Genital sores - female

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Genital sores (female)

Overview

Treatment

Genital sores - female

Definition:

Sores or lesions on the external female genitalia, or in the vagina, may have a number of possible causes.

Alternative Names:
Sores on the female genitals
Considerations:

Sores or lesions on the female genitalia are often caused by sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Venereal warts, syphilis, genital herpes, chancroid, molluscum contagiosum, and granuloma inguinale are STDs that cause visible and fairly classic-appearing lesions.

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Precancerous changes of the vulva (vulvar dysplasia) may appear as white, red, or brown patches on the vulva, and are often accompanied by itching. The vulva can also develop skin cancers such as melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Non-sexually transmitted diseases may also produce lesions on the genitalia. In young girls (before puberty), nonspecific vulvovaginitis, atopic dermatitis, and contact dermatitis are common causes of genital lesions. Other common disorders of the skin, such as lichen planus, seborrheic dermatitis, and vitiligo are less common causes. Rarely, a medical illness can cause genital lesions as one of its symptoms, as in Crohn's disease.

Because genital lesions or sores often adversely affect a person's self-image, many individuals do not seek proper medical care. These lesions may be caused by a malignancy or a sexually transmitted disease, and in every case should be evaluated by a medical professional.

Itching, painful urination, or painful sexual intercourse often accompany genital lesions.

Common Causes: