Vulvar disease

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 – 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, lesions initially are erythematous, purpuric 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 cysts
 * Angiomas
 * Moles
 * Freckles
 * Lentigos
 * Scars
 * Scarification
 * Vitiligo
 * Tattoos
 * Hypertrophy
 * Sinus pudoris
 * Bartholin's cyst
 * Skene's duct cyst, a paraurethral cyst

Infections

 * Candidiasis (thrush)
 * Bacterial vaginosis (BV)
 * Genital warts, due to human papilloma virus (HPV)
 * Molluscum contagiosum
 * Herpes simplex (genital herpes)
 * Herpes zoster (shingles)
 * Tinea cruris (fungus)
 * Hidradenitis suppurativa
 * Infestations with pinworms (rare), scabies and lice.

Inflammatory diseases

 * Eczema/Dermatitis
 * Lichen simplex (chronic eczema)
 * Psoriasis
 * Lichen sclerosus
 * Lichen planus
 * Zoon's vulvitis (Zoon's balanitis in men)
 * Pemphigus vulgaris
 * Pemphigoid (mucous membrane pemphigoid, cicatricial pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid)

Pain syndromes

 * Vulvodynia and vulvar vestibulitis
 * Vaginismus

Ulcers

 * Aphthous ulcer
 * Behcet's Disease

Developmental disorders

 * Septate vagina
 * 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.
 * Intersex

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