Definition
Pain on the labia or clitoris occurs in many women during the course of life. The spectrum can range from mild, short-lasting pain to severe, chronic pain. Changes of the body and especially of the genital area are often cause for concern. Pain can be triggered by a variety of processes and diseases.
What is normalWhat is no longer normal?
Pain in the genital area and thus also on the labia and clitoris should not be normal. Especially if these pains last longer, they are often a sign of a pathological process. Short-term pain can occur after intensive or frequent sexual intercourse due to irritation.
If the pain subsides within a day and is not too severe, it is usually not a cause for concern. Longer lasting pain can be caused by inflammation in the genital area. A common cause is Bartholinitis, an inflammation of the excretory duct of the Bartholin gland.
This can sometimes be very painful. Other infections with fungi, viruses, bacteria or parasites can also cause pain. These diseases often belong to the sexually transmitted diseases.
In rare cases, benign and malignant changes can also be the cause of pain. Vulvar carcinoma and its precursor, vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), can cause chronic pain, especially in advanced stages. Natural processes can also cause pain.
During menopause, many women frequently experience vaginal dryness, which can be painful in some cases. Vaginal dryness can also occur outside the menopause. The cause is usually an estrogen deficiency. A rare diagnosis is the so-called vulvodynia, chronic pain in the genital area for which there are no obvious physical causes.
Associated symptoms
Depending on the cause, the accompanying symptoms may also vary. Bartholinitis can lead to an abscess. This is a cavity filled with pus.
In this case, other general signs of inflammation occur, such as a swelling in the back third of the labia, redness and warming of the skin, up to the size of a chicken egg. Inflammations in the vaginal area can cause unspecific itching, burning, redness, pain during urination and/or sexual intercourse and possibly changes in vaginal discharge. The lymph nodes in the groin region may also be enlarged.
Depending on the pathogen, typical symptoms such as whitish deposits in a fungal infection or blisters in a herpes virus infection may also occur. Benign changes can lead to skin changes such as whitish shiny skin and reddening of the skin, itching, burning sensation, wetness, warts and discomfort during sexual intercourse. Malignant changes may cause itching long before visible changes occur.
Burning and swelling can also occur. Dark skin changes and whitish mucous membrane are another sign of malignant changes. Estrogen deficiency primarily causes a dry vagina. This is manifested by itching, burning and problems during sexual intercourse.
