Vulvar Self-Examination

Old print of vulvae and a mirror

A vulvar self-exam is an at-home exam to check for possible abnormalities concerning your vulva. Not to be confused with the vagina, the vulva (from the Latin vulva, plural vulvae) is the external genital organs. Women need to perform a vulvar self-exam to look for abnormalities that may indicate infection, vulvar cancer, or other conditions. A vulvar self-exam can also be useful in teaching you what is normal in appearance for your vulva. See a picture of the vulva.

The exam should be done about once a month in between menstrual cycles. If you are no longer menstruating, you should perform a vulvar self-exam every month on any desired date. A self-examination should not replace a regular pelvic examination by your doctor.

For further instructions on how to perform a vulvar self-examination, please follow this link: Vulvar Self-Examination.

Old print of vulvae and a mirror