Genital sores - female

Alternative Names

Home Care

Avoid self-treatment before seeing a doctor. It can mask the symptoms and make diagnosis of the cause of the sore more difficult.

A sitz bath may be recommended to relieve itching and crusting. Moist lesions can be dried by using a heat lamp.

If the sores are caused by a sexually transmitted infection, the sexual partner should be notified and treated, and all sexual activity should be discontinued until the lesions are no longer infectious.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor if you:

• Find any unexplained genital lesion
• Have a change in a genital lesion
• Have persistent genital itching that does not go away with home care measures
• Think you might have sexually transmitted infection

Your doctor will perform a physical examination and ask medical questions to identify:

• Type of lesion
  • What color is the lesion?
  • How big is it?
  • Is it painful?
  • Does it itch?
  • Is it scaly?
  • Does the border look distinct (sharp) or blurry?
• Time pattern
  • When did you first notice the lesion?
  • Have you ever had a similar lesion in the past?
• Distribution
  • Has the lesion grown larger?
  • Is there an increasing number of lesions?
  • How many lesions are there?
  • Where on the genitals is the lesion located?
• Other
  • How often do you have sexual activity?
  • What are your hygiene habits?
  • Do you have painful urination?
  • Do you have painful sexual intercourse?
  • Do you have abnormal vaginal drainage?

The physical examination will usually include a pelvic examination.

The following tests may be done:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Blood differential
• Skin or mucosal biopsy culture

Treatment may include medications that are applied to the skin or that are taken by mouth. The type of medication depends on the cause, but may include corticosteroids, antiviral drugs, antibiotics, or drugs to control itching.

References

Frumovitz M, Bodurka DC. Neoplastic Diseases of the Vulva: Lichen Sclerosus, Intraepithelial Neoplasia, Paget's Disease, Carcinoma. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007: Chap. 30.

Eckert Lo, Lentz GM. Infections of the Lower Genital Tract: Vulva, Vagina, Cervix, Toxic Shock Syndrome, HIV Infections. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007: Chap. 22.