Vulva Ulcers and Erosions

A vulva or genital ulcer is a condition that causes blisters to appear on the outer part of the female’s sexual organ. Sometimes these ulcers come with stinging pain, other times they are not painful.

Most cases vulva ulcers and erosions caused by sexually passed on infections, but these blisters could erupt due to many other reasons. Luckily, victims of vulva mouth ulcers can be treated.

So what are the possible explanations behind blisters in the vulva?

Vulva Mouth Ulcers: The Two types

Genital ulcers can be categorized into two kinds based on how they are acquired.

(1)  Transmitted by sexual contact: sores occur due to sexual contact.

(2)  Non-sexually acquired is common in teenage girls who are sexually inactive.

Warning Signs of Genital Ulcers

An ulcer on the female genital may start like a pimple and later spread to other parts of the vulva. In some cases, these ulcers manifest without any signs.

Here are common symptoms.

  • stinging or soreness
  • itching
  • fever
  • leaky secretions
  • excruciating pain when urinating
  • Swollen lymph nodes

What Could Cause Genital Ulcers?

Discover the possible reasons behind the ulcers of the genitals.

STDs/STIs

Genital herpes and syphilis are the leading causes of vulva ulcers and erosionsin the US. HIV, chlamydia, and chancroid could also lead to sores in the vulva.

Because these diseases are prevalent in the US, it is advisable to take an STD Testing if you see signs of an ulcer.

Cancer

Cancer of the vulva, common among females of age, is also known to cause sores on the genitals.

Infections from Fungi

The vaginal yeast infection is a fungal infection associated with ulcers of the genitals. It also comes with other warning signs including;

  • pain during sex and when passing out urine
  • itchiness
  • An overflow of vaginal secretions

Infections from Viruses

Some viruses could lead to sores in the vulva. The most common ones include Epstein-Barr virus and Cytomegalovirus.

Scratching of the genitals

Long-term scratching of the genitals can cause lesions and later develop into vulva ulcers and erosions.

Reaction to Chemicals in lotions

Sometimes the chemicals in the lotions females could lead to ulcers of the vulva. It is advisable to use products that are friendly to your skin if you experience such allergies.

Infections from Bacteria

Infections from bacteria like Streptococcus could cause ulcers of the genitals. Victims can treat such infections with the right antibiotic prescriptions.

Testing and Diagnosing for Causes of Genital Ulcers

For genital ulcers, your physician may need to assess the ulcer and go through a patient’s medical records to identify its cause.  Expect questions about your private sex life and the medicine you take.

After an assessment to determine the possible cause of the lesions, a physician may request you to take some tests.

Standard tests include a blood test, a swab test for viral or bacterial infections, urine test.

If all the above tests are negative, the doctor may need to take a sample of ulcer and send it to a laboratory for advanced examination.

Treating Ulcers of the Vulva

Because an ulcer in the vulva could be due to several reasons, the appropriate treatment approach depends on the cause of the ulcer.

Some ulcers of the vulva may dissipate, but others may need immediate medical attention so that they don’t get infectious.

 Depending on the assessment, your physician can recommend different types of medication to improve your situation.

STD Testing and for sexually transmitted infections, you will be given an antibiotic or antiviral prescription. For ulcers triggered by other causes, your doctor will recommend the appropriate medication.

Some home remedies to soothe the itch include

  • Bathing with Epsom salt
  • Taking pain killers like Tylenol
  • Protective cream like petroleum jelly.
  • Wearing loose pants

Final Words

Vulva ulcers and erosionsmay develop due to any of the above reasons. Because it is difficult to the cause, you must visit a physician to have the ulcer examines so that you can deal with cases that could get potentially infectious.

If your ulcer is painful, you can soothe the itch with the above DIY tips as you plan a visit to the doctor for a diagnosis.

Contributor: admin