Anonymous asks :
Hi Lucy,
I have recently noticed a small pea-sized lump on my outer labia. It is quite hard but painful to touch and I've been told to leave it alone but I can’t stand not knowing if I have an infection/problem. Please help.
Hi Anonymous,
Agony Aunts on Female First
This can be worrying for any woman so it’s no surprise that you are finding it hard to leave alone.
If you shave down there, it could be in ingrown hair, in which case a little squeeze should help to release it and allow it to heal. Perhaps use a mirror so you can inspect it more closely- if it’s dark then the likelihood is that a hair has become ingrown and is causing the raised skin. If this has become a common problem for you then it might be time to re think the way you remove your pubic hair by waxing for example or go with a more natural look to reduce the likelihood of this happening again.
It could also be a Bartholin’s abscess or cist, which is another common complaint for many women. There are glands located in the lips of the vagina called Bartholin’s glands. If they become painful and swollen an abscess can form there. It can cause blockage in the main duct from the gland and that is when a cyst forms. This feels hard and sometimes painful.
If it is red and sore then there could be an infection there- so it’s certainly worth getting checked out by your GP as you might need some anti-biotics to cure the infection.
This could put your mind at ease even if you don’t need any antibiotics.
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