Why Are There Many Small Particles on the Labia Minora?
Female genital health can easily affect women's fertility, so it is important to pay attention when there are abnormal odors, abnormal vaginal discharge, or even irregular menstruation in the private area. If there are many small particles on the female labia, it may be a sign of infection with genital warts. Genital warts is a sexually transmitted disease that may be caused by unhygienic sexual activities. If infected, it is necessary to seek medical treatment promptly.
Genital warts are sexually transmitted diseases caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, mainly manifesting as proliferative lesions in the anus and genital area. Most cases occur in young and middle-aged people aged 18 to 50 years. The incubation period is approximately half a month to 8 months, with an average of 3 months before the onset of the disease. This disease is relatively common and mainly transmitted through sexual contact. The cause and transmission of HPV have different subtypes. HPV types 6 and 11 are the most common causes of genital warts. HPV survives and multiplies easily under warm and humid conditions in the human body, so the external genitalia and perianal area are the most susceptible sites for infection.
There are several modes of transmission: 1. Sexual contact is the most important route of transmission. Therefore, this disease is more likely to occur in people with chaotic sexual relationships. 2. Indirect contact transmission occurs in a minority of patients who may become infected through contact with items used by infected individuals, such as underwear, towels, bathtubs, toilet seats, etc. 3. Mother-to-child transmission can occur through the birth canal during childbirth, leading to laryngeal papilloma in infants. The incubation period is 1 to 8 months, with an average of 3 months, and it mainly occurs in sexually active individuals.
The typical manifestations of genital warts are proliferative lesions in the genital and perianal areas. In males, they are commonly found on the foreskin, frenulum, coronal sulcus, glans penis, urethral orifice, penile body, perianal area, rectum, and scrotum. In females, they are commonly found on the labia minora and majora, posterior commissure, vestibule, clitoris, cervix, and perianal area. Occasionally, they can also be found in other areas such as the armpits, navel, mouth, breasts, and between the toes. Female vaginitis and male redundant prepuce are predisposing factors for the development of genital warts.
Initially, the lesions appear as small, light red papules, which gradually increase in size and number, either singly or in clusters. They are moist, soft, and irregular in surface texture, with papillary, papillary, or cauliflower-like protrusions. They are red or grayish in color. The base often has a stalk and is prone to erosion and exudation, which can easily bleed when touched. Cracks in the skin lesions often accumulate purulent secretions, leading to a foul odor, and secondary infections can occur due to scratching. This disease often has no subjective symptoms, but some patients may experience a sense of foreign body, pain, itching, or pain during sexual intercourse. In the rectum, genital warts can cause pain, bleeding, and a sense of urgency.
