Expert: John Thai, MD - 8/14/2009

Question
I have little bumps on the inside of my labia, the soft part, but never fully into the vagina.  Sometimes one flares up or swells.  The current swollen bump is not that big, or hard, but I'm still concerned and want clarification for what these bumps are.  I've been to a GP and was checked out by them but they told me not to worry, not really telling me what they were.  I'm asking because I'm worried that it might be a wart.  I've only had sex with a condom, but I just found a wart on the tip of one of my fingers (although it was small and was never blistered or cut) and am curious if it could have spread.  I understand that these are two questions but I'm hoping you can help me out with some clarification.  Thanks a lot.

Answer
hi noel,

these bumps may very well be bartholin cysts and no medical intervention is necessary unless it is painful during sexual intercourse, tender, blistering or swelling, or you have a fever associated with it. as far as a wart, it generally looks like a whitish or flesh-colored bump which are almost always not noticeable with the naked eye. many females do not even know they have genital warts unless told by their gynecologist after an examination.