Vulvitis is inflammation of the outer female genitalia (vulva). The vulva . It includes the "lips" or folds of skin (labia), clitoris, and the openings to the urethra and vagina.
Vulvitis can be caused by a number of conditions, including:
Vulvitis can affect women of all ages. The condition may be due to low estrogen levels in young girls and women who have reached menopause.
Katz VL. Benign gynecologic lesions: vulva, vagina, cervix, uterus, oviduct, ovary. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 18.
Eckert LO, Lentz GM. Infections of the lower genital tract: vulva, vagina, cervix, toxic shock syndrome, HIV infections. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 22.