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Normal findings in vulvar examination and vulvoscopy
M van Beurden1, N van der Vange, A J de Craen
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
|March 1, 1997
Summary
Normal vulvar findings, including vestibular papillomatosis and erythema, are common in healthy women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection prevalence was 15% and associated with smoking and acetowhite lesions.
Area of Science:
- Gynecology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Establishing normal vulvar appearance is crucial for diagnosing pathology.
- Previous studies have varied in their definition of normal vulvar findings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define normal vulvar findings in healthy women using visual inspection and vulvoscopy.
- To assess the prevalence of vestibular erythema, vestibular papillomatosis, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.
Main Methods:
- An observational study involving 40 healthy women without vulvar complaints.
- Included naked eye examination, vulvoscopy (with and without acetic acid), and HPV testing via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Main Results:
- Vestibular papillomatosis was found in 33% and vestibular erythema in 43% of women.
- All women had an acetowhite vestibule post-acetic acid; 30% had acetowhite lesions elsewhere.
- HPV DNA was detected in 15% of participants, correlating with smoking and acetowhite lesions outside the vestibule.
Conclusions:
- Vestibular erythema, vestibular papillomatosis, and acetowhite lesions are frequent findings in asymptomatic women.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering these variations as normal in clinical practice.