Vaginal and 

Vulvar Cancer Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer

www.cdc.gov/cancer/knowledge 1-800-CDC-INFO

There are five main types of cancer that affect a woman’s reproductive 

organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. As a group, they 

are referred to as gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik) cancer. (A sixth 

type of gynecologic cancer is the very rare fallopian tube cancer.) 

This fact sheet about vaginal and vulvar cancers is part of the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Inside Knowledge: Get 

the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign. The campaign helps 

women get the facts about gynecologic cancer, providing important 

“inside knowledge” about their bodies and health. 

What are vaginal and 

vulvar cancers?

Cancer is a disease in which cells 

in the body grow out of control. 

Cancer is always named for the part 

of the body where it starts, even if it 

spreads to other body parts later. 

When cancer starts in the vagina, 

it is called vaginal cancer. The 

vagina, also called the birth canal, 

is the hollow, tube-like channel 

between the bottom of the uterus 

and the outside of the body. 

When cancer forms in the vulva, 

it is vulvar cancer. The vulva is 

Vagina

Fallopian Tubes

Ovaries

Uterus

Cervix

Vulva

the outer part of the female genital 

organs. It has two folds of skin, 

called the labia. Vulvar cancer 

most often occurs on the inner 

edges of the labia. 

When vaginal and vulvar cancers are 

found early, treatment is most effective. 

Who gets vaginal and 

vulvar cancers?

While all women are at risk for these 

cancers, few will get them. Vaginal 

and vulvar cancers are very rare. 

Together, they account for 6-7 

percent of all gynecologic cancers 

diagnosed in the U.S., with an 

estimated 1,000 women diagnosed 

with vaginal cancer and 3,500 

women with vulvar cancer each year. 

Are there tests that can 

find vaginal and vulvar 

cancers early?

You should visit your doctor 

regularly for a checkup. During your 

checkup, your doctor may perform 

a pelvic examination to look for 

signs of vaginal and vulvar cancer. 

The Pap test does not screen 

for vaginal and vulvar cancers. 

The only cancer the Pap test 

screens for is cervical cancer. 

Can the HPV vaccine prevent 

vaginal and vulvar cancers?

Many vaginal and vulvar cancers are 

caused by the human papillomavirus 

(HPV), a common virus that is 

passed from one person to another 

during sex. 

There is a vaccine that protects 

against the types of HPV that most 

often cause cervical, vaginal, and 

vulvar cancers. It is given in a 

series of three shots. The vaccine 

is recommended for 11 and 12 year 

old girls. It is also recommended for 

girls and women aged 13 through 

26 who did not get any or all of the 

shots when they were younger. 

(Note: The vaccine can be given to 

girls beginning at age 9.) 

If you or someone you care about 

is in this age range, talk with 

a doctor, nurse, or health care 

professional about it.

Inside Knowledge is an initiative that 

supports the Gynecologic Cancer 

Education and Awareness Act of 2005, or 

Johanna’s Law, which was unanimously 

passed by the U.S. House and Senate in 

December of 2006, and signed into law 

in January 2007. 
What are the signs and 

symptoms of vaginal and 

vulvar cancers?

Most vaginal cancers do not 

cause signs or symptoms early on. 

When vaginal cancer does cause 

symptoms, they may include:

• Vaginal discharge or bleeding 

that is not normal for you. 

The bleeding may be abnormal 

because of how heavy it is, 

or when it happens, such as 

bleeding after you have gone 

through menopause; bleeding 

between periods; or any other 

bleeding that is longer or 

heavier than is normal for you. 

• A change in bathroom habits, 

such as having blood in the 

stool or urine; going to the 

bathroom more often than 

usual; or feeling constipated.

• Pain in your pelvis or abdomen, 

especially when you pass urine 

or have sex.

Vulvar cancers often cause signs 

or symptoms including one or 

more of the following: 

• Itching, burning, or bleeding on 

the vulva that does not go away.

• Color changes on the skin of 

the vulva, where it is redder or 

whiter than normal for you.

• Skin changes on the vulva, 

including what looks like a rash 

or warts.

• Sores, lumps, or ulcers on the 

vulva that do not go away.

• Pain in your pelvis, especially 

when you urinate or have sex.

Pay attention to your body, and 

know what is normal for you. If 

you have vaginal bleeding that is 

not normal for you, see a doctor 

right away. If you have any of the 

other signs that may be associated 

with vaginal or vulvar cancer, and 

they last for two weeks or longer, 

see a doctor. These symptoms 

may be caused by something other 

than cancer, but the only way to 

know is to see your doctor.

What raises a woman’s 

chance of getting vaginal 

or vulvar cancer?

There is no way to know for 

sure if you will get vaginal or 

vulvar cancer. Some women 

get these cancers without being 

at high risk. However, the 

following factors may increase 

a woman’s risk for vaginal or 

vulvar cancer:

• Having HPV.

• Having had cervical 

precancer or cervical cancer.

• Having a condition (such as 

HIV, the virus that can lead to 

AIDS) that makes it hard for 

your body to fight off health 

problems.

• Smoking.

• Having chronic vulvar itching 

or burning.

If one or more of these things 

is true for you, it does not 

mean you will get vaginal or 

vulvar cancer. But you should 

speak with your doctor to see 

if he or she recommends more 

frequent exams. 

How can I prevent vaginal 

and vulvar cancers?

• Get the HPV vaccine. It 

protects against the types 

of HPV that most often 

cause cervical, vaginal, and 

vulvar cancers. If you are 

between the ages of 9 and 

26, talk to your doctor about 

the HPV vaccine.

• Take steps to reduce your risk 

of getting HPV or HIV, such as 

avoiding sex or limiting your 

number of sexual partners.

• Don’t smoke. 

What should I do if my 

doctor says I have vaginal 

or vulvar cancer?

If your doctor says that you have 

vaginal or vulvar cancer, ask 

to be referred to a gynecologic 

oncologist—a doctor who has been 

trained to treat cancers like these. 

This doctor will work with you to 

create a treatment plan.

Where can I find more 

information about vaginal, 

vulvar, and other gynecologic 

cancers?

Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention: 1-800-CDC-INFO or 

www.cdc.gov/cancer

National Cancer Institute: 

1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov

CDC Publication #99-9126, Revised May 2010

Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer