Cervix
The main lump in the vagina is the cervix (neck of the womb). This projects into the far end of the vagina and is about 3 cm across. You can usually feel the cervix by inserting the first two fingers into the vagina and pushing upwards. It is easier to feel if you ‘bear down’ (contract your stomach muscles as if you are trying to open your bowels). The texture of the cervix is similar to the end of your nose, and it has a small opening in the middle. In a woman who has not had a child, the opening is about the size of a pencil lead (so very small), but it is usually larger in women who have given birth. Menstrual blood passes through this opening from the womb into the vagina during a period.
The cervix usually feels smooth, but sometimes pimples can be felt on it. These are usually small glands called nabothian follicles, and are normal.
However, a pimple on the cervix could be a wart, though it would be unusual to have warts on the cervix without having any at the opening of the vagina.
A small, soft lump which seems to be coming out of the hole in the cervix is probably a cervical polyp. This is not cancerous, but can bleed, especially after intercourse, so it is best to have it removed.
If you have any lumps on your cervix it is best to see your doctor or a specialist nurse who can examine you and confirm it is normal. This is very important if you have any symptoms such as change in your normal bleeding pattern or pain/bleeding during or after sex.
Vagina
The inside of the vagina can normally feel crinkly. This is because it is designed to stretch for intercourse and childbirth, so when it is not stretched the walls may have wrinkles. However, it is not normal to have distinct small lumps in the vagina. If you feel any, see your family doctor or go to a genitourinary medicine clinic for an examination. This can sometimes be due to warts inside the vagina.
Prolapse
A bulge in the vagina is probably a prolapse. The vagina rests between the bladder and the rectum (back passage); the bladder lies in front of it and the rectum lies behind. The bladder, vagina, cervix and rectum are held in position by muscles that stretch across the pelvis – the pelvic floor muscles. If these muscles are weak, the bladder and/or rectum can lean towards the vagina and press on it, or the womb may sag downwards.
Treatment for Prolapse
- People who are overweight or obese should try and lose weight if they can. Excess weight puts pressure on the pelvic floor and makes the problem worse.
- Quitting smoking is also very important, notm only for your general health but also to prevent coughing, which iuts pressure on the pelvic floor.
- Pelvic floor exercises can also be very helpul. They will help leakage of urine due to prolapse. You may benefit from using the Squeezy app, using online resources to learn the correct ‘Kegel’ technique, or require referral to a Women’s Health Physiotherapist for assessment and advice.
- A pessary is a special device, usually a firm rubbery ring or device placed inside the vagina to give support. Pessaries are made of plastic and are changed every 6–12 months depending on which type you have. They can be very helpful, even for people who are waiting for a surgical operation or in people who cannot have surgery for any reason.
- Surgery may be needed where a prolapse is severe or causing other problems (e.g., incontinence or retention of urine). There are various different procedures which can be done to lift the bladder neck, support the uterus, or strengthen the front and back walls of the vagina. Sometimes a hysterectomy can be done to remove the uterus (womb) entirely.
Entrance to the Vagina (Vulva)
In many women, the entrance to the vagina normally feels lumpy. This lumpiness is the remains of the hymen which stretches across the entrance in young girls. The hymen is a thin piece of tissue with a opening to let menstrual blood flow out. The opening becomes enlarged during sports, by inserting tampons and by sexual intercourse, but the remnants of the hymen can remain as irregular, firm lumpiness.
A woman who has given birth to a child, and who needed stitches afterwards, may be left with a lumpy scar at the vaginal opening.
Genital warts are an increasingly common sexually transmitted infection and often occur around the vaginal entrance or the back passage. If you suspect you have a wart, you should visit a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic for testing and treatment.
Very rarely, a lump at the entrance to the vagina is cancerous (vulval cancer). It may just be a lump (often shaped like a mini-cauliflower), or there may also be itching, bleeding and an unpleasant smell. Therefore, if you have a lump that increases in size, ask your doctor to check.
First published on embarrassingproblems.com
Reviewed and edited by Dr Laura Gush
Last updated: June 2025 by Dr David Rook
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