Esta página en español

Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Cancer is always named for the part of the body where it starts, even if it spreads to other body parts later. When cancer starts in the vagina, it is called vaginal cancer. The vagina, also called the birth canal, is the hollow, tube-like channel between the bottom of the uterus and the outside of the body.

When cancer starts in the vulva, it is called vulvar cancer. The vulva is the outer part of the female genital organs. It has two folds of skin, called the labia. Vulvar cancer most often occurs on the inner edges of the labia.

When vaginal and vulvar cancers are found early, treatment is most effective. Treatment of vulvar cancer, in particular, often leads to a cure.

Learn more by downloading the Inside Knowledge campaign's vaginal and vulvar cancer fact sheet. (PDF-1.2MB)

Getting the HPV Vaccine

The human papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex, causes many vaginal and vulvar cancers as well as cervical cancer. A vaccine protects against the HPV types that most often cause vaginal, vulvar, and cervical cancers. It is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls. Ideally, girls should get three doses of this vaccine before their first sexual contact. It also can be given to females who are 13–26 who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. If you or someone you care about is in this age range, talk with a doctor about it.

Signs and Symptoms

Early on, most vaginal cancers do not cause signs and symptoms. But if there are symptoms, they may include:

• Bleeding that is unusual for you because of when it happens or how heavy it is.
• Pain in your pelvis, the area below your stomach and in between your hip bones, especially when you pass urine or have sex.

Many women who have vulvar cancer have signs and symptoms. They may include:

• Itching of the vulva (mostly on the labia) that does not go away.
• Changes in the color of the skin of the vulva, so that it looks redder or whiter than is normal for you.
• Skin changes in the vulva, including what looks like a rash or warts.
• A sore on the vulva that does not go away.

It is important for you to pay attention to your body and know what is normal for you. If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, talk to your doctor, nurse, or other health care professional right away. Symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only way to know is to see your health care professional.

Who Gets Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers?

Vaginal and vulvar cancers are very rare. While all women are at risk for these cancers, very few will get them. In 2004,* vaginal cancer accounted for only 1 to 2 percent of all gynecologic cancers. Vulvar cancer accounted for approximately 5 percent of all gynecologic cancers. In 2004, 1,130 women in the United States were told that they had vaginal cancer and 3,631 women learned they had vulvar cancer.^† For more information, read HPV-Associated Vaginal Cancer Statistics and HPV-Associated Vulvar Cancer Statistics.

^†U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 2004 Incidence and Mortality. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2007.
*The most recent year for which statistics are currently available.

Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.