Patient's question:
The skin of the external genitalia is very itchy, and there is a lot of leukorrhea. I went to a gynecological hospital for a leukorrhea test, and the doctor said I have mild atrophy of the external genitalia. Could you please ask the doctor what are the common causes of atrophy of the external genitalia?Doctor's answer:
For many years, the condition that causes all the skin of the external genitalia to turn white has been generally referred to as leukoplakia of the vulva, and it has been believed that this disease has malignant potential, belongs to pre-cancerous lesions, and has a malignant transformation rate of about 30 to 50%. Leukoplakia of the vulva, this disease often recurs in women in their middle age or around menopause, and the inflammation mostly affects the labia minora, the inner half of the labia majora, the clitoris, the clitoral hood, and the perineum, but it does not occur on the vaginal wall, the vaginal vestibule, or around the anus. At the onset, the first sensation is itching of the external genitalia, followed by local redness and swelling, with occasionally a small amount of scaling on the surface. The color gradually turns white, but there is no significant swelling. In the late stage of inflammation, the skin appears pearl-white and the surface becomes parchment-like. In some cases, the labia minora and majora atrophy, causing the vaginal opening to narrow and leading to sexual intercourse difficulties.