Lump or pellet in the vagina: what it can be and how to treat it

The lump in the vagina, which can also be known as a lump in the vagina, is almost always the result of an inflammation of the glands that help lubricate the vaginal canal, known as the Bartholin and Skene glands, and therefore is generally not sign of a serious problem, as this inflammation is self-limiting.

However, if the lump causes symptoms such as itching, burning or pain it can indicate other problems that need medical treatment, such as varicose veins, herpes or even cancer.

Therefore, whenever there is a change in the vaginal region, which takes more than 1 week to disappear or causes a lot of discomfort, the gynecologist should be consulted to identify the cause and start the appropriate treatment.

1. ingrown hair or folliculitis

Women who perform intimate waxing, tweezers or razors are at an increased risk of developing ingrown hairs in the region, which can give rise to a small red pimple or lump that hurts. Usually, this type of lump also has a whitish central region, due to the accumulation of pus under the skin.

What to do: wait for the pus to be reabsorbed by the body and never break the spine, as it increases the risk of an infection. To relieve symptoms, a hot compress can be applied to the area and avoid wearing tight panties. If the pain gets worse or the area becomes very hot or swollen, you should go to the gynecologist to assess the need to use an antibiotic ointment.

2. Spine in the vagina, large or small lips

Although not very common, the spine can appear large and inflamed in the region of the vulva, groin, at the entrance of the vagina or on the large or small vaginal lips causing pain and discomfort.

What to do: You should not try to squeeze the pimple in the groin or use any medicine or cosmetic without medical knowledge. Thus, it is necessary to go to the gynecologist for him to see and indicate the most suitable treatment. In some cases it may be necessary to use a corticoid-based ointment, such as Candicort, for example, and make a sitz bath using pink flogo, which has analgesic and anti-inflammatory action. In the most severe cases, Trok N ointment and an antibiotic, such as cephalexin, can be used.

3. Furuncle

The boil is an infection caused by bacteria and causes pain and intense discomfort. It can also appear in the groin, the labia majora or at the entrance to the vagina, initially as an ingrown hair, which gave rise to bacteria that proliferated causing symptoms.

What to do: The treatment is done with warm compresses and use of antibiotic ointments, to prevent the boil from getting worse by forming an abscess, which is a bigger and very painful lump, in which case, the doctor may indicate taking antibiotics in the form of pills or make a small local cut to eliminate all content.

4. Inflammation of the Bartholin or Skene glands

In the vulva there are several types of glands that help to keep the region lubricated and with less bacteria. Two of these glands are the Bartholin's glands, which when inflamed give rise to Bartholinite.

When these glands are inflamed, due to the presence of bacteria or poor hygiene, a lump may appear in the outer region of the vagina which, although it does not cause pain, can be palpated by the woman during the bath or felt during intimate contact.

What to do: in most cases, the inflammation of these glands disappears after a few days maintaining the proper hygiene of the region. However, if the swelling increases or if pain or release of pus appears, it is advisable to go to the gynecologist, as it may be necessary to start using anti-inflammatories, antibiotics or analgesics. Understand more about treating inflammation of the Bartholin glands and Skene glands.

5. Vaginal cyst

Vaginal cysts are small pockets that can develop on the walls of the vaginal canal and are usually caused by injuries during intimate contact or by the accumulation of fluids in the glands. They usually do not cause symptoms but can be felt as lumps or lumps inside the vagina.

A very common type of vaginal cyst is a Gartner cyst which is more common after pregnancy and which arises due to the accumulation of fluid within a canal that develops during pregnancy. This channel usually disappears in the postpartum period, but in some women it can remain and become inflamed. Learn more about this type of cyst.

What to do: vaginal cysts do not usually need specific treatment, it is only recommended to monitor their growth with routine examinations at the gynecologist.

6. Varicose veins in the vulva

Although they are more rare, varicose veins can also develop in the genital region, especially after childbirth or with natural aging. In these cases, the lump may be slightly purple in color and, although it does not cause pain, it may cause a slight itchy, tingling or discomfort sensation.

What to do: in the case of pregnant women, treatment is usually not necessary, as varicose veins tend to disappear after delivery. In other cases, if it is bothering the woman, the gynecologist may advise a minor surgery to close the spider vein and correct the varicose vein. See treatment options for varicose veins in the pelvic area.

7. Genital herpes

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that can be acquired through intimate, unprotected oral, genital or anal contact. Other symptoms include fever, pain in the genitals and an itchy sensation. These symptoms can go away and come back later, especially when the immune system is weakened.

What to do: there is no specific treatment for genital herpes, as the virus needs to be fought by the immune system. However, when the symptoms are very intense, the gynecologist may advise the use of an anti-viral, such as Acyclovir or Valacyclovir. See also how to take care of genital herpes.

8. Genital warts

Genital warts are also a type of sexually transmitted disease that can go through unprotected intimate contact. In these cases, in addition to small lumps in the vagina, visible lesions similar to cauliflower can also appear, which can cause itching or burning.

What to do: there is no cure for genital warts, but the doctor can remove the warts through some forms of treatment such as cryotherapy, microsurgery or application of acid. Better understand the various ways to treat genital warts.

There are also other causes for the appearance of a lump, pellet or pimple in the groin or vagina and that is why it is always advisable to go to the doctor so that when observing the type of injury and other symptoms that may be present, come to the conclusion of what may be and how the treatment can be done to eliminate all types of wounds.