What does the term 'vulva' mean?

It is difficult for a woman to see her own vulva, therefore many women may not know what their vulvas look like, or what is normal for them. This in turn makes it more difficult to be alert to any changes in appearance of the vulval skin that may be a sign of a problem. As with all parts of your body, the more familiar you are with your vulva, the easier it is to know when something seems not quite right.

All organisations supporting women with vulval problems suggest you check your vulva whenever you feel a problem occurring, such as thickening of the skin, itchiness, soreness and pain on penetration. They also suggest you check your vulva at regular intervals, even when there are no problems. To do this, prop yourself up on a bed or a couch. Holding a mirror in one hand, use the other hand to gently open the vulval lips and look at the areas indicated in the diagram of the vulval area.

Once you are familiar with the appearance of your own vulval skin, you can check for any colour changes (such as whitening or reddening). You should also check for any areas of thickening skin, small hard lumps such as warts and patches of sore or cracked skin, especially those that won't heal. Consult your doctor or attend a Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic if you experience any of these changes.