A vulvar disease is a particular abnormal, pathological condition that affects part or all of the vulva. Several pathologies are defined. Some can be prevented by vulvovaginal health maintenance.

Vulvar cancer

''Vulvar cancer'' accounts for about 5% of all gynecological cancers and typically affects women in later life. Five-year survival rates in the United States are around 70%. Symptoms of vulvar cancer include itching, a lump or sore on the vulva which does not heal and/or grows larger, and sometimes discomfort/pain/swelling in the vulval area. Treatments include

vulvectomy Vulvectomy refers to a gynecological procedure in which the vulva is partly or completely removed. The procedure is usually performed as a last resort in certain cases of cancer, vulvar dysplasia, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, or as part of ...

– removal of all or part of the vulva.

Vulvo-perineal localization of dermatologic disorders

Systemic disorders may be localized in the vulvo-perineal region. * In

Langerhans cell histiocytosis Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an abnormal clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells, abnormal cells deriving from bone marrow and capable of migrating from skin to lymph nodes. Symptoms range from isolated bone lesions to multisystem dise ...

, lesions initially are erythematous,

purpuric Purpura () is a condition of red or purple discolored spots on the skin that do not blanch on applying pressure. The spots are caused by bleeding underneath the skin secondary to platelet disorders, vascular disorders, coagulation disorders, ...

papules and they then become scaly, crusted and sometimes confluent. * In Kawasaki disease, an erythematous, desquamating perineal rash may occur in the second week of symptom onset, almost at the same time as palmoplantar desquamation. * Acrodermatitis enteropathica is a biochemical disorder of zinc metabolism. * Diaper dermatitis in infancy

Blemishes and cysts

Epidermal cyst The epidermis is the outermost of the three layers that comprise the skin, the inner layers being the dermis and hypodermis. The epidermis layer provides a barrier to infection from environmental pathogens and regulates the amount of water relea ...

s * Angiomas * Moles *

Freckles Freckles are clusters of concentrated melaninized cells which are most easily visible on people with a fair complexion. Freckles do not have an increased number of the melanin-producing cells, or melanocytes, but instead have melanocytes that ...

* Lentigos *

Scars A scar (or scar tissue) is an area of fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after an injury. Scars result from the biological process of wound repair in the skin, as well as in other organs, and tissues of the body. Thus, scarring is a natu ...

* Scarification * Vitiligo * Tattoos * Hypertrophy *

Sinus pudoris Elongated labia (also known as sinus pudoris or macronympha, and colloquially as khoikhoi apron or hottentot apron) is a feature of certain Khoikhoi and other African women who develop, whether naturally or through artificial stretching, relati ...

* Bartholin's cyst * Skene's duct cyst, a para urethral cyst

Infections

* Candidiasis (thrush) *

Bacterial vaginosis Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disease of the vagina caused by excessive growth of bacteria. Common symptoms include increased vaginal discharge that often smells like fish. The discharge is usually white or gray in color. Burning with urination ...

(BV) * Genital warts, due to human papilloma virus (HPV) * Molluscum contagiosum * Herpes simplex (genital herpes) * Herpes zoster (shingles) *

Tinea cruris Tinea cruris, also known as jock itch, is a common type of contagious, superficial fungal infection of the groin and buttocks region, which occurs predominantly but not exclusively in men and in hot-humid climates. Typically, over the upper inner ...

(fungus) *

Hidradenitis suppurativa Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), sometimes known as acne inversa or Verneuil's disease, is a long-term dermatological condition characterized by the occurrence of inflamed and swollen lumps. These are typically painful and break open, releasing ...

* Infestations with pinworms (rare),

scabies Scabies (; also sometimes known as the seven-year itch) is a contagious skin infestation by the mite ''Sarcoptes scabiei''. The most common symptoms are severe itchiness and a pimple-like rash. Occasionally, tiny burrows may appear on the skin ...

and

lice Louse ( : lice) is the common name for any member of the clade Phthiraptera, which contains nearly 5,000 species of wingless parasitic insects. Phthiraptera has variously been recognized as an order, infraorder, or a parvorder, as a result o ...

Inflammatory diseases

* Eczema/Dermatitis *

Lichen simplex Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) is thick leathery skin with exaggerated skin markings caused by sudden itching and excessive rubbing and scratching. It generally results in small bumps, patches, scratch marks and scale. It typically affects th ...

(chronic eczema) * Psoriasis * Lichen sclerosus * Lichen planus * zoon's vulvitis ( zoon's balanitis in men) *

Pemphigus vulgaris Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare chronic blistering skin disease and the most common form of pemphigus. Pemphigus was derived from the Greek word ''pemphix'', meaning blister. It is classified as a type II hypersensitivity reaction in which antibodies ...

Pemphigoid Pemphigoid is a group of rare autoimmune blistering diseases of the skin, and mucous membranes. As its name indicates, pemphigoid is similar in general appearance to pemphigus, but, unlike pemphigus, pemphigoid does not feature acantholysis, a l ...

(mucous membrane pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid)

Pain syndromes

* Vulvodynia and vulvular vestibulitis * Vaginismus

Ulcers

* Aphthous ulcer * Behcet's Disease

Developmental disorders

Septate vagina A uterine malformation is a type of female genital malformation resulting from an abnormal development of the Müllerian duct(s) during embryogenesis. Symptoms range from amenorrhea, infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, and pain, to normal funct ...

* Vaginal opening extremely close to the urethra or anus * An imperforate hymen * Various stages of ''genital masculinization'' including fused labia, an absent or partially formed vagina, urethra located on the clitoris. * Hermaphroditism

Tumoral and hamartomatous diseases

* Hemangiomas and vascular dysplasia may involve the perineal region * Infantile perianal pyramidal protrusion

Other

* Vulvar Lymphangioma * Paget's disease of the vulva * Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) * Bowen's disease * Bowenoid papulosis * Vulvar varicose veins * Labial adhesions * Perineodynia (perineal pain) * Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis (DIV) * Childbirth tears and Episiotomy related changes * Vestibulodynia

References

{{Diseases of the pelvis and genitals Gynaecology Midwifery Vulva