Pustules on labia minora

Many women find pustules on their labia minora when cleaning their vagina. This abscess will not hurt or itch and will disappear after a while. What is going on? In addition to some pustules caused by folliculitis, this situation may also be caused by bacterial vaginosis. If you can't judge, it's best to go to the gynecology department for a check-up.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a mixed infection caused by vaginal Gardnerella and some anaerobic bacteria, which leads to an imbalance of the vaginal microecological balance, causing a syndrome of increased vaginal discharge, fishy leucorrhea, and vulvar itching and burning. It can be divided into Haemophilus vaginitis, Corynebacterium vaginitis, anaerobic vaginitis, Gardnerella vaginitis, etc. This disease can also be transmitted through sexual contact, and the incidence rate is higher among people with promiscuous sexual relations. A smear examination of the secretions can reveal a large number of pus balls and find the pathogenic bacteria.

Causes

1. Indirect contact infection

Contact with toilets, bathtubs, bath seats, towels in public toilets that are contaminated with bacteria, and using unclean toilet paper can cause infection.

2. Sexual transmission

It is one of the causes of the disease. At least 10% of men with symptoms on the female side have bacterial urethritis.

3. Taking large amounts of antibiotics

Antibiotics change the vaginal microenvironment, causing pathogenic bacterial pathogens to multiply and leading to localized bacterial vaginosis.

4. Excessive attention to hygiene

In order to maintain hygiene, some women often use medicated washes to irrigate the vagina, which can easily destroy the acid and alkaline environment of the vagina and make it easy to get bacterial vaginitis.

Clinical manifestations

10% to 50% of patients are asymptomatic, while those with symptoms complain of grayish-white leucorrhea with a fishy odor, vaginal burning and itching.

Most patients with this disease are women of childbearing age. The disease has a slow onset and the subjective symptoms are not obvious, with the main manifestation being increased leucorrhea. The examination of vaginal secretions has the following characteristics: ① The pH value reaches 5.0-5.5, which is higher than normal. ② The leucorrhea is gray or gray-green, homogeneous, with a paste-like consistency, and may contain bubbles. ③There is a foul smell like rotten fish. The odor of women becomes worse after menstruation or sexual intercourse, and their sexual partners' genitals may also emit the same odor. ④ Patients with combined Trichomonas or Candida infection may experience vulvar itching, vaginal burning sensation, or pain during sexual intercourse.

This disease can often be combined with other vaginal sexually transmitted diseases, and its clinical manifestations may vary depending on the comorbidities. When combined with gonococcal infection, vaginal discharge will be obviously purulent and urinary tract irritation symptoms such as dysuria and dysuria may occur; when combined with Trichomonas infection, foamy vaginal discharge may appear, and itching may be aggravated and extremely itchy; when combined with Candida infection, vaginal discharge may appear curd-like or tofu-like.