AskAwayHealth
Found a Bump Down There? A GP Explains 7 Types of Vulval Lumps — and the Red Flags That Can’t Wait
April 25, 2026
You find something. Your heart rate goes up. You type it into Google and now you’re buried in worst-case scenarios you can’t unsee. Stop — and take a breath.
The vulval area is one of the most anxiety-provoking parts of the body to find something unexpected, precisely because we hardly talk about it.
Most women have never been given a straightforward explanation of what normal even looks like — so finding something unfamiliar triggers panic. That panic is completely understandable. And in the vast majority of cases, it is not justified.
Here is what you actually need to know.
Watch First: Is This Dangerous? Ingrown Hair, Cyst or Something Worse ‘Down There’?
What This Guide Covers — and What It Doesn’t
This post focuses on external bumps — those occurring in the vulval area (the external genitalia). Internal lumps occurring inside the vaginal canal are a separate topic and a separate video.
Here are seven types of vulval lumps worth knowing. Seven of them are completely benign. One category requires a doctor — and in some cases, it requires a doctor today. We’ll go through all of them in order, from the most common and least concerning to those that need prompt medical attention.
A note on language: Clinically, the correct term is vulva — not vagina. The vagina is the internal canal. The vulva is the external area including the labia, clitoris, and vaginal opening. Getting this right when you speak to your GP means an examination that has specific focus.
1. Ingrown Hair
What it looks like: A small red or skin-coloured bump, sometimes with a dark spot in the centre where a hair is trapped beneath the surface. It may be tender to touch, or may look exactly like a pimple. It often appears after shaving, waxing, or epilating in the pubic area.
What causes it: When a hair grows back after removal, it can curl inwards into the skin rather than growing outwards. This triggers a localised inflammatory reaction — your body identifies the trapped hair as a foreign object and reacts accordingly. That reaction is the bump you can see.
The mistake most women make: Picking at it. The trauma from picking or scratching can introduce bacteria into the bump, causing a secondary infection — and what started as a minor irritation can become a proper abscess. Leave it alone.
What to do instead:
- Apply warm compresses twice a day. The warmth brings the hair follicle closer to the surface and helps it resolve naturally
- Most ingrown hairs resolve completely within one to two weeks without any treatment
- If it is deep, infected, growing rapidly, or not settling — see your GP
2. Fordyce Spots — The Normal Variant Nobody Tells You About
What they look like: Tiny pale yellow or skin-coloured spots. These spots always appear in multiples — never by themselves — and they cluster together. They do not hurt or itch. They do not have a head like a pimple. You might notice them for the first time after puberty, or you might simply suddenly look more closely than you ever have before.
What causes them: Fordyce spots are sebaceous glands — oil glands — without a hair follicle attached. They are a completely normal anatomical feature. Not a sign of infection, and not sexually transmitted. Not a disease of any kind.
What to do: Essentially nothing. We usually do not record any treatment.
I include Fordyce spots near the top of this list because they are one of the most common reasons women come into clinic in a complete panic, with the conviction they have an STI.
And the relief when they leave ten minutes later, realising this is simply a normal skin variant that has probably always been there, is enormous. If multiple small pale spots with no other symptoms: do not worry.
British Association of Dermatologists: Fordyce Spots — Patient Information: Found a Bump Down There? A GP Explains 7 Types of Vulval Lumps — and the Red Flags That Can’t Wait3. Bartholin Cyst
What it looks like: A smooth, round lump usually located at the 4 o’clock or 8 o’clock position around the vaginal opening — that is, low down on either side of the vaginal entrance. In terms of size, it can range from pea-sized to walnut-sized. A simple, uninfected cyst is usually painless and may feel mildly uncomfortable.
When a Bartholin cyst becomes infected and forms an abscess, everything changes — the pain becomes severe and the swelling is significantly greater.
What causes it: The Bartholin’s glands are two small glands located either side of the vaginal entrance that produce lubrication. When the duct that drains one of these glands becomes blocked, the fluid that would normally flow out accumulates behind the blockage — forming the cyst.
What to do:
- For a small, painless cyst: sitz baths (warm shallow baths) three to four times a day can encourage natural drainage and resolution
- For a painful, infected, or rapidly growing lump: do not wait — see your GP or attend urgent care on the same day
- There is a dedicated video series on Bartholin cysts on this channel
Watch: Bartholin Cyst — Don’t Drain It Until You Watch This
4. Molluscum Contagiosum
What it looks like: Multiple small, round, dome-shaped bumps — usually flesh-coloured or skin-coloured with a slight pearly tinge. The defining feature to look for is a tiny dimple or depression in the centre of each bump. If you can see that central depression, that is a strong indicator of molluscum. The bumps tend to develop in clusters. They are not painful, though they can occasionally be itchy.
