can get blocked or backed up with fluid. If the cyst is small and painlessyour doc will probably tell you to wait it outand it will likely go away on its own. But if it becomes large and/or painfulyou need to see your doctor right away. They can drain the cyst and prescribe antibiotics if necessary.
7. You have ingrown hairs.
Pubic hair is characterized by its curly shapebut that tight coil can have a major downside: Pubic hairs are way more likely than other hairs to burrow back into your skincausing ingrown hairs. "The most common reason I see for painful bumps in the vaginal area are ingrown hairs," Dr. Hill notes.
These can become infectedbut that's pretty rare—more often than not they're just itchy and annoyingshe adds. You can use tweezers and a mirror to try and remove the offending hair yourselfor you can leave it alone and it should eventually heal on its own.
If the bumps aren't going away or show signs of infection (rednessswellingpainor pus)check in with your docshe says.
8. You have an infected sweat gland.
Sweat glands are everywhereincluding in your groin regionas any girl who's ever worn light-colored leggings during a workout can attest. And those sweat glands can get infectedcausing swollenpainful bumps on your vagina areaDr. Hill says.
Women who work out in tight leggings (which is pretty much everyoneright?) are particularly at risk for this affliction—especially if you don't shower right awayshe says. Staying in your damp workout pantsundiesor swimsuitparticularly those that aren't made from a wicking fabrictraps the sweat against your skin which can cause your sweat glands to become blocked or infected.
Proper hygieneincluding thoroughly rinsing your vaginal area with clean water and a mild soap if you wantand changing into dry clothes as soon as possiblewill prevent most of the bumps on your vaginashe says. Otherwisethey'll probably go away on their own; but if they show signs of infectioncall your doctor.
9. You have vaginal inclusion cysts.
Cysts can happen anywhereexplains Dr. Hortonbut a vaginal inclusion cyst is the most common type of cyst you'll find down there. They're often caused by traumachildbirthor vaginal surgery.
While they typically don't cause any pain and aren't dangerousthey can definitely be annoying. If it turns out you have vaginal inclusion cystsyour gyno will monitor them.
10. You have Skene’s duct cysts.
Skene’s glands are found on each side of the urethra (the urinary opening where you pee)explains Dr. Horton. A Skene’s duct cyst will form if the gland becomes obstructed due to an infection. These cysts are usually less than a centimeter in size and don’t cause any other symptoms. Cysts larger than a centimeterhowever can cause pain with urination and sex.
If the cyst becomes infected and filled with pusand forms an abscessthe gland will be tenderswollenand red. An abscess can be treated with antibiotics or surgically removed.
11. You have genital herpes.
Herpes is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2says Dr. Horton. After initial exposurethe virus will become dormant and can reactivate at any time. Symptoms include painitchingsmall red bumpstiny white blistersor ulcers. During an initial outbreakyou may have flu-like signs and symptomssuch as swollen lymph nodes in your groinheadachesmuscle achesand feveras well as itching and burning.
“There is no cure for herpesbut symptoms can be treated quickly with antiviral medication to decrease the duration of an outbreak,” says Dr. Horton. “Condoms are the best way to reduce your risk of exposure and transmission of herpes.”
12. You have a vaginal boil.
It's easy to mistake a pimple for a vaginal boilbut a boil is typically more swollen and painfulsays Melanie BoneMDan ob-gyn and member of Daye’s medical board. That saidjust like a pimplea boil could have a tip of pus.
Also known as a vaginal abscessa vaginal boil is a localized collection of pus and tissue that forms within the walls of the vaginal canalsays Dr. Bone. “They are rare but seem to be caused by bacteria entering microscopic openings in the vaginal wall,” she explainsadding that the condition is most commonly caused by a bacterial infection with Staphylococcus aureus.
“Infrequent underwear changesfrequent shavingand sometimes unprotected sex can increase your risk of developing a vaginal boil,” she says.
The boils typically cause pain and discomfortparticularly during sex and urinationbut they usually go away on their ownsays Dr. Bone. “Do not squeeze or pop the boil as that can increase and spread the infectionand if you are experiencing pain and discomforttry applying a warm sanitary compress or take over-the-counter painkillers.”
If the boil persists over two weeksor gets worse over timeit’s time to see a doctor since a prescription treatment may be neededsays Dr. Bone. “Remember to wear loose clothing so as to not irritate the boil furtherand do not use any harsh vulval or vaginal gels or douches,” she explains. It’s best to wash with a mild baby soap or a specializedpH-tested vulva cleanser.
What’s the difference between the vulva and the vagina?
“The word vagina is typically used when referring to the female reproductive systemrather than just the vagina or the vaginal canal,” says Dr. Bone.
The vulva refers to the external genitaliaincluding the labia majora and labia minorawhich are the inner and outer lips of the vulvaDr. Bone explains. The vulva also includes the clitoristhe clitoral hoodthe vaginal openingand the urethral openingshe adds.
When it comes to bumps on the vulvathey’re pretty common. These are most often caused by ingrown hairsespecially if you shave or waxexplains Dr. Bonealthough there are many other potential causes.
The vagina is the internal canal between the vaginal opening and the cervix and uterussays Dr. Bone. This is where menstrual blood leaves your bodyand where things like tampons enter. “Bumps inside the vagina are significantly less common and might be associated with scarring from childbirth or a vaginal cyst,” she says.
How are vaginal bumps typically treated?
A lot of vaginal bumps go away on their ownbut when it comes to at-home treatmentnever-ever pop or squeeze! This can increase the spread of infection and further irritate the affected areasays Dr. Bone. If you are experiencing pain and discomforttry applying a warm sanitary compress and avoiding tight clothing that rubs against your vulvashe explains. You can also consider over-the-counter painkillersshe adds.
Avoid harsh vulval or vaginal gels or douches and instead gently wash the bump with mild baby soap or a specializedpH-tested vulva soapexplains Dr. Bone.
Your physician may also recommend STI testingprescription medicationantibiotic therapyor even surgeryadds Dr. Bone.
When To Talk To Your Doctor
If your vulvar or vaginal bump is causing persistent painitchingand/or burningthen it’s time to see a doctorsays Dr. Bone. It’s also best to visit a physician if the bump is rapidly growing or changing in appearance and/or coloror if the bumps are increasing in numbershe adds. If you suspect the bump may be associated with a sexually transmitted infection (STI)schedule an appointment to get tested ASAP.
In extreme cases where the bump is causing you severe pain and discomfortyou should seek emergency care immediatelysays Dr. Bone.
Andi Breitowich is a freelance writer who covers healthfitnessrelationshipsbeautyand smart living. She is a graduate of Emory University and Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in Women's Health, POPSUGAR, Food & Wine, What To Expect, Cosmopolitan, Men's Healthand elsewhere. As a former collegiate pole vaultershe loves all things fitness and has yet to meet a group workout class she doesn't like.
Sameena RahmanMDis an ob-gyn at Center For Gynecology and Cosmetics in Chicago.
