About this clinic
The Joint Vulval Specialist Clinic is for women who experience any of the following:
- complex vulval symptoms
- vulval symptoms requiring combined specialist input
- uncertain diagnosis of a vulval condition.
Why we have referred you
We have referred you because we believe your symptoms or vulval skin condition will benefit from specialist review by more than one clinical team.
These teams may include gynecology/colposcopy, dermatology and sexual health.
After your appointment, we will send a clinic letter to your GP and referring clinician. We will also send a copy to you. This letter will either confirm that we have discharged you after treatment, or set out your test results and the treatment plan that we recommend for you.
What to expect
You can expect the following at your clinic appointment.
- A clinician will review your symptoms, previous treatments and results from any previous biopsy or vaginal swab.
- One or more specialists may see you during your visit, if needed.
- They may recommend that you have an intimate vulval examination. A female chaperone will be present during the examination. You can ask to pause or stop this examination at any time.
Types of examination
We may recommend you have one or more of the following examinations.
Vulvoscopy
A vulvoscopy means we look at the skin of your vulva using a medical microscope called a colposcope.
We may take photographs of your vulva. We will use these images for reference if we need to see you again in our clinic.
Vulvoscopy images
These images will be stored on Kingston Hospital’s secure server. They form part of your personal medical records and can only be seen by appropriate medical teams. Use the link below to read our privacy policy.
Kingston and Richmond Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Privacy Policy
Vulval biopsy
A vulval biopsy means we take a small sample of skin from your vulva. We do this using local anaesthetic, usually in the form of a combined injection and spray.
After a biopsy
- You may have some discomfort, spotting or light bleeding for a few days.
- We advise you to take your usual over-the-counter painkillers if needed.
- Avoid sexual intercourse for 2 weeks after your biopsy.
- Before you leave, we will give you instructions about keeping the biopsy area clean and dry until it is healed.
Swab
We may also take a vaginal swab, using a soft-tipped cotton or polyester bud (like a Q-tip).
When to seek urgent help
Go to your nearest Emergency Department (A&E) if you experience any of the following after a vulval biopsy:
- heavy bleeding
- increasing pain
- offensive smelling discharge
- fever
- feeling generally unwell.
Results and follow-up
At the end of your appointment, we will discuss the provisional treatment plan that we recommend for you, and likely follow-up.