Lumps on genitals in women
Cervix
The main lump in the vagina is the cervix (neck of the womb). This projects into the far end of the vagina and is about 3 cm across. You can usually feel the cervix by inserting the first two fingers into the vagina and pushing upwards. It is easier to feel if you ‘bear down’ (contract your stomach muscles as if you are trying to open your bowels). The texture of the cervix is similar to the end of your nose, but it has a hole in the middle. In a woman who has not had a child, the hole is about the size of a pencil lead, but it is usually larger in women who have given birth. Menstrual blood passes through this hole from the womb into the vagina.
The cervix usually feels smooth, but sometimes pimples can be felt on it. These are usually small glands called nabothian follicles, and are normal.
However, a pimple on the cervix could be a wart, though it would be unusual to have warts on the cervix without having any at the opening of the vagina.
A small, soft lump which seems to be coming out of the hole in the cervix is probably a cervical polyp. This is not cancerous, but can bleed, especially after intercourse, so it is best to have it removed.
Vagina
The inside of the vagina can normally feel crinkly. This is because it is designed to stretch for intercourse and childbirth, so when it is not stretched the walls may have wrinkles. However, it is not normal to have distinct small lumps in the vagina. If you feel any, see your family doctor or go to a genitourinary medicine clinic, because they could be warts (though it is unusual to have vaginal warts without any at the opening of the vagina.
Prolapse
A bulge in the vagina is probably a prolapse. The vagina rests between the bladder and the rectum (back passage); the bladder lies in front of it and the rectum lies behind. The bladder, vagina, cervix and rectum are held in position by muscles that stretch across the pelvis – the pelvic floor muscles. If these muscles are weak, the bladder and/or rectum can lean towards the vagina and press on it, or the womb may sag downwards.
Treatment for prolapse is really surgery, but other measures may be of some benefit.
- Lose weight if you are obese. This will certainly help; excess weight puts pressure on the pelvic floor and makes the problem worse.
- Stop smoking if you have a smokers cough; coughing puts pressure on the pelvic floor.
- Do pelvic floor exercises. They will help leakage of urine due to prolapse.
- Surgery is needed if prolapse is troublesome, particularly if it is causing incontinence of urine. The surgeon cuts away flabby parts of the vagina and strengthens the supporting tissues. It is important to tell the surgeon if you are still sexually active, so that the vagina is not made too narrow, or intercourse may later be uncomfortable.
- A pessary is a special ring placed in the vagina to give support. Pessaries are made of plastic and are changed every 6 months. They are usually used as a stop-gap measure while waiting for an operation, or for women who cannot have surgery for any reason.
Entrance to the vagina (vulva)
In many women, the entrance to the vagina normally feels lumpy. This lumpiness is the remains of the hymen which stretches across the entrance in young girls. The hymen is a thin piece of tissue with a hole to let menstrual blood flow out. The hole becomes enlarged during sports, by inserting tampons and by sexual intercourse, but the remnants of the hymen can remain as irregular, firm lumpiness.
A woman who has given birth to a child, and who needed stitches afterwards, may be left with a lumpy scar at the vaginal opening.
Genital warts are increasingly common and often occur around the vaginal entrance. Very rarely, a lump at the entrance to the vagina is cancerous (vulval cancer). It may just be a lump (often shaped like a mini-cauliflower), or there may also be itching, bleeding and an unpleasant smell. Therefore, if you have a lump that increases in size, ask your doctor to check.
Written by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Edited by: Dr Margaret Stearn
Last updated:
Friday, February 26th 2010
Add a comment
A problem shared is a problem halved: help others by sharing your frustrations or successes at tackling your health problem.
We have noticed that many of your queries are answered on the website, so please search for your problem before submitting a comment. As all comments are moderated, there will be a delay before your comment appears.
Comments on this article
Posted by kikie dalby on 11/03/2010 at 12:06:47 am
have some sort of hard but small bumps wanted to know what it could be.this is on my vagana even the inside, clit
Posted by kimmm on 09/03/2010 at 10:36:09 pm
Okay so me and my boyfriend been having sex some protected and some not, we lost our virginity together, but we broke up for a while and he went on and had sex with another girl, she was also a virgin. Just last week we had sex and now I'm beginning to notice bumps on my genital area, it's not inside, it's around it, I'm worried because I've been having all the symptoms of herpes, but I don't really understand. Can we make herpes in our situation? does the other person have to have it to get it?
Posted by Optional on 16/02/2010 at 02:37:35 pm
if i peel back the folds of my vagina i can see a ball like lump in the opening
Posted by Anonymous on 06/02/2010 at 02:44:00 am
Hi. I am a virgin and i have a lump a little bit to the right of my left leg, where your underwear would rub. what is it?
Posted by Anonymous on 05/02/2010 at 11:59:00 pm
occasionally i get a lump appearing in my vagina which often becomes sore and is full of puss but not actually sure what it is, iv been getting them over the past few years however they started to appear before having sex for the first time so i know that it cant be an sti. can anyone suggest the cause
Posted by female on 05/02/2010 at 02:22:00 pm
i have a lump on the opening of my vagina which has no pain when touched, but sex is very painful as though i am being torn and i feel a burning sensation my husband has a bit of trouble entering me....do you know what it could be...?
Posted by Anonymous on 31/01/2010 at 11:41:00 pm
i have a soft lump on the opening hole of my vigina and it goes in alittle abit.I have not been able to have sex as its to sore and my husband cant get it...do u know what it is?i found this site very good x
Posted by amy on 11/01/2010 at 02:47:00 pm
irregular mensis periods , 3 months have past, but no period (no pregnancy), which vitamins i must take
Posted by Debra on 10/12/2009 at 05:15:00 pm
In need of help or where I could get the answer to.. my doctor found a lump inside the vagina and rectum lining. I was told that they could not biopsy it because of its locations. I'm waiting to find out what we will do next. Its not painful at all.
