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Review
. 2025 Oct 1;37(5):317-325.
doi: 10.1097/GCO.0000000000001054. Epub 2025 Jul 25.

Diagnosis and management of vulval lesions

Claire Haigh  1   2 , Helen Yiling Sun  3   4 , Gayle Fischer  2   4
Affiliations
Review

Diagnosis and management of vulval lesions

Claire Haigh et al. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. .

Abstract

Purpose of review: The vulva is part of the skin. A wide spectrum of dermatological diseases affects the vulva, including infections, dermatoses, manifestations of hormonal and systemic conditions, and neoplasia. Vulval diseases are typically associated with significant delay in diagnosis due to limited healthcare practitioner knowledge amongst primary care physicians and specialists alike. This review article provides an update on the diagnosis and management of common vulval lesions.

Recent findings: This article reviews the literature on vulval lesions and vulval dermatoses and was conducted through searching PubMed. Common causes of vulval lesions are presented, including vulval cancer, vulval squamous intraepithelial lesions, dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, acute and chronic candida vulvovaginitis, lichen sclerosus, lichen planus, and nonsexually acquired genital ulceration.

Summary: Vulval complaints are common. It is important to not only be able to differentiate between benign findings and potentially premalignant or malignant lesions but also recognise and manage common causes of vulval lesions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen sclerosus, infectious causes of disease, and nonsexually acquired genital ulceration.

Keywords: lichen sclerosus; vulva; vulval diseases; vulval neoplasms; vulvovaginitis.

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References

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    1. Margesson LJ, Haefner HK. Vulvar Lesions: Differential Diagnosis of White Lesions. UpToDate: Wolters Kluwer; 2024.
    1. Margesson LJ, Haefner HK. Vulvar Lesions: Differential Diagnosis of Vesicles, Bullae, Erosions, and Ulcers. UpToDate: Wolters Kluwer; 2024.
    1. Margesson LJ, Haefner HK. Vulvar Lesions: Differential Diagnosis of Yellow, Skin-Colored, and Edematous Lesions. UpToDate: Wolters Kluwer; 2024.
    1. Bornstein J, Bogliatto F, Haefner HK, et al.; ISSVD Terminology Committee. The 2015 International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease (ISSVD) Terminology of vulvar squamous intraepithelial lesions. J Low Genit Tract Dis. 2016; 20:11–14.