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Women's HealthGynaecological HealthI have VIN: what does it mean?
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I have VIN: what does it mean?

by Dr Lesley Hickin

question
I've just been to my consultant today who, after taking biopsies, has diagnosed VIN. What she has told me has scared me but I can't seem to find any information about it - can you help me please? What is the prognosis? She has referred me to an oncologist but the first 'urgent' appointment isn't for a month.

answer
I can understand that you might be anxious about the implications of having VIN. This stands for vulval intraepithelial neoplasia, a skin condition that can affect the vulva and after many years may develop into cancer. It is not in itself cancer and in many women it disappears without any treatment. It has been getting much more common and is seen in women from their 20s onwards.

The most common form is associated with infection by HPV (human papilloma virus), also known as genital warts, a sexually transmitted infection. You may have noticed these but some women have a wart virus infection with no obvious sign. VIN is not cancer, but needs treatment if more than very mild to prevent the risk of cancerous change later in life, in the same way that an abnormal cervical smear would need treatment.

You can help yourself by stopping smoking if you are a smoker. Smoking suppresses the body's immune response.

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