Posted by Anonymous on 22/11/2009 at 05:15:00 pm
had a prolapse 5yrs ago and got it repaired. intercourse have been very difficult since then. i can again feel the lump in the vigina. it's so tight that i cant even put a finger through. when i do to push it up i get white lumpy stuff
Posted by Anonymous on 10/11/2009 at 11:57:00 pm
don't be freaked out the only option this site gives for lumps on the labia is warts, women are also prone to cysts and swollen glands in this area, go see your doctor it sounds scary but will often put your mind at rest.
Posted by Rachel on 15/10/2009 at 07:32:00 pm
IT'S QUITE SIMPLE EVERYONE. JUST GO TO THE DOCTOR!!!
Posted by emily on 18/09/2009 at 03:52:00 pm
a large lump on the side of my vagina skin, what is it?
Posted by cassm on 31/08/2009 at 02:46:00 pm
i had achild 3 years ago and never had sex properly again when my husband enters me he says my cervix feels hard to his penis im very upset about this as its really putting a rift on our relationship i really need some advice i dont think i have a prolapse but am unsure
Posted by kathy on 20/07/2009 at 05:11:00 am
small lump where i was cut years ago to give birth, in agony during sex it feels like my skin is torn the lump is extremely sore, very itchy and stings when i pass urine, i can not have sex again for 3 weeks
Posted by sarah on 17/07/2009 at 03:07:00 pm
I have a small lump at the entrance of my vagina, its extremely painful having sex.. Can anybody tell me what this might be? Im very embarrassed at the thought of seeing my doctor with this problem.
Posted by jade on 17/07/2009 at 04:03:00 am
my mom is haveing issues. she found a lump on her cervix and it hurts her to have sex. she also mentioned she hasnt had her period in 3 months.... please help?? -Jade id really appreciate it.
Posted by Anonimus on 27/05/2009 at 11:03:00 pm
I have a lump just above my cliterous? I'm really worried, what should it do?
Posted by danie on 19/05/2009 at 09:43:00 am
in my vagina about 2cm in, on my g spot i have a hard spot, i had it for about 2 month now, i also suffer from re-occuring thrush.
Posted by su on 29/04/2009 at 12:20:00 am
Im 37 weeks pregnant with my 4th child I think I might have this prolapse! there is a large lump/swelling at my vagina enterance which is not sore but when I go to the toilet I feel like something is going to fall out even just to urinate. I have had problems since my 3rd birth with a weak bladder and been doing pelvic floor exercises to no avail now its worse and coughing/sneezing/coughing causes leaks. I dont like seeing doctors about such things but im getting more and more worried as its feels close to falling out! Do you think this is the "prolapse" thing? Its towards the back and in the middle. Should I wait till after the post natal check to say or can they investigate now?
Posted by Anonymous on 24/03/2009 at 05:40:00 pm
I thought I was the only one, mine is really sore and uncomfortable and also the size of a marble. I don't want to have to have surgery!!!|
Posted by Anonymous on 11/03/2009 at 08:02:00 pm
I have lumps on the entrance of my vagina, it is very itchy and irritated!? And sore sometimes. Any advice on what i should do or will it go away after a while??
Posted by Anonymous on 06/03/2009 at 07:08:00 am
There is a large lump inside my vagina, when i try to have sex it hurts and can not go in, it is extreamly painful, i dont know what to do..
Posted by Liz on 24/02/2009 at 04:33:00 pm
I just discovered a lump on the right lip of the vagina opening. Its the size of a marble and looks swolen and enlarged. However its not painful or causing any discomfort. My research suggest that its uterine prolapse as symptoms is similar. But I am not taking any chances and will seek medical help... Anyone with similar problem??? Any shall post my DR dignostics...
Posted by Anonymous on 15/02/2009 at 10:57:00 am
Dear Sir/Madam, I've recently been ill with a severe UTI which developed into an e-coli infection (first time I've ever had these type of infections). Two days ago I noticed two lumps on either side of my cliterous which feel like little glands. Should I go to the Dr and is it normal to get glands there?
Posted by Anonymous on 09/02/2009 at 10:52:00 pm
I have lumps just at the entrance of my vagina,they are extremely uncomfortable,especially when sitting for long periods of time, they are sometimes itchty and sore. What could this be? I am very upset and very concious of it?!!
Posted by christine on 08/02/2009 at 04:06:00 pm
i have found a number of hard lumps in my vagina there are whit an quit rough can u pleace tell me what this could be
Posted by Anonymous on 28/01/2009 at 07:46:00 pm
they cant take a smear test as there is a cicst and the wall has droped and they said they were going to leave it
Posted by Anonymous on 24/01/2009 at 01:15:00 am
i have resently lost my virginity and after my last 3 periods i have noticed that whenever i discharge their is a strange smell. The colour of my discharge seems to normal and their hasn't been a change in the amount that i discharge only the smell and it disappears after 3 days. Is this normal?
Posted by lumpiness in vagina on 05/01/2009 at 02:29:00 pm
ive been going through my menopause for about 2 yrs now having periods every few months but i notice that in my vagina its vry lumpy and seems very low
Advertisments
Latest updates
Dr Phil's latest video
21st March
Ears that stick out;
15th March
Cystitis in women;
15th March
Genital warts;
12th March
Faecal incontinence;
12th March
Constipation;
12th March
