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Small Bumps On/Near Vaginal Opening

Hi all. I'm a 28 y/o heterosexual female. I am confused as to the nature of small, flesh-colored bumps I have near the opening of my vagina and am hoping someone can shed light on what these can potentially be. Firstly, please note that I have made a gynecologist appointment for Friday morning (1/8). I'm sure we're all familiar with the agony of waiting for an appointment, and then waiting some more to receive test results, so I'm hoping that describing the ailment here will help me narrow down the possible causes and relieve some anxiety.

Please bear with me--there are several variables to my situation, including my having the Mirena IUD placed, as well as developing a yeast infection post-placement (common when changing birth control methods, as the disruption in hormone levels affects the pH of the vagina).

Timeline and Facts:
I recently began a monogamous relationship in mid-November, 2015. My male partner and I used condoms in the beginning, but stopped once he was screened for STDs (including HIV and an HSV blood antibody test) and got a clean bill of health. I had been tested in August, 2015 and my results were all negative (my tests included the standard screening, plus an HSV blood antibody test). To date, all of my Pap Smears have been normal.

On 12/27/15, I noticed mild irritation near my vaginal opening, but believed that was due to either 1) frequent intercourse the previous two days, or 2) the beginning of a genital pimple. I've had a genital pimple before, which I learned to recognize by its white head, individual presentation, and rapid disappearance after treatment with a hot compress. When I've developed a genital pimple in the past, it was after either masturbation or intercourse wherein I didn't clean myself thoroughly enough and some remaining fluid clogged my pores. Because I'd been having frequent intercourse 12/25 - 12/26, I thought perhaps I was getting another pimple, and so I treated the area with a hot compress.

On 12/28/15, I visited my gynecologist to have the Mirena IUD placed. Placement, although somewhat painful, went well and fairly quickly. I had some spotting and cramping for three days afterward (to be expected after an IUD placement), but nothing alarming. During the IUD placement appointment, I asked the nurse to draw blood for STD screening, as I hadn't been tested since August and wanted to be sure I was still healthy. I was tested for HIV, HSV 1 & 2 (blood antibody test), Syphilis, and Hepatitis A, B, & C. All results were negative. I was not tested for Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, HPV, or Trichomonas because the nurse did not perform a pelvic exam or swab.

My partner and I waited two days after the IUD placement to have sex (12/30), and we were careful not to be aggressive, as an IUD can sometimes be expelled from the uterus. The morning after having sex (12/31), I noticed that my vagina was somewhat sore and inflamed. I believed this to be related to the IUD placement coupled with having sex shortly thereafter. However, the soreness and inflammation continued and grew more intense, and by 1/1 I was also experiencing itchiness on and around my labia. Having had yeast infections before, I used a hand mirror to view my vulva. My labia were red and inflamed and I saw some white discharge. On 1/2 I treated myself at home by drinking fresh lemon juice and eating yogurt with live bacteria cultures. My symptoms improved overnight, and while I was happy to have physical relief, I decided to also treat with a Monistat suppository on 1/4 to be sure that the infection was gone.

On 1/4, while inspecting my vulva again prior to inserting the suppository, I noticed two small, smooth, flesh-colored, slightly raised bumps on my labia minora, immediately outside of my vaginal opening (the vaginal opening itself was still slightly inflamed). The bumps don't appear to have any kind of head on them, aren't open sores, and have no pain, discomfort, or itching associated with them. My previous soreness and itchiness had been located higher on the vulva, between the folds of the labia and closer to the urethra--so I was surprised to find bumps, as I hadn't had any pain or itching near my vaginal opening. Today (1/6), the bumps are still present, even after my yeast infection symptoms have disappeared.

I am confused as to what these bumps could be. I've always tested negative for HSV 1 & 2 (including my most recent testing on 12/28), and I had the Gardasil HPV vaccine as a teenager, before I became sexually active. I know that Gardasil protects against the cancer-causing strains of HPV, as well as 90% of the wart-causing strains. I suppose this could be warts caused by one of the strains not covered by Gardasil--how soon after exposure would warts appear, if this is the case?

To add even MORE information: my male partner's last relationship lasted ten years, was monogamous, and ended in June, 2015. He had not been screened for STDs in four years, which is why I asked him to be tested in early December 2015 when our relationship was getting more serious.

Any light that you all can shed would be most helpful! Thank you!!!
2 Responses
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Avatar universal
Thank you!
Helpful - 0
3149845 tn?1506627771
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, spots that your describing could be   fordyce spots. very common on that area.
Helpful - 0
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