Parents of young children will likely recognise this — molluscum contagiosum is very common in children and is transmitted via casual skin-to-skin contact in that age group.
In adults: molluscum most commonly spreads through genital skin-to-skin contact. This does not mean you have another sexually transmitted infection. Molluscum is caused by its own specific virus (the poxvirus Molluscum contagiosum) and its presence does not indicate any other STI is present.
What to do:
- See your GP or sexual health clinic for a confirmed diagnosis — do not self-diagnose or attempt treatment without this
- Treatment options include cryotherapy (freeze therapy) and certain topical creams
- In many cases, we may recommend you simply wait and watch — within 6 to 18 months, most lesions resolve completely by themselves
- Do not try to pop or squeeze the bumps. This will spread the virus further across the skin
5. Genital Warts
What they look like: Soft, skin-coloured or slightly darker growths around the vulva. They can be flat or raised above the skin surface. Warts may have a rough or textured surface — sometimes described as resembling a small cauliflower floret. They can appear as a single growth or in clusters. They are not usually painful, though they can become itchy.
What causes them:
Genital warts are caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) — specifically the low-risk strains HPV 6 and HPV 11. This is an important distinction: these are different from the high-risk HPV strains (16 and 18) associated with cervical and vulval cancers. Genital warts do not cause cancer, and their presence does not mean you are at elevated cancer risk.
Genital warts are the most common STI presentation we see in sexual health clinics.
What to do:
- See your GP or a sexual health clinic for a diagnosis — do not attempt to self-treat based on what you’ve seen on social media
- Treatment options include topical creams such as podophyllotoxin, cryotherapy, and in some cases, surgical removal under local anaesthetic
- Your partner should also be assessed — they may have warts that are not yet visible
- If you have not had your HPV vaccine, ask your GP about eligibility — in some UK areas, adults up to the age of 45 can be vaccinated
6. Herpes Simplex — Without the Stigma
What it looks like: A first herpes outbreak typically begins not with a visible bump, but with a tingling, burning, or itchy sensation — before anything is visible at all. This prodromal phase is followed by the appearance of small blisters or ulcers which can be painful, may weep fluid, and then crust over as they heal.
Unlike most of the other bumps on this list, herpes lesions are typically painful rather than symptom-free. That pain is often the feature that distinguishes herpes from other causes.
What causes it: Herpes is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) — either HSV-1 or HSV-2. Both strains can affect the genital area. The virus spreads through skin-to-skin contact — including during periods when no blisters or sores are visible. We call this asymptomatic viral shedding and is one of the key reasons herpes continues to spread even between people who believe they are outbreak-free.
I want to be direct about the stigma here. Herpes carries a social weight that is completely disproportionate to what it is medically. It is a common, manageable, long-term viral condition — not a reflection of someone’s choices, character, or worth.
What to do:
- If you suspect a first outbreak or a recurrence, see your GP or a sexual health clinic as soon as possible — not because it is an emergency, but because antiviral treatment is most effective the earlier you start it
- Antiviral medications (such as aciclovir or valaciclovir) significantly reduce the severity and duration of outbreaks.
- Herpes is a lifelong condition — but with the right treatment and support, it does not define your sexual health or your future
7. Lichen Sclerosus — Don’t Mistake This for Thrush
What it looks like: Lichen sclerosus does not always look like a typical “lump”. However, it can produce thickened, raised, or cracked areas of the vulval skin that feel unusual — particularly if it has been present for some time and not been treated. Look for:
- White or pale patches with skin that appears thin or crinkly in texture
- Areas that look slightly raised or irregular
- Small splits, cracks, or breaks at the entrance to the vagina
- Intense itching — often significantly worse at night
The single most important warning sign: You have been buying over-the-counter thrush creams because the itching is persistent — and it is not getting better. If that is your situation, please do not buy another tube of antifungal cream. See your GP instead.
Why this matters urgently: Lichen sclerosus is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that requires a specific prescription treatment — usually a potent topical corticosteroid. Left undiagnosed and untreated, it causes ongoing damage to the vulval tissue. A small but important proportion — up to 5% of cases — can progress to vulval squamous cell carcinoma. That is not said to frighten you — it is said so that you understand why getting the right diagnosis, rather than continuing to self-treat for thrush, genuinely matters.
