To ask about labia. TMI, sorry

[weirdenergy]

This isn't an AIBU but I am panicking slightly and I am hoping someone who knows their stuff will see this.

I've had a small painless lump on my inner labia for some time. It wasn't problematic so I was hoping to would go away. It's inner, not outer, so no shaving rash, ingrown hairs or similar.

I just showered and when I washed, it hurt like hell. It's really sore and seems to have got bigger.

I will get a doctors appointment but it takes forever to see anyone and, honestly, I am alarmed, probably because I have a family history of reproductive cancer. I've read about Bartholin blockage but I don't think this is in the right place (maybe I'm wrong)

Can someone please tell me - can we get infected boils on our labia minora?

If so, is there anything I can use to keep it clean/fight infection in the meantime? I don't want to use anything topical unless I know it's safe for mucus membrane.

Sorry about the TMI, thanks in advance.

I’d try a hot flannel then sudacreme, and definitely get it seen even if just to put your mind at rest.

If you have a local GUM clinic you might get an appointment there more quickly.

I agree it's best to see your GP. You'll only worry about it if you don't. It's a sensitive area and hard to see, and personally I wouldn't go messing around with it in case you get yourself infected. It's very likely to be nothing but go and get it ruled out to put your mind at rest! Fwiw, I had a 'lump' on my labia and when I looked at it, it was all dark (and firm). Gp said it was a sort of varicose vein type thing. It stayed a good couple of months but now seems to have disappeared.

@weirdenergy definitely contact GP to put your mind at ease ☺️ (they might prescribe antibiotics to help clear up any infection).

Warm Epsom salt baths will hopefully ease the swelling and pain too.

sorry, @RainbowsAndSkittles ah, that’s interesting, I am learning a lot tonight!’ was for the poster with the varicose veins.

’I’m glad I posted because I really scared myself and I’ll have to wait a bit to get an answer. While lumps down there are clearly a common thing it’s totally a new one on me (and I’m no stranger to a boil on my back/chin). I’m clearly a bit ‘lump nervous.’

I’ve had these twice, very painful. I used a hot compress and tried to keep it as clean as possible down there without changing the ph balance and causing thrush. They burst like a spot and I had a shallow salt water bath afterwards.

It sounds like a bartholins cyst. They can get really painful but do often go away on their own. You can get some antibiotics if it starts get bigger. I’ve had 2, I find hot salt baths really help.

This. Hot baths and hot compresses should work.

I have this, it’s a labial cyst. I’ve had mine for years, NHS will only drain it when it gets to what they deem to be a large enough size, which apparently isn’t the size of a small grape that it currently is. If you figure out a way to remove it without bursting it let me know, I’m too scared to do that 😂

Chances are it’s a cyst or just a big spot. I get them.

Get it checked out by a Marie Stopes type clinic - probably quicker than GP.

I have to tell you the first time I had one I did just that, the doctor announced it was a massive spot and squeezed it - at which point I shrieked and the gunk hit her glasses 🦠 - served her right!

Bartholin cyst that has become infected. Squeeze it if you can bear it, maybe after applying a hot flannel

Firstly you must get it seen by your GP. But I'm with a lot of posters here that it is 'just' a cyst - large, painful and worrying for you, but very probably nothing to worry about. I used to get a lot especially when I did a lot of cycling...sooooo painful!! And such relief when they burst. And then they all cleared up and I've never had them since.

Excellent source of information, though should we be worried - the labia Majora is covered in public hair apparently? 🤣🤣

@ArchetypalBusyMum never mind I’m the fool who had reading comprehension issues, sorry!

Had two - both were blocked glands according to the GP. Hot baths and hot compresses may encourage it to pop (and the relief was immediate!). In one case it popped pre-GP visit, one had to be lanced by the GP, but in both cases I was given antibiotics to be safe.

(I now have a small pot of magnesium sulphate paste ready in case one ever rears its head again)

Definitely seek medical advice if some of the self treatments recommended by PP’s don’t help. I just wanted to say that when I thought I had a lump in my breast, the doctors that scanned and examined me, said that pain in a lump is usually a good sign, rather than a bad one, so try not to worry and give it a few days, if you can manage it.

This I think, I had it in lockdown, doctor wanted me to video call to show them to diagnose, I politely declined waving my inner vag around on camera. It eventually popped pretty much like a zit, no infection, no issue, pain gone instantly. I've had a smaller one since that I admittedly did pop quite a bit quicker. Don't panic about it, speak to doctor if showing signs of infection (Ie the area surrounding is hot etc)

You should NOT use neat tea tree oil anywhere on your body.

Try for an appointment with the practice nurse rather than the GP.

You might find it easier to get an appointment at a sexual health or GUM clinic.

https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-sexual-health-clinic/

Mate, please see a doctor. Having had surgery earlier this year for vulval intraepithelial neoplasia, I don't wait around for anything unusual down there. Better to be safe than sorry

I'm recovering from a Bartholin's Abcess that had me in hospital over Christmas.

You're right OP that they are sort of 'inside' a bit though as mine developed and progressed, it did form a lump on my labia minora too.

It was incredibly painful and progressed quickly. It sounds like yours is another type of cyst, but either way, I wouldn't be shy about getting to see a GP asap. I would explain you think you have an infected cyst and need anti biotics asap.

Does anyone else get skin tags in between their legs? I do and they're itchy and irritable, particularly if the area is <ahem> moist.
Perhaps it's a menopausal thing.
God, I sound like a troll but can assure you I'm not

Could be vulval intraepithelial neoplasia: you must see a doctor to rule this out

I had something similar. After seeing my gp several times and being placed on the 16 month list for a nhs gynae referral I ended up going private and had it removed. It was a rare begin tumour called hidradenoma palilliferum...I was terrified it was going to be cancer. Have a google - it could well be this or as others have said, depending on location could be a bartholins cyst.