What do you have when your vagina lips swell up?


Swollen vaginal lips tend to be uncomfortable. Remember to wear comfortable clothing and maintain good hygiene even though you may not know what is causing the swelling.

The lips on your vagina can swell up for any number of reasons including rough sexual intercourse and infections like yeast infections or other more serious sexually transmitted diseases. Regular swelling due to rough handling will usually fade away in a day or two. In case the swelling is accompanied with other symptoms like itching, burning, red spots or pain, you need to get a complete gynaecological examination done to determine the cause.

Some of the basic home remedies for swollen vaginal lips include cold compresses and fragrance-free talcum powder to keep the vaginal area dry. If you are prone to recurrent yeast infections, you could try yogurt-soaked tampons. The natural bacteria in the yoghurt can help restore the imbalance, thereby reducing your irritation from the infection. You can also try soaking, for short period, in bath with bicarbonate of soda. Sulphur dissolved in water has also been known to help. If it is a recurrent swelling and infection, it could also be an allergy to some factor, like to the condom you use, if sexually active. Consider using a lubricant to avoid aggravating this condition.

Occasionally, the swelling could also be due to pregnancy. During pregnancies, you could face a swollen vagina along with haemorrhoids and varicose veins in the vagina. All of these should recede soon after delivery. The swollen lips could be coupled with other conditions as a result of the pregnancy. Just keeping yourself as comfortable with basic pain medication should keep you going. Sometimes walking in water, like in a swimming pool, could help reduce the swelling and discomfort but that is not always possible. Cold compresses could also provide relief.  

Any form of irritation can lead to an increased chance of infections so if you aren’t sure you should not try to second guess and attempt a cure. It’s best to avoid too much of self diagnosis. If you still feel the irritation then you need to consult a doctor. Delayed treatment could lead to potentially complicated infections.

Reference:

  1. http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Vagina
  2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000897.htm

answered by G M

You may be having vaginitis where the vaginal lips (labia) may become tender, red, swollen and there is itching on the labia and surrounding skin. This is an infection of inflammation caused by a yeast-like fungus (Candida Albicans or Monilia).

Meanwhile, some general hygiene you can follow:

  1. Keep your genitals clean.
  2. Wash or cleanse from front to back (vagina to anus) after urination or passing stools.
  3. Take showers instead of bubble baths or tub baths.
  4. Wear cotton panties or panty hose with cotton crotch.

Try applying antifungal vaginal creams after washing the affected area. This should help. If symptoms persist for longer than one week, seek professional help.

answered by P P


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