Maybe you’ve noticed a painful bump down there, in or around your vagina. It’s perfectly normal to be a little bit worried or concerned. But try not to panic or jump to the worst possible conclusion. There are a lot of causes for painful bumps or sores on a woman’s genitals. And most of the causes are not contagious, life-threatening or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

So what are the most common causes of painful bumps in the vaginal area?

Cysts. Cysts can happen anywhere on the body where fluid, air, or anything else gets trapped inside skin tissue. If these cysts begin to hurt, the skin may have gotten an infection. Cysts are usually easily treated by your doctor.

In-grown hair. If you ever shave or wax your bikini area, you may have developed an in-grown hair or blocked hair follicle. These can become red and itchy and painful.

Clogged sweat glands. You have sweat glands all over our body, and any of them can become clogged. This is true of the sweat glands in and around the genitals.

Skin tags. Irregular fleshy growths can appear in the vaginal area. These growths are harmless.

If you have had sex, your painful bump could be a symptom of an STD. Human papillomavirus (HPV), herpes, syphilis, and molluscum contagiosum are all sexually transmitted infections that can cause bumps on the vaginal area. If you have sex outside of a mutually monogamous relationship (you both only ever have sex with each other), you are at risk for an STD. Your doctor can determine if your bump is the result of an STD and direct you to the proper treatment.

Finally, in rare instances, cancer can also cause bumps or lumps in the vaginal area. But this is the least likely possible explanation. Vaginal cancers are very rare and almost always have other symptoms besides painful bumps.

No matter what you think the bump could be, you should see your doctor. Most likely, your bump will be no big deal and a visit with the doctor will put your mind at ease. And if you do need some sort of treatment, the doctor can talk you through your options.

If you are concerned about a painful bump or any other abnormal symptom, we are here to listen and refer you to someone who can help. If you have had sex and are worried about STDs, we can offer STD testing at no cost to you. Call us today to set up an appointment. We care about you and want to help you be your healthiest.