PSA: You Can Bruise, Cut, and Tear Your Vagina

PSA: You Can Bruise, Cut, and Tear Your Vagina



And you should definitely know what to do if you get a down-there injury. Yeast infections, STDs, and ingrown hairs: Our lady parts are no strangers to unwanted, uncomfortable issues. And they’re not immune to injuries, either—we’re talking bumps, bruises, scrapes, and tears. Here, five ways you can hurt your hoo-ha (and what to do if you find yourself in a precarious situation):

You Can Bruise Your Vagina

When Jules Wainstein of Real Housewives of New York climbed through a window and wound up with a vaginal hematoma, we thought, a vaginal what? It turns out a hematoma is just a bruise, says Fahimeh Sasan, doctor of osteopathic medicine, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. You might notice a bump, swelling, and black and blue—the result of blood collecting under the skin, she explains. But unless you’re straddling a windowsill a la Jules, such an injury is rare, since your lady parts are pretty well protected. “You’d really have to be doing something special to have this happen in everyday life,” says Sasan. A few real-life instances where it’s more common: intense mountain biking or childbirth, says Sasan. For the most part, though, the bruise will heal with a little bit of ice and time, she says.