Fordyce bumps: how to explain them to a partner

Author: Aunt Vadge
Qualified Naturopath | BHSc(N)

Last reviewed: July 3, 2026

Hi Aunt Vadge,

I’m 21, and I have Fordyce bumps on my outer labia and around my clitoral area. They’re hardly noticeable, hard little white bumps that don’t hurt, aren’t contagious, and are fairly common in women (and men too, who usually get them on the shaft of the penis).

I mention all this because dealing with them is hard. I’m sexually active and masturbate often, and partners have asked me about them and I don’t know how to react – at times they bother me. So how do you explain something on your body that you don’t really know how to explain?

Regards,
Bumpy

Hi Bumpy,

What a great question – and you already know your stuff. You’re spot on about Fordyce bumps: everyone has them, some just more visibly than others, and yours happen to sit on the more noticeable end. The first thing I’d gently push back on is the word ‘abnormal’ – they’re not. They’re ordinary sebaceous glands doing a normal job, and they turn up exactly where skin needs to stay supple: the genitals, the nipples and the lips.

You’ve basically got the script already: not contagious, very common, and men have them too. If a partner asks and you want a quick way to defuse it, the easiest trick is to take the focus back to their own body. They’re not hard to find once you look, so find the equivalent bumps on them – on the penis with the skin pulled taut, or the little ones around their own nipples – and say, ‘That’s what these are, mine are just a bit more obvious’. Once they can see the same thing on themselves, the ‘is it catching?’ worry evaporates on its own.

That said, you don’t owe anyone a detailed explanation about your own body. ‘They’re totally normal, everyone has them’ is a complete answer, and a confident tone does most of the work – if you’re relaxed about them, a partner takes their cue from you. From clinical experience, the honest first step with any new bump is a doctor’s eyes to identify it – that’s not something we assess ourselves – but once it’s confirmed as a harmless variant, there’s usually nothing that needs treating. You can read more in our guide to vulvar lumps and bumps if you’d ever like to point someone to it.

They’re a normal, healthy part of you – nothing to apologise for.

Warmest regards,
Aunt Vadge

This is general information, not a substitute for personalised medical advice.