What to do:
- See your GP or attend a sexual health clinic — do not wait
- Do not accept a thrush diagnosis without examination if your symptoms are not clearing with standard treatment
- A skin biopsy may be needed to confirm the diagnosis if the clinical picture is unclear
- With the correct treatment, lichen sclerosus can be effectively managed and progression is significantly reduced
Red Flags — When to Act Today
Most vulval lumps are benign — and even when they match a red flag, the outcome in the majority of cases is still not serious. But the only way to get that reassurance is from a qualified clinician, not from Google. Use this table as your guide.
| What You’re Experiencing | Why It Matters | Action* |
| Lump growing rapidly — noticeably bigger over days or weeks | May indicate infection or a more urgent pathology | See GP or urgent care today |
| Lump feels hard and fixed — does not move when you press gently | Fixed lumps require examination to exclude serious pathology | See GP within 1 week |
| Associated with unexplained bleeding — between periods, after sex, or post-menopause | Bleeding + a new lump requires prompt investigation | See GP within 1 week |
| Lump has an irregular surface or border | Irregular borders require clinical assessment | See GP within 1 week |
| Unexplained pelvic pain that developed alongside the lump | May indicate deeper involvement or infection | See GP within 1–2 weeks |
| New lump post-menopause that hasn’t settled within 2 weeks | Any new vulval lump after menopause requires assessment | See GP within 1 week |
| Lump present for more than 3–4 weeks with no improvement or change | A persistent undiagnosed lump always warrants review | Book GP appointment this week |
| Persistent vulval itching not responding to thrush treatment | May be lichen sclerosus — requires specific treatment | See GP within 1–2 weeks |
| Lump in a child or teenager | Requires prompt GP review — autoimmune, viral, or other cause must be established | See GP within 1 week |
Your 5-Step Action Plan Before the GP Appointment
You do not need to walk into the appointment feeling lost. Here is a clinical framework that will help you communicate clearly and get examined properly.
Step 1 — Describe your bump. Is it painful or painless? Is it a single bump or multiple? Does it have a dimple in the centre, a visible hair, a blister, or none of those?
Step 2 — Match it to the list. Use the descriptions above. In the vast majority of cases, the answer will be one of these: ingrown hair, Fordyce spots, or Bartholin cyst. That is the most likely starting point.
Step 3 — Apply the correct action for now. Warm compress twice a day for a suspected ingrown hair. Sitz bath for a small painless Bartholin cyst. GP appointment for anything matching the red flag table above.
Step 4 — Set yourself a timeline. If the bump looks benign and self-resolving, give it two to four weeks. If there is no improvement in that time — book the appointment. Do not leave it indefinitely.
Step 5 — Use the correct language with your GP. Say this, word for word if you need to:
I’ve got a lump in my vulval area. I’d like it examined. I’m particularly concerned it might be an infected ingrown hair / a Bartholin cyst / molluscum.
That single sentence will get you a focused examination and a meaningful answer.
The Bottom Line
Finding something unexpected in your vulval area is one of the loneliest health experiences there is — somewhere private, somewhere you’ve never been taught to look. But the panic is almost never proportionate to what is actually there.
The seven conditions covered in this guide account for the vast majority of vulval lumps in women — and most of them either resolve on their own, need no treatment at all, or are completely manageable with the right diagnosis.
What you should never do is leave a lump that concerns you beyond four weeks, accept a thrush diagnosis that is not clearing, or rely on Google to tell you something is fine.
That reassurance belongs in a clinical consultation — and you are now better equipped to have that conversation than most people who walk through a GP’s door.
If one of these descriptions has just described exactly what you’ve been sitting with — drop the number in the comments below this post – 1 through 7. You don’t have to say anything else. I just want to know if this reached the right person. For deeper dives and to share more insights in a safe space, → Join the free AskAwayHealth community
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Review Date
This post will be medically reviewed by April 2028
About the Author
Dr Sylvia Kama-Kieghe (FRCGP, FRSM, FRSPH) is a UK-based NHS General Practitioner with over 15 years’ experience in family medicine and women’s health. She is the founder of AskAwayHealth and works clinically in primary care, urgent care and digital health.
She is a honorary lecturer at the University of Sheffield Medical School, and involved in teaching and supervising trainee doctors. Her clinical practice includes a strong focus on menopause, menstrual and fibroid-related problems, vulval and vaginal health, and preventive care for women across the life course.
Dr Sylvia is an RCGP (Royal College of General Practitioners) 2026 Digital Champion Award finalist and has been shortlisted multiple times for the CAHN Black Healthcare Awards for her work in reducing health inequalities. She also collaborates with the Patient Information Forum (PIF) on projects tackling online health misinformation and improving the quality of patient information.
Through the AskAwayHealth YouTube channel and website, Dr Sylvia aims to provide clear, calm and clinically sound explanations that help women understand their symptoms, know which red flags to look for, and feel more confident when speaking to their own doctors.
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