Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAppearanceTypesSelf-Exam"When to Seek CareCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Appearance
Types
Self-Exam
“When to Seek Care
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
The appearance of vulvar cancer will vary depending on the type. In general, signs of vulvar cancer can include moles, lumps, or bumps on the vulva, flakiness or thickening of the skin in that area, or sores that don’t heal. Itching and pain may also occur.
Vulvar cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the vulva. The external female genitals, called thevulva, include the labia majora, the labia minora, and theclitoris. Early detection ofvulvar cancerhelps improve the likelihood of successful treatment.
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What It Looks Like
Vulvar cancer can vary in the way it looks and feels. Often, there are no changes in the appearance of the vulva in the very early stages of this cancer. However, as the disease progresses, you may start to see changes and other symptoms may develop.
Visual signs and symptoms of vulvar cancer vary based on the type of cancer and can include:
If you see lumps, take note if they are hard or soft. In general, cancerous lumps are hard.However, be aware of any bumps or lumps and speak to your provider about them if you are concerned or if they persist.
You may experience itching throughout the vulvar area if you have vulvar cancer. Itching is the most common symptom of vulvar cancer. Burning, or pain, is also possible in the early stages of vulvar cancer. It is also possible to experience bleeding that is different than your normal menstrual period.
Vulvar cancer can be misdiagnosed. For example, eczema or psoriasis can be mistaken for vulvar cancer due to their similar appearance. And yeast infections share many of the same symptoms (such as burning and itching) as vulvar cancer. Thus, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms that persist. A misdiagnosis can delay treatment.
Vulvar cancer can be a flesh-colored, red, pink, or white bump, wart, mole, or sore. The skin of the vulva may look and feel thicker and have flakiness to it. It frequently causes vulvar itching but can also cause pain or burning.
There are various types of vulvar cancers which appear different.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The most common type of vulvar cancer,squamouscell carcinoma can often be detected in precancerous stages.
Paul Biris / Getty Images
Verrucous Carcinoma
Verrucouscarcinoma is a slow-growing subtype of squamous cell carcinoma that looks like a wart.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is a relatively rare cancer that starts in the vulvar sweat glands or Bartholin’s glands on the side of the vaginal opening.
Melanoma
A type of skin cancer, melanoma can occasional develop on the clitoris or labia minor.
OGphoto / Getty Images
Sarcoma
Sarcoma is a tumor of the connective tissue beneath the skin of the vulva.
How to Do a Self-Exam
Every vulva looks different. A monthly vulvar self-exam can help women become familiar with their unique pattern, size, and coloration. This self-inspection uses a mirror (or camera) to check for skin color or texture changes, unusual growths, and sores.
Performing regular vulvar self-exams can help to spot any abnormalities before they become a larger problem. This includes infections, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), vulvar cancer, or other conditions.
A vulvar self-exam teaches you what isnormal in appearanceforyourvulva. No two vulvas look alike, and becoming familiar with the appearance of your vulva will ensure that, if abnormalities do develop in the future, you’ll notice.
Vulvar self-exams should be done about once a month, in between menstrual cycles. If you are no longer menstruating, set a regular date to perform a vulvar self-exam.
Using a Mirror for a Vulvar Self-Exam
To perform a vulvar self-examination, you need a handheld mirror and a private, well-lit area to complete the exam. The exam itself should only take about five to 10 minutes.
To begin a vulvar self-exam, stand, squat, or sit over the top of a handheld mirror. Make sure you can clearly see your genitals. If it makes things easier, you can ask your intimate partner to assist you with the following steps:
Report anything suspicious or abnormal to your healthcare provider, even if it seems small.
Using a Camera for a Vulvar Self-Exam
New technology is being developed to improve the accuracy of vulvar self-exams.There may soon even be an app for it.
To protect your privacy before taking a vulva selfie:
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Vulva exams are part of a typical well-woman check-up.Annual well-women checkups are recommended beginning in the teenage years. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover at least one well-woman visit a year at no cost to you.
In addition to your well-woman check-up, see your gynecologist if you experience the following:
For example, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the underlying cause of up to half ofsquamous cell cancerof the vulva.
In women over 55, vulvar cancer is linked top53tumor suppressor gene mutations.This is more common in women withlichen sclerosus, a painful, itchy skin condition that can affect the vulva and skin around the anus.
Changes to the vulvar skin from HPV, lichen sclerosus, or chronic vulvar irritation can lead tovulvar intraepithelial neoplasia(VIN). Also known as dysplasia, VIN is a precancerous condition that can develop into cancer.
Risk Factors
The risk of vulvar cancer increases with age. Less than 20% of vulvar cancers occur in women under 50, and more than half occur in women over 70. Other risk factors include:
Early signs of vulvar cancer are similar to non-cancerous conditions. The only way to know if it is cancer is with a test known as a biopsy.A biopsy uses a small sample of suspicious tissue to view under a microscope. Vulvar biopsies can be done in your gynecologist’s office.
To take biopsy samples, your healthcare provider will perform a vulvoscopy using a handheld magnifying glass or colposcope—an instrument with a magnifying lens and light.
