Vulvar Diseases

The

vulva

is the external

female genitalia

. It includes the ‘lips’ or folds of skin (labia majora and labia minora), clitoris, and the openings to the vagina and urethra (tube which carries urine). There is a wide range of vulvar (or vulval) conditions and diseases including: fungal, bacterial or viral infections (e.g. yeast infection, sexually transmitted infections); skin conditions (e.g. contact dermatitis); epithelial disorders (relating to the epithelium, the outside layer of cells that covers the skin and mucous membranes, e.g. lichen sclerosus); raised lesions or masses (e.g. cysts or abscesses); potentially malignant or malignant (cancerous) conditions (e.g. vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma); and injuries to the vulva. Treatment varies and depends on the specific condition and may include medication and surgery.