{"id":1637,"date":"2023-02-28T14:28:53","date_gmt":"2023-02-28T14:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/?p=1637"},"modified":"2023-03-08T14:50:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T14:50:31","slug":"genital-lesions-causes-symptoms-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/genital-lesions-causes-symptoms-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Genital Lesions: Causes, Symptoms &amp; Treatment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Genital sores are typically slow-healing ulcers and lesions originating from the genital area. More specifically, they can occur in the vagina&#8217;s outer part, or the vulva, the anus, and in the case of males, the penis. The lesions may also appear on the skin that&#8217;s near these areas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, these vaginal sores develop because of irritation to the genitalia&#8217;s sensitive tissue caused by bacteria, viruses, and germs; the body responds to the irritation by releasing specific cells that can worsen the discomfort, causing small sores and ulcers to develop, and if the ongoing exposure to germs, viruses, and bacteria isn&#8217;t resolved, the lesions and sores will be challenging to heal. Still, with the help of experts in the area of <\/span><a href=\"\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">obstetrics and gynecology in South Miami, Florida<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, patients can get help to get rid of these sores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In this article, our expert team comprehensively lists the most prominent symptoms, such as painful sexual intercourse and vaginal discharge. Also, the article will discuss potential treatment options.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Symptoms and Causes of Genital Sores<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1639\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores.jpg\" alt=\"Shot of a Young Female Doctor Talking to a Patient in an Office.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/Symptoms-and-Causes-of-Genital-Sores.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The most common cause behind these lesions are sexually transmitted diseases, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Genital herpes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chlamydia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chancroid<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">HIV<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Syphilis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If acquired nonsexually, the main culprit behind these lesions will usually be:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Viruses<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the case of a viral infection, the most common causes are:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Paratyphoid (typhoid fever)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Epstein-Barr virus causing mononucleosis (mono)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Varicella zoster (shingles, chickenpox)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cytomegalovirus (encephalitis, viral hepatitis)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Influenza A, causing the flu<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Bacteria<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As mentioned above, several bacterial infections may also lead to the formation of lesions in the genital area:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Mycoplasma pneumoniae<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Group A Streptococcus<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Trauma to the area<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In some instances, injury to the area may also lead to the development of genital sores, including the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Adverse reactions to skincare products, lotion, or hair removal creams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wearing too-thigh undergarments that cause constant rubbing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A result of a sexual injury when foreign objects or aggressive sex leads to breaks on the surface tissue<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Other medical conditions<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Specific medical conditions that cause long-term inflammation may also lead to the development of vaginal ulcers. They are usually the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chron&#8217;s disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Contact dermatitis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Behcet&#8217;s disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bullous pemphigoid<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vulvar cancer<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pemphigus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Erosie lichen planus<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cyclic neutropenia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Vaginal yeast infections<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To make matters even more complicated, there are some cases when genital sores cause no evident symptoms. In contrast, others can cause significant pain and make the patient&#8217;s everyday life and sex life challenging. That said, you may experience the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fever<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Burning sensation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Painful sexual intercourse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Painful urination<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Foul-smelling vaginal discharge<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Genital Sores vs. Vulvar Dysplasia<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some people may think that vulvar dysplasia and genital sores are the same. To be precise, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.columbia.edu\/cancer-types-care\/types\/vulvar-cancer\/vulvar-dysplasia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">vulvar dysplasia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a precancerous disease that produces ulcerations and lesions as symptoms. This condition starts in the skin of the vulva as the cells go over abnormal changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Do Ulcers Look Like?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These ulcers are small rashes, lesions, or bumps in their earliest stages. As time progresses, the ulcers may even lead to tiny breaks in the skin&#8217;s surface tissue, oozing fluid, or pus. The nearby lymph nodes may become swollen in the groin area.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Diagnosing These Lesions<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It&#8217;s always advisable to talk to your provider if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above, especially if the genital sores have been persistent. You might feel embarrassed and ashamed about it but remember &#8211; these lesions are surprisingly widespread.