Infectious disorders of the vulva

Abstract

The vulva can be affected by a variety of sexually transmitted infections as well as other common infections that are not typically related to sexual transmission. Vulvar infections may adversely affect the quality of life of the patients by causing discomfort and pain. Some of these infections, especially the ulcerative ones, may also increase the risk of transmission of other infectious diseases, including HIV. Due to the recently increasing number of sexually transmitted infections and atypical presentations of these infections in immunocompromised patients, it is important for pathologists to be familiar with histopathologic features of the infectious diseases of the vulva, so that accurate diagnoses can be rendered as promptly as possible. This review discusses the clinicopathologic presentations of the non-HPV related infections of the vulva.

Keywords: Genital ulcers; Infectious diseases; Sexually transmitted disease; Vulvar infections.