What Should I Do After a Vulvar Biopsy?

Follow your doctor's aftercare instructions after a vulvar biopsy.

You should follow these instructions after a vulvar biopsy

• Try to keep the biopsy site clean and dry.
• Do not wash the biopsy area for 12 hours.
• Apply direct pressure on the biopsy site if bleeding occurs.
• Take a shower 24 hours after the biopsy.
• Avoid hot bathtubs until healing is complete.
• Wash the area once or twice daily and pat it dry.
• Avoid sexual intercourse until the area has healed completely.

It takes approximately five days for complete healing while keeping it open. If there is a stitch, it will gradually dissolve over the next one to two weeks as the wound heals.

A vulvar biopsy is a surgical procedure where a small piece of tissue is extracted from the vulva. A vulvar biopsy is performed in the following conditions

• Areas of the skin that appear white or turn white when diluted with a vinegar-like solution
• Patches of the skin that are red, brown, pink, gray or bumpy
• A sore that doesn’t recover
• A lump or growth on the vulva
• Genital warts that don’t heal

A vulvar biopsy should be avoided when

• The vulvar site is infected.
• There is coagulopathy (a bleeding disorder).
• The patient is allergic to local anesthetics.

Before the procedure

• The physician will obtain your consent before the procedure.
• Understand the procedure, including its risk and benefits.
• You may be given painkillers to counter the pain felt during the procedure.
• The doctor will apply local anesthesia to numb the area.

During the procedure

The biopsy is a quick procedure and can be performed in an office setting. The physician cleans the affected area with special swabs. Next, the physician uses a particular instrument known as a colposcope to select the site for a biopsy. A colposcope placed outside the body is a hand-held magnifying lens that lets the physician view even a small change in the skin of the vulva. The physician treats the vulva with a dilute solution of acetic acid that causes the cancerous areas of the skin to turn white. These changes are easily visible through a colposcope. Once the physician identifies the abnormal area, a local anesthetic is injected to numb the area. The physician using an instrument may either remove the entire abnormal area (excisional biopsy) or take a small piece of tissue (punch biopsy). If the physician takes a larger patch of skin, then it will require stitches to close it.

The risks of a vulvar biopsy include

• Pain 
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Hematoma (pooling of blood)
• Bruising
• Scarring
• Hypopigmentation (loss of skin color)
• Hyperpigmentation (increased skin color)