A labial or vaginal cut or tear (vaginal fissure) is a painful split, crack or break in the mucous membrane (skin) inside the vagina or on the skin of the inner or outer labia (vulva), perineum, clitoris or clitoral hood.
Vaginal and vulvar cuts and tears can cause pain, sting when you urinate, may bleed at first, and itch as they heal.
To solve the tear, you need to be clear why it’s there
Vulva and vaginal flesh are delicate, but a cut or tear usually heals very quickly without intervention and without leaving scars. Working out the cause of your cuts is the key to fast-tracking healing and preventing recurrence, which can sometimes be tricky.
Your immune system and protective vaginal flora help keep infections at bay by preventing disruptive bacteria from entering the wound. Infection in minor vulvar or vaginal cuts and tears is rare in an otherwise healthy vagina.
Speed healing of vulva or vaginal cuts and tears
To speed up healing and provide some light lubrication, you can use specially formulated vulva cuts ointment, pawpaw ointment, or, at a pinch, some olive oil.
Aunt Vadge’s Delicate Cuts Cream has been specially formulated for the vulva to soothe, moisturise and repair.
Our purpose-made cream is soothing, promotes healing, and contains anti-inflammatory and selective antibacterial ingredients. This labial cream won’t disrupt your healthy vaginal flora, but it will promote fast healing (and feels and smells good).
What not to use on vulvar and vaginal cuts or fissures
- Regular antiseptic liquid
- Antibiotic creams
- Harsh soaps
- Any other ointments, creams, rinses or salves, unless advised by your healthcare practitioner
Finding the cause and treatment of your vulvar or vaginal cuts and tears
Simple vaginal or vulvar tears
Sex, fingering, fingernails, accidents, douching, infections or fiddling are the usual causes of simple tears.
A simple vulvar or vaginal tear typically heals quickly with no interference. Tears inside the vagina may only be felt when touched since there are comparatively few nerve endings in the vaginal canal compared to the vulva.
Mystery vaginal or vulvar tears
Mystery tears are those that appear seemingly randomly and without cause. They may come and go or stick around long-term; typical treatments don’t seem to do anything.
Mystery tears can be caused by many issues, including an underlying infection (think yeast) or low oestrogen.
First, rule out a simple tear, then check each condition and look for any other related symptoms that could shed light on the cause of your mystery tears.
Aunt Vadge’s Delicate Cuts Cream is particularly useful for mystery cuts, as you can apply it as needed when a flare-up occurs. But, finding the root cause of mystery cuts and tears is key to eliminating them for good.
This list of causes of mystery cuts and tears is not exhaustive but offers a starting point. Mystery tears may need a proper medical investigation and diagnosis and benefit from targeted treatment.
If you are not making any progress on treatments, please make an appointment with one of My Vagina’s vulvovaginal specialist naturopaths for comprehensive assessment and personalised treatment.
Why mystery vaginal or vulva cuts and tears can appear
- Fungus or yeast (get a comprehensive microbiome test)
- Low oestrogen (breastfeeding, menopause, ovarian dysfunction) causing atrophic vaginitis (try Fennelope)
- Nutrient deficiencies
- Food intolerances (think colours, preservatives, flavours, salicylates, amines)
- Allergies, contact dermatitis
- Autoimmune conditions affecting the skin (genital psoriasis, lichen sclerosus)
- Sexually transmitted infection
The deep and nasty vaginal or vulvar tear
Very deep tears are most often caused by accidents, assault, or childbirth. See your healthcare provider for advice, as deep and nasty tears are beyond the scope of the internet!
How do I know if I have a cut and not something more serious?
It’s important to visit your doctor for assessment and testing if necessary, as ruling out infections or other possible problems is important.
You can also take a look! If you can reach, get a good light and a camera or your phone and take some close-ups. You won’t be able to see internal tears this way, but you can do a visual check on your labia and surrounds.
How to tell what’s going on with your vagina or vulva based on feeling
Cuts and tears feel like cuts and tears. You know what your flesh usually feels like depending on what’s wrong, so you are usually right, even if you can’t see it.
Sores feel different to ulcers feel different to bruises feel different to paper cuts.
Your vagina (inside) is tissue much like your mouth, so think about how your mouth feels when you damage it or get an ulcer and compare the sensations.
Your mouth lips are the same sort of tissue as your inner labia lips. Outer labia skin is like regular skin. You must ensure it is not a sore, blister, ulcer, plaque, lesion, lump, or growth.
Blisters, sores or other lumps are usually caused by infections or other medical conditions. Leaving them alone to heal is not the best option, so see your doctor to be examined.
Treating vulvar and vaginal fissures – when to see a doctor
You need to be checked out if your vulvar or vaginal cuts or tears don’t heal, bleed, are infected, have abnormal discharge or are in pain that isn’t going away. If you’re concerned at all, see your doctor.
Cheat sheet for healing cuts and tears at home
1. Don’t douche to try to heal your vaginal tear
Douching can wash away the naturally protective bacteria that protect your vaginal mucous membranes from invaders and keep your vagina healthy. Douching is not a solution for cuts and tears.
