A bump in or around the vagina is almost always one of a handful of common, treatable conditions. Cysts, normal skin variations, ingrown hairs, and minor infections account for the vast majority of vaginal bumps. The texture, location, and feel of the bump can help you narrow down what’s going on.
Cysts Near the Vaginal Opening
The most common type of vaginal bump is a cyst, which feels like a soft, painless lump near the vaginal opening or on the labia. The Bartholin’s glands sit on each side of the vaginal opening and produce fluid that helps with lubrication. When one of these glands gets blocked, fluid backs up and forms a round, smooth swelling called a Bartholin’s cyst. About 2% of women develop one at some point in their lifetime, and they’re most common during the reproductive years.
A Bartholin’s cyst on its own is usually painless and may feel like a marble-sized lump on the lower left or right side of the vaginal opening. It becomes a problem if it gets infected, at which point it turns into an abscess: red, swollen, warm to the touch, and painful enough that sitting or walking can be uncomfortable. Small, painless cysts often resolve on their own. Warm soaks (sitting in a few inches of warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, several times a day) can help the cyst drain. An abscess typically needs to be drained by a healthcare provider.
A less common type of cyst forms in the Skene’s glands, two small glands located on either side of the urethra (the opening where urine comes out). These feel like a small, firm lump right next to the urethral opening, higher up than a Bartholin’s cyst. They’re diagnosed by touch and location, though imaging is sometimes needed to rule out other causes.
Normal Variations That Look Like Bumps
Some bumps aren’t bumps at all. They’re normal parts of your anatomy that you may not have noticed before.
Vestibular papillae are tiny, soft, finger-like projections that line the inner labia near the vaginal opening. They’re the same pink color as the surrounding tissue, arranged in a symmetrical or linear pattern, and each one has its own separate base. They’re a normal variant of genital skin, not caused by any infection. They’re sometimes mistaken for genital warts, but warts tend to cluster irregularly with fused bases and a rough, cauliflower-like texture. Vestibular papillae are uniform in size, smooth, and soft.
Fordyce spots are another extremely common finding. These are tiny oil glands visible beneath the skin that appear as white, yellowish, or skin-colored dots, usually 1 to 3 millimeters across (about the size of a sesame seed or smaller). Between 70% and 80% of adults have them somewhere on their body. On the labia, they can look like clusters of small raised bumps, but they’re completely harmless and don’t need treatment.
Ingrown Hairs and Blocked Pores
If you shave, wax, or otherwise remove hair in the bikini area, ingrown hairs are one of the most likely explanations for a bump. These happen when a hair curls back into the skin instead of growing outward, creating a red, tender bump that can look like a pimple. Sometimes they fill with pus or become a small, hard lump under the skin. They’re most common on the outer labia and the bikini line.
Warm compresses and leaving the area alone usually resolve an ingrown hair within a week or two. Squeezing or picking at it can push bacteria deeper and lead to a more significant infection.
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Some bumps are caused by infections that spread through skin-to-skin sexual contact.
Genital warts, caused by certain strains of HPV, appear as flesh-colored, raised or flat bumps. They can be smooth or have a rough, cauliflower-like surface. They’re usually painless. You might notice one bump or a cluster of several. They can appear on the vulva, inside the vagina, or around the anus.
Genital herpes causes a different kind of bump. Before anything visible appears, you may notice tingling, burning, or itching in a specific spot. Then a cluster of small blisters forms, which can burst and leave shallow, painful red sores. The pain and burning sensation are a key distinction from warts, which generally don’t hurt.
Molluscum contagiosum produces small, firm, round bumps that are flesh-colored, pink, or white. The signature feature is a tiny dimple or dent in the center of each bump. They range from pinhead-sized to about the diameter of a pencil eraser. They’re not painful but can be itchy, and they spread through direct contact.
What the Texture Tells You
The way a bump feels provides useful clues:
- Soft and painless: Most likely a cyst. Bartholin’s cysts, sebaceous cysts, and other fluid-filled lumps tend to feel squishy and move slightly under the skin.
- Soft and flesh-colored with an irregular surface: Could be genital warts.
- Small, firm, and round with a central dimple: Characteristic of molluscum contagiosum.
- Tender, red, and pimple-like: Likely an ingrown hair or a blocked gland.
- Painful clusters of blisters or open sores: Suggests herpes, especially if preceded by tingling or burning.
Skin Tags
Skin tags are small, floppy pieces of skin that hang from a thin stalk. They’re the same color as surrounding skin or slightly darker, completely painless, and benign. They commonly develop in areas where skin rubs against skin or clothing, which makes the labia and groin a frequent location. They don’t grow, spread, or become dangerous. If one bothers you cosmetically or gets caught on underwear, a provider can remove it easily.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
If the bump feels less like a distinct lump and more like a bulge of tissue at or just inside the vaginal opening, it could be pelvic organ prolapse. This happens when the muscles and tissues supporting the bladder, uterus, or rectum weaken, allowing one of these organs to press into or through the vaginal wall. You might notice the bulge more when standing, straining, or lifting something heavy. Other signs include a sensation of pressure or fullness in the pelvis, difficulty fully emptying your bladder or bowels, or lower back discomfort. Prolapse is more common after pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, but it can happen at any age.
Signs That Need Prompt Attention
Most vaginal bumps are benign, but certain features warrant a closer look. A lump that grows steadily over weeks, bleeds without an obvious cause, or ulcerates (develops an open sore that won’t heal) should be evaluated. Persistent itching, burning, or color changes in the vulvar skin that last longer than two weeks and aren’t explained by a known cause are also worth getting checked. Vulvar and vaginal cancers are rare, but they can start as a painless lump or a patch of skin that looks different from the surrounding tissue. Early evaluation makes a significant difference in outcomes.
Any bump that becomes increasingly painful, swollen, red, or warm could be developing into an abscess and may need drainage. A fever alongside a painful genital lump is another signal to seek care promptly.