What does vulvitis mean?
Vulvitis is the medical term for inflammation of the vulva, the external structures of the female genitalia. Symptoms may include redness, itching, burning, swelling, soreness, or discharge, although the presence and severity of these symptoms depend on the cause. Vulvitis is not synonymous with infection: inflammation can also result from irritation, moisture, allergic reactions, or skin disorders. The term is used in medical writing, clinical consultations, and reliable patient-information materials. It can be distinguished from vaginitis, which involves inflammation of the vagina, although a person may have both. Vulvitis is therefore useful in describing a specific anatomical condition while leaving its underlying cause to be determined through clinical assessment. The word is uncommon in everyday conversation but important in healthcare contexts, where precise terminology helps distinguish external genital inflammation from other gynecologic symptoms and guide appropriate evaluation and treatment.
nounInflammation of the vulva, the external female genital structures. Vulvitis describes the presence of inflammation and does not, by itself, identify the underlying cause.
- Inflammation of the vulva.
"Her clinician diagnosed vulvitis after examining the irritated skin and considering her symptoms."
"Persistent itching led her doctor to test for causes of vulvitis."
"The pamphlet explains vulvitis and distinguishes it from several similar conditions."
The plural is uncommon in ordinary usage but is used in formal medical writing when discussing multiple cases.
"The study reviewed vulvitides caused by several different irritants."
The ending -itis means inflammation, so vulvitis names an inflammatory condition rather than automatically meaning an infection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vulvitis come from?
Vulvitis is a modern medical formation combining Latin vulva, referring to the external genital organs, with the Greek-derived suffix -itis, meaning inflammation. This suffix is widely used in medical terminology for inflammatory conditions. The combination reflects the established anatomical sense of vulva while identifying vulvitis specifically as an inflammatory disorder.
How vulvitis is actually used
This is a formal medical term used mainly in clinical and health-information contexts. Its causes can include infection, irritation, moisture, allergic reactions, or dermatologic conditions, so the word alone does not establish a particular diagnosis.
Easily confused with vulvitis
Vulvitis affects the external vulva, whereas vaginitis affects the vagina; both conditions can occur together.