You may have a vulvovaginal infection of some kind, but you need a diagnosis so please see your doctor for assessment.
2. Sex and fiddling are out when you have a vaginal cut
Don’t have sex or masturbate until your vulvar or vaginal tear is fully and properly healed. You may re-open the newly closed flesh, sustaining the wound.
Be gentle – your vagina and vulva are very durable, but the tissue is delicate.
3. Don’t irritate your vulva or vagina when you have a vaginal fissure
No tampons, diaphragms, contraceptive rings, condoms or other vaginal devices until you are fully healed. No scratching or tight underwear.
Avoid douching, creams, potions, lotions, perfume or anything on your vulva or vagina unless your healthcare practitioner prescribes it.
4. Make sure you wash your vulva gently, daily, but do not wash inside your vagina
Don’t use harsh, drying soaps that can strip the delicate skin of its moisture and don’t be rough – gently does it.
Your fatty protective layer of oil (and smegma) is your friend. Don’t strip it completely in your quest for cleanliness. Continually stripping the skin of its natural protective layer means it can’t do its job.
The skin stitches its proteins together when it heals, just like sewing, and if you are rough, it can pull the stitches apart.
If you’re using soap, use a mild pH-balanced product that is free from known irritants like SLS. Check your products against this list of vulva/vagina-unfriendly ingredients.
Do not use soap in the vaginal opening or vagina. Stick to the outer labial folds, and don’t use much.
Your vaginal mucous membranes (like your nose and lungs) do not need ‘washing’.
Wet your hands in the bath or shower, wipe your fingers across a wet bar of soap and use that on your outside crotch area and vulva – that’s all you need. Minimal washing and disturbance are best for healing vaginal fissures. Soap is great for killing germs, but be gentle.
5. Soothe vulvar fissures (outside labial skin only)
Use a small amount of healing vulva and vagina-friendly Aunt Vadge’s Delicate Cuts Cream, aloe vera gel, pawpaw ointment, vitamin E oil or another soothing cream.
Do not insert any creams or gels into the vagina unless prescribed by your healthcare practitioner, particularly antibacterial creams. Your mucous membranes and protective vaginal flora will not be happy.
If your labia are itchy, dry or tender, try a warm oatmeal bath. Oatmeal water is very soothing to the skin, reducing itching and inflammation. Soothing creams or vegetable oil can be helpful for itching.
If your vulva is very itchy, try applying an ice cube wrapped in a wash cloth for 10 minutes. Cooling helps reduce the sensation of itching by reducing nerve signals and blood flow to the itchy area.
6. Eat well to heal your vaginal tear
When you are healing a vaginal cut, you are literally growing new skin and patching up wounds, so having the right nutrients in good supply will help heal your vulvar or vaginal cut quickly.
What you eat matters when it comes to your vaginal fissure. In particular, protein ( your ‘meat’), zinc and vitamin C (for collagen) are required for faster wound healing.
Check your protein levels. If you have weak, flaky nails, that may be a sign that you aren’t getting enough protein.
But you also need protein to produce your neurotransmitters, so if you suffer from anxiety and mood problems, make sure you’re getting enough protein every day to produce your brain chemicals.
My Vagina practitioners recommend a palm-sized portion of protein with every meal for a healthy body. That could be an egg, meat, cheese, lentils, chickpeas, seafood, or nuts. You can also try protein shakes.
Note for YOU if you have digestive disabilities and vaginal or labial cuts
Without mincing words here, if you and food have a love-hate relationship, you may not get all the nutrients you need to heal well. If your digestion needs work, book in with a practitioner for help.
Feeling stuck? Getting help for chronic cuts
If you are still suffering or your vulvar cut or vaginal tear seems to be getting worse, see your healthcare practitioner or book in with a My Vagina vulvovaginal specialist naturopath for holistic assessment and treatment.
References1–5
- 1.Carr PL, Felsenstein D, Friedman RH. Evaluation and management of vaginitis. J Gen Intern Med. Published online May 1998:335-346. doi:10.1046/j.1525-1497.1998.00101.x
- 2.Kennedy CM, Manion E, Galask RP, Benda J. Histopathology of recurrent mechanical fissure of the fourchette. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. Published online November 26, 2008:246-247. doi:10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.10.017
- 3.Eschenbach DA, Thwin SS, Patton DL, et al. Influence of the Normal Menstrual Cycle on Vaginal Tissue, Discharge, and Microflora. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Published online June 1, 2000:901-907. doi:10.1086/313818
- 4.Welsh BM, Berzins KN, Cook KA, Fairley CK. Management of common vulval conditions. Medical Journal of Australia. Published online April 2003:391-395. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05257.x
- 5.Mac Bride MB, Rhodes DJ, Shuster LT. Vulvovaginal Atrophy. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Published online January 2010:87-94. doi:10.4065/mcp.2009.0413
Specially formulated probiotic for vaginal application to promote a healthy vaginal microbiome.
Unique, comprehensive BV, AV and 'mystery bad vag' treatment guide, one-of-a-kind system, with effective, innovative treatments.
