What is the vulva?
The vulva (female pubis) is the external area of the female genitals. It is one of the primary sexual organs of women. The vulva includes:
- the mons pubis or mons veneris: the fatty pad over the symphysis region
- the labia majora (labia majora)
- the labia minora (labia minora)
- the clitoris (clit)
- the vaginal vestibule
In their front area, the labia minora merge into a frenulum clitoridis, which surrounds the clitoris, and into the clitoris itself. In their rear area – towards the perineum, which is also the end of the vulva – the labia minora unite.
Vulva: Age-related changes
The vulva changes throughout life with the amount of sex hormones produced. During puberty, it enlarges and becomes more pigmented. Individual structures become more prominent, especially the clitoris and the labia majora and minora. In addition, the pubic hair grows.
What is the function of the vulva?
The vulva is an important erogenous zone. The clitoris is considered the sexual arousal center. The labia protect the vaginal entrance and supply the delicate mucous membrane with moisture via glandular secretions.
Where is the vulva located?
The vulva is the outer area of the female primary sexual organs. It extends from the mons veneris through the labia majora and labia minora to the perineum (transitional area between the vulva and the anus).
Inflammation of the vulva (vulvitis) affects the entire area of the external genitalia. It can be infectious. Such infections in the vulva area are always characterized – regardless of the cause – by itching, burning pain, redness, swelling and discharge, occasionally also by swelling and pain of the inguinal lymph nodes. However, vulvitis can also have non-infectious causes.
A distinction is made between primary and secondary vulvitis:
Primary vulvitis
Bacterial infections of the vulva include bartholinitis and folliculitis. Bartholinitis is a common disease of the vulva. It is an inflammation of the excretory duct of one of the Bartholin glands on the inner side of the labia minora. It causes severe pain and a one-sided swelling, which can reach the size of a tennis ball.
Viral infections of the vulva are also possible, for example with herpes viruses (genital herpes) or papillomaviruses (genital warts).
Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes genital warts in the vulva. Of the more than 100 different types of papillomaviruses, about 20 affect the genital area. A distinction is made here between “low-risk” and “high-risk” genotypes, which can cause benign (benign skin warts) and also malignant changes (up to and including cervical cancer).
Secondary vulvitis
Other diseases in the area of the vulva
A vulvar carcinoma is a malignant tumor in the area of the vulva and only rarely occurs. In most cases it is a so-called squamous cell carcinoma. Other malignant tumors (such as basal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma = black skin cancer) as well as benign tumors in the vulva area are also possible.