Vaginal Cancer: Types, Causes, Early Signs, and Diagnosis

Vaginal cancer is a rare condition that may cause symptoms like bleeding, pain, or lumps. This guide explains its types, causes, early signs, and diagnostic tests.

Vaginal Cancer: Types, Causes, Early Signs, and Diagnosis

  • Category

    Cancer

  • Published By

    GetWellGo Team

  • Updated on

    10-Jul-2025

Vaginal Cancer Symptoms

Vaginal cancer felt different based on the size and region where the cancer is located. 

Early signs of vaginal cancer:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Watery or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
  • Pain during intercourse (dyspareunia)
  • A lump or mass in the vagina
  • Pelvic or vaginal pain
  • Painful urination or difficulty urinating
  • Constipation or pain during bowel movements
  • Swelling in the legs

What causes vaginal cancer?

Vaginal cancer is a less common form of gynecologic cancer that starts in the lining of the vagina. Although the exact cause is not always understood, some major risk factors for vaginal cancer have been identified.

  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection
  • Age
  • Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VaIN)
  • Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure
  • Smoking
  • History of Cervical or Vulvar Cancer
  • Weakened Immune System
  • Chronic Vaginal Irritation

Types of Vaginal Cancer

Vaginal cancer is an uncommon form of cancer that develops in the tissues of the vagina. Vaginal cancer comes in a few forms, grouped by the cells in which the cancer develops. The following are the primary types:

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

  • Most prevalent type (approximately 85–90%).
  • Arises in the squamous cells covering the vagina.
  • Usually develops in the upper third of the vaginal wall.
  • Typically affects older women (above age 60).
  • Also related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Adenocarcinoma

  • Develops in the gland cells of the vagina.
  • Responsible for approximately 5–10% of vaginal cancers.
  • More prevalent in younger women.
  • There is one rare type, clear cell adenocarcinoma, that is associated with prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) (an ant pregnancy drug administered between the 1940s and 1970s).

Melanoma

  • Rare vaginal cancer.
  • Arises in the melanocytes, the pigment cells.
  • Typically takes place in the lower or outer rim of the vagina.
  • May be aggressive and tends to be diagnosed at a late stage.

Sarcoma

  • Yet another rare type, originates in the vaginal wall's connective tissues or muscles.

There are several subtypes:

  • Leiomyosarcoma (muscle cells)
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma (skeletal muscle cells, primarily occurring in children)
  • Endometrial stromal sarcoma
  • More frequent in younger people (particularly rhabdomyosarcoma).

Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN)

  • Not a cancer but a precancerous lesion.
  • There are abnormal cells on the vaginal surface layer.
  • It can, if left untreated, turn into squamous cell carcinoma in the long run.
  • HPV infection is strongly associated with it.

How to detect vaginal cancer?

These are the usual ways doctors find and confirm vaginal cancer:

Pelvic Examination

  • A doctor checks the outside of the vagina and the inside of the pelvis to look for lumps, sores or any unusual changes.

Pap smear and HPV are used for screening

  • People usually get a Pap smear for cervical cancer screening, but it may on occasion detect any unusual vaginal cells. When done right, HPV testing can pick out high-risk HPV infections which might cause vaginal cancer.

Biopsy

  • If your doctor notices an abnormal area, they may take a small sample (biopsy) from your vagina and use a microscope to make sure cancer cells are there.

Colposcopy

  • A colposcope instrument is brought in to help in closely examining the vagina and the cervix. Taking a biopsy is possible as part of this surgery.

Imaging Tests

Doctors might order relevant exams to check how much cancer there is and where it is located.

  • A type of scan called MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
  • A CT (Computed Tomography) scan
  • The use of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan
  • They make it possible to check if other tissues near the cancer, lymph nodes and remote organs are involved.

Cystoscopy and Proctoscopy

  • When it’s thought that cancer is in the bladder or rectum, these tests give a clear view and allow sampling of the area.

Blood Tests

  • Blood tests may help determine your overall health and the condition of your organs before treating vaginal cancer, even though it isn’t used for diagnosis.

Vaginal Cancer Risk Factors

These are the most important risk factors for vaginal cancer — conditions or exposures which raise the chances of getting the disease. They do not however assure that the disease will develop.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection

  • Most important risk factor, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma.
  • HPV types HPV-16 and HPV-18, which are high-risk types, are highly associated with vaginal and cervical cancers.
  • Also linked with VAIN (vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia), a precursor to cancer.

Age

  • Risk is higher with increasing age, particularly after 60 years.
  • Vaginal cancer is uncommon in women younger than 40.

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Exposure

  • Women exposed to DES in the womb (their mothers were given the drug while pregnant) have an increased risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma.
  • Exposure was most prevalent in women who were born between the 1940s and the 1970s.

History of Cervical Cancer or Precancer

  • A history of cervical cancer or cervical dysplasia raises risk.
  • Common underlying etiology: HPV infection.

Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN)

  • A cancerous-appearing lesion that may progress to invasive vaginal cancer if not treated.
  • Usually found in association with HPV and abnormal Pap tests.

Smoking

  • Raises the risk of squamous cell vaginal carcinoma.
  • Tobacco chemicals impair local immune defenses of the vaginal mucosa.

Immunosuppression

Compromised immune system due to:

  • HIV/AIDS
  • Organ transplant using immunosuppressive therapy
  • Decreases the body's clearance capacity for HPV infection.

Prior Pelvic Radiation Therapy

  • Radiation therapy for cervical or endometrial cancer can raise vaginal cancer risk years afterward.

Chronic Vaginal Irritation

  • Long-term use of vaginal pessaries, recurrent infection, or fistula can inflame the vaginal lining.
  • Not a primary cause, but possibly a factor in isolated instances.

Multiple Sexual Partners / Early Sexual Activity

  • Raises exposure to HPV, a major cause of vaginal cancer.
  • Not an immediate cause, but a risk-related lifestyle component.

Vaginal Cancer Stages

Staging of vaginal cancer tells doctors how much the cancer has developed and supports proper treatment. Staging begins from Stage 0 and goes to Stage IV, according to FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics).

Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ)

  • Another name for carcinoma in situ is Vaginal Intraepithelial Neoplasia (VAIN) 3
  • The abnormal cells are on the surface of the vagina, beneath the lining.
  • Not yet invasive cancer

Stage I

  • All cancerous growths remain on the vaginal wall.
  • Lymph node involvement was absent as well as any growth into nearby organs or tissues

Stage II

  • Cancer is now found in the tissues next to where it started in the vaginal wall
  • The condition has not reached the pelvic floor yet

Stage III

  • Cancer is present in the pelvic wall.
  • May spread to the lymph nodes in or around the body part
  • It might cause the ureters (tubes between kidney and bladder) to get blocked.

Stage IV

Advanced stage is split into:

  • Stage IVA: Cancer is found in the bladder or in the rectum.
  • Stage IVB: Cancer can be spotted in distant organs, specifically the lungs, liver or bones.

Why Choose GetWellGo for Vaginal Cancer Treatment?

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

  • Complete transparency
  • Fair costs.
  • 24 hour availability.
  • Medical E-visas
  • Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
  • Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for vaginal cancer treatment.
  • Expert gynae oncologist with a strong track record of success
  • Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
  • Language Support
  • Travel and Accommodation Services
  • Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
  • Local SIM Cards
  • Currency Exchange
  • Arranging Patient’s local food

 

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