Symptoms of vulvar leukoplakia

Are you still troubled by vulvar leukoplakia? In order to detect vulvar leukoplakia early, let us learn about the symptoms of vulvar leukoplakia. Experts say that the symptoms of vulvar leukoplakia of different types and at different times are also different. Let us learn about it together.

Typical symptoms of each stage of hyperplastic vulvar leukoplakia:

Stage I hyperplastic type: The main symptom is vulvar itching. Some patients experience severe itching, which worsens at night. Scratching often causes redness, swelling, and ulceration, and may cause burning and other discomfort.

Stage II hyperplastic type: Based on the symptoms of stage I, keratinization and hyperplasia appear in the affected area, and mild hypopigmentation appears locally on the vulvar skin (usually on the inner side of the labia majora and minora), in the form of dots or small white papules, with a frosty white surface.

Stage III hyperplastic type: severe hyperplasia of skin keratinization, repeated shedding of the keratin layer, or scratching causing vulvar irritation, edema, fissures, ulceration and erosion. There may be itching accompanied by pain. Patients feel that the symptoms are severe, but this type of patient has a rapid treatment effect. Within one course of treatment, about 85% of patients have basically eliminated their symptoms.

Typical symptoms of atrophic vulvar leukoplakia at each stage:

Stage I atrophic type: The main symptoms are not obvious. Some patients have mild itching. No white lesions appear, and the vulva has atrophy that is not easily visible to the naked eye.

Stage II atrophy: Typical symptoms are mild visible atrophy of the vulva, usually starting from the labia majora, minora, and clitoris. The labia majora and minora have reduced elasticity, and the surface wrinkles are reduced or absent. Vulvar pruritus is relatively mild. Due to atrophy, there may be dryness of the vulva and discomfort during sexual intercourse. Localized hypopigmentation of the vulvar skin occurs in multiple spots or flakes.

Stage III atrophic type: severe symptoms. The labia majora of the vulva are flat, the labia minora disappear, and the clitoris shrinks and becomes smaller or adheres. The urethral opening atrophies, and in severe cases, urinary incontinence occurs. The vaginal opening atrophies, and sexual intercourse becomes difficult. Some patients also have anal leukoplakia and atrophy, causing the skin around the anus to have no wrinkles, reduced elasticity, and anal fissures during defecation. About 50% of patients have large areas of hypopigmentation on the vulvar skin.

Symptoms of mixed vulvar leukoplakia:

When patients with hyperplastic and atrophic types of vulvar leukoplakia progress to the late stage II to stage III, they generally develop mixed symptoms of the two types.