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When establishing a proper diagnosis, keep in mind that a thorough evaluation is paramount, as genital ulcers have various causes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That said, your provider will start by examining your medical history and asking a few questions regarding your lifestyle and sexual activity, mainly to determine any risks of sexually transmitted infections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Naturally, the evaluation will also include a physical exam, i.e., your provider will take a look at the nearby skin and the lesions and sores themselves. To be thorough, they might also examine the lymph nodes in the groin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Furthermore, in some cases, providers may recommend further lab testing to determine the exact cause of these genital sores. These tests may include the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Blood tests<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Biopsy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Urinalysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Treating Vaginal Sores<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Typically, the best treatment option will depend on the exact cause of the formation of these lesions. For the most part, most patients will feel relief and get better after taking meds that address bacterial and viral infections, such as antibiotics or antiviral medications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In other cases, ulcers may heal faster if special ointments are applied to the affected area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When the ulcers aren&#8217;t caused by sexually transmitted diseases, providers will often recommend talking to a specialist who may conduct further evaluation. For instance, dermatologists may help determine the exact cause of the skin lesions. Infectious disease specialists may help diagnose rare viral infections that lead to the formation of sores.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Can Genital Sores Be Prevented?\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented-.jpg\" alt=\"Handsome Doctor Is Talking With Young Female Patient and Making Notes While Sitting in His Office\" width=\"1000\" height=\"668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented--200x134.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented--300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented--400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented--600x401.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented--768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented--800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/202\/2023\/02\/How-Can-Genital-Sores-Be-Prevented-.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Fortunately, there are several effective steps one can take to prevent genital ulcers or at least certain causes of the issue. These include the following:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Steering clear from wearing tight underwear or pants<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Limiting the number of sexual partners; intimacy should be limited to one partner, and the same should apply to their case<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Using condoms or dental dams every time during intercourse<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Monitoring ongoing conditions that can lead to the formation of genital lesions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keeping the genital area clean by washing it daily with mild soap<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Avoiding harsh skin products<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>After Treatment<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After receiving the right therapy, patients may see their symptoms dissipating within a few days, and in most cases, they fully recover.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In those rare cases when the discomfort and other symptoms fail to improve, doctors may recommend a different therapy, determined with the help of additional testing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Lastly, it&#8217;s also essential to keep in mind that genital sores may recur, even after treatment, especially if you have unprotected sex in the future.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Home Remedies\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before visiting the doctor&#8217;s office, there are a few effective self-care methods that may help you bring relief, which include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Warm compresses can help with itching and pain. Just soak a towel in warm water and wring it out before applying it to the affected area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Cool compresses with cool water can help with swelling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sitz bath may ease general discomfort. Just fill a bathtub with water to the point where it converses your hips while sitting. Soak in the water a few times daily for about 15-30 minutes.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Getting Assistance from Experts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Genital sores can be painful to the point that they can&#8217;t heal effectively on their own. They are often a result of a sexually transmitted infection, but there may be various underlying causes behind them. The sooner you reach out to a provider to discuss your symptoms, the faster you will find relief. Fortunately, simple prescription medications are enough to solve the issue in most cases. The key is to get a thorough diagnosis and timely treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As such, reach out to us today if you suspect that you might have genital ulcers to find quick relief and ensure your long-term health.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Genital sores are typically slow-healing ulcers and lesions originating from the genital area. More specifically, they can occur in the vagina&#8217;s outer part, or the vulva, the anus, and in the case of males, the penis. The lesions may also appear on the skin that&#8217;s near these areas. Typically, these vaginal sores develop because of  [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1638,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[37,69],"tags":[357,356,359,175,358],"class_list":["post-1637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecology","category-stds","tag-genital-sores","tag-lesions","tag-painful-sexual-intercourse","tag-vaginal-discharge","tag-vulvar-dysplasia"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1637","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1637"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1637\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/obgyn-specialists-of-south-miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}