The vulva is first treated with diluted acetic acid or a dye called toluidine blue to make it easier to identify areas of tissue changes.If vulvar abnormalities are identified, your doctor will numb the area using a local anesthetic before taking samples.
If the area is small, it may be removed completely in what is known as an excisional biopsy. If it is larger, a punch biopsy may be done to take a small cylinder of skin, about 1/6 of an inch. In some cases, stitches may be needed.
The sample is then sent to a lab for testing. If cancer is detected, additional testing will be used to determine the stage.
Does a Vulvar Biopsy Hurt?The most uncomfortable part of a vulvar biopsy is thelocal anestheticshot given to numb the area. It is given with a tiny needle and feels like a minor sting. Once the anesthetic kicks in, you may feel pressure but no pain or discomfort. If you are concerned about the shot, ask your healthcare provider if they use a numbing cream before giving it.
Does a Vulvar Biopsy Hurt?
The most uncomfortable part of a vulvar biopsy is thelocal anestheticshot given to numb the area. It is given with a tiny needle and feels like a minor sting. Once the anesthetic kicks in, you may feel pressure but no pain or discomfort. If you are concerned about the shot, ask your healthcare provider if they use a numbing cream before giving it.
Vulvar cancer is often treated with surgery to remove abnormal cells. In some cases, only the cancer cells and a small ring of healthy tissue around it (excision) are needed. In others, the entire vulva needs to be removed in a procedure known as a vulvectomy.
Chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments may be needed after surgery to treat vulvar cancer. One of the main reasons for the high cure rate of vulvar cancer is the ability to detect it in its early stages.
Summary
Vulvar cancer can be detected early for effective treatment. Monthly vulvar self-exams are recommended to help you quickly identify changes.
You can check your vulva yourself using a mirror or cell phone camera. Look for any spots, sores, changes in skin color or texture, bumps, or rashes. Some people ask their intimate partner to help and make it easier.
Report any changes to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Regardless of the cause, early detection and treatment are beneficial.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vulvar cancer.Alkatout I, Schubert M, Garbrecht N, et al.Vulvar cancer: epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management options.Int J Womens Health. 2015;7:305-313. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S68979American Cancer Society.Signs and Symptoms of Vulvar Cancers and Pre-Cancers.Dana Farber Cancer Institute.When Should I Worry About a Lump Under the Skin?Merck Manuals.Genital Itching.Yale Medicine.Vulvar Cancer.Preti M, Selk A, Stockdale C, et al.Knowledge of vulvar anatomy and self-examination in a sample of Italian women.J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2021;25(2):166-171. doi:10.1097/LGT.0000000000000585National Vulvodynia Association.Vulvar self-examination.Asiedu MN, Agudogo JS, Dotson ME, et al.A novel speculum-free imaging strategy for visualization of the internal female lower reproductive system.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):16570. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72219-9Almeida T, Comber R, Wood G, Saraf D, Balaam M.On looking at the vagina through Labella. In:Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.Association for Computing Machinery. 2016: 1810–21. doi:10.1145/2858036.2858119Planned Parenthood.Wellness Visit.Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Get your well woman visit every year.American Cancer Society.What causes vulvar cancer?Yale Medicine.Lichen sclerosus.Baylor College of Medicine.Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).American Cancer Society.Risk factors for vulvar cancer.American Cancer Society.Tests for vulvar cancer.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colposcopy.Williams LK, Weber JM, Pieper C, Lorenzo A, Moss H, Havrilesky LJ.Lidocaine-prilocaine cream compared with injected lidocaine for vulvar biopsy: a randomized controlled trial.Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(2):311-318. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003660Alkatout I, Schubert M, Garbrecht N, et al.Vulvar cancer: epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management options.Int J Womens Health. 2015;7:305-313. doi:10.2147/IJWH.S68979
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vulvar cancer.
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Merck Manuals.Genital Itching.
Yale Medicine.Vulvar Cancer.
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National Vulvodynia Association.Vulvar self-examination.
Asiedu MN, Agudogo JS, Dotson ME, et al.A novel speculum-free imaging strategy for visualization of the internal female lower reproductive system.Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):16570. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72219-9
Almeida T, Comber R, Wood G, Saraf D, Balaam M.On looking at the vagina through Labella. In:Proceedings of the 2016 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems.Association for Computing Machinery. 2016: 1810–21. doi:10.1145/2858036.2858119
Planned Parenthood.Wellness Visit.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.Get your well woman visit every year.
American Cancer Society.What causes vulvar cancer?
Yale Medicine.Lichen sclerosus.
Baylor College of Medicine.Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN).
American Cancer Society.Risk factors for vulvar cancer.
American Cancer Society.Tests for vulvar cancer.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Colposcopy.
Williams LK, Weber JM, Pieper C, Lorenzo A, Moss H, Havrilesky LJ.Lidocaine-prilocaine cream compared with injected lidocaine for vulvar biopsy: a randomized controlled trial.Obstet Gynecol. 2020;135(2):311-318. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000003660
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