TMI - Spots/cysts on Vulva

[ConfusedMiddleAger83]

Hi, I have been ignoring these symptoms for a while but time to bite the bullet.
I have for a few months had a continued recurrence of small spots/pimples/cysts in the vulval area. Sometimes in the inner or outer labia where they are a small lump like a cyst which grows, gets very painful, bursts with a small amount of bleeding sometimes and then disappear. Usually higher up, not near the vagina so I don’t think Bartholin cysts from what I have read. Sometimes more of a pimple on the skin surface usually up around the clitoral area. I seem to have 1-3 at a time and rarely a break with none at all and it is getting me down as they are annoying and painful. Each one lasts a few days up to a week usually.

I haven’t had sex with anyone but my DH and and as far as I know neither has he. I have googled all the STIs and the symptoms don’t fit any. No smell, discharge etc.

I know I should see a GP or whatever but wondered if any ideas what the cause is likely to be. I am 48 and Perimenopausal, this has been going on for at least 6 months. TIA.

Have you heard of hidradenitis suppurativa? It sounds a bit like that, although I don't know why you'd only have developed it recently.
I've got HS (undiagnosed because GPs don't really know much about it, but it's definitely what I have) and mine started at puberty.

Agree with HS. I have them and they vary from
Small whitehead type spots
Purple/black ones that fill with blood
Deep sore cyst types

I have them, I usually place a fairly hot flannel on them for a few mins or have a very hot bath with epsom salts. They usually pop the following day.

I've noticed they are hormonal for me as come about when I'm due on time of the month.

GP wasn't really sure what to make it them. Had a few tests that came back clear. Hope you get some support and advice from your GP.

I had these for some time. Usually appear a week before my period, get quite large and painful before bursting, to disappear for another month.

I have PCOS, insulin resistance, pre-diabetic and was actually quite poorly at one point with my hormones wildly abnormal.

As soon as I started metformin treatment, reduced my blood sugars and got my hormones to be more normal, they've disappeared as if by magic.

Thank you, I have read up on HS and it’s the first thing I’ve found that resonates with my symptoms. I have had the odd boil/spot over the years in the area from time to time but the past year they have become more and more and this ties in with me putting on weight in the pandemic which I am struggling to shift plus also hormonal changes in perimenopause so I guess that might be a factor.

Now it’s mentioned, I think there may be a cyclical aspect to it as well as they do usually get worse in the lead up to my period.

I will bite the bullet and make a GP appointment.

Good luck with the GP appointment and please keep us updated.
I've seen three GPs and none of them knew what it was. Hopefully your GP will be more knowledgeable about it.
Mine also follow that cyclical aspect of flaring up just before a period. Then they're extremely painful for a couple of days and then they seem to disperse under the skin, leaving a blue-black mark before clearing up.

herpes unfortunately

Is there any updates on this post?

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