Normal findings in vulvar examination and vulvoscopy

• Published in: British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology 1997-03, Vol.104 (3), p.320-324
• Main Authors: VAN BEURDEN, M, VAN DER VANGE, N, DE CRAEN, A. J. M, TJONG-A-HUNG, S. P, TEN KATE, F. J. W, TER SCHEGGET, J, LAMMES, F. B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Colposcopy; DNA, Viral - analysis; Female; Female genital diseases; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Herpes Genitalis - pathology; Herpes Genitalis - virology; Humans; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Physical Examination; Sebaceous Glands - anatomy & histology; Simplexvirus - isolation & purification; Vulva - anatomy & histology; Vulvar Diseases - pathology; Vulvar Diseases - virology
• ISSN: 0306-5456; 1365-215X

To determine the normal vulvar findings by naked eye examination and by vulvoscopy in healthy women without vulvar complaints. Observational study. Forty healthy volunteers without vulvar complaints recruited via a newspaper advertisement. Vulvar examination, human papillomavirus (HPV) polymerase chain reaction of vulvar and cervical swabs, saline and KOH smears and vulvoscopy before and after the application of 5% acetic acid. Prevalence of vestibular erythema, vestibular papillomatosis, HPV infection on the vulva and in the cervix and vulvoscopic findings. The mean age of the women was 37.8 years (median 38.0, range 21-56). Nine women were current smokers and 21 had previously smoked. Naked eye vulvar examination showed vestibular papillomatosis in 13 women (33%) and vestibular erythema in 17 women (43%). The touch test was positive in 9 of the 17 women (53%) with vestibular erythema. Vulvoscopy after the application of acetic acid 5% showed an acetowhite vestibule in all women. Twelve women (30%) had acetowhite lesions outside the vestibule. Six women (15%) were positive for HPV DNA. The presence of HPV DNA did not correlate with vestibular erythema or vestibular papillomatosis. There was a weak association between HPV DNA and acetowhite lesions outside the vestibule (P = 0.055, Fisher's exact test). In this group the younger women significantly more often had vestibular papillomatosis (t-statistic = 3.07; P = 0.003) and women who smoke more often had a genital HPV infection (P = 0.016, Fisher's exact test). Vestibular erythema, vestibular papillomatosis, and acetowhite lesions are common in this group of healthy women without vulvar complaints.