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What will I notice?

You can get ulcers, sores and blisters almost anywhere on your skin, including on the genitals.

• A sore, is an area of infected or inflamed skin that hurts. It is usually red and might weep or bleed. An example of a sore is when you have been bitten or stung by an insect, or when a cut has become infected.
  
  

• An ulcer, is a type of sore of the skin where the top surface is missing, but the sore usually isn't bleeding. Often ulcers will look like little saucers and can have a red line around them. The edge can be flat or raised. They might be white, yellow or pinkish. They will usually be very painful but might not be painful at all. They can be any size from a tiny pinhead to quite large. They can occur singly or in 'crops' that cover quite large areas. An example of an ulcer is the mouth ulcers you can get if you bite your cheek or have an orthodontic appliance (brace) in the mouth. Ulcers often form when there has been an infection that can only partly be controlled by the body, or where the immune system is attacking the skin in some way. You might get other symptoms with a genital ulcer, including feeling feverish or experiencing pain when you pee.
  
  

• A blister, is similar to an ulcer but the top layer of skin is still intact and often raised up, usually with some fluid collecting underneath. An example of a blister is the blisters you can get after wearing ill-fitting shoes or from minor skin burns.

 

What is it most likely to be?

Sores are most likely to be herpes simplex virus infection, genital herpes. This is a virus infection of the genitals. It is usually caught during sex, or by sharing sex toys, or by close contact with cold sores in the mouth.

 

 

 

What other causes are possible?

• Syphilis: a bacterial infection, which is caught during sex and is now rare.
  
  

• Behcets disease: an immune disorder which isn't infectious or caught during sex.
  
  

• Tropical infections: you might have caught something while you were living or travelling abroad.
  
  

• Some bowel disorders can give you symptoms on your genitals and mouth. These include Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
  
  

• A reaction or side effect from taking certain medicines.

 

What should I do?

If you notice any sores, ulcers or blisters on your genitals, you should go the same day to a doctor at a genitourinary medicine clinic such as SHAC at Clinic 1A or call a nurse at Clinic 1A to get an appointment to be seen on the same day. It is important to find out the cause of your symptoms because they might give you long-term problems that could otherwise be avoided by early help. Don't have unprotected sex, especially if you think that you might have an infection.

 

If, at the same time, you feel unwell, have a headache, are feverish or have unusual feelings in your arms or legs, or find it difficult to pee, go to see a doctor immediately.

 

 

 

What if I just ignore it?

Most herpes infections produce symptoms only occasionally but you can get more-frequent attacks and some attacks can become quite serious.

 

Untreated syphilis can progress to a point when it is very difficult to treat.
If you have an untreated infection it can damage your health and also that of your partner and anyone else you or they have sex with in the future. Usually the problem can be easily sorted out with tablets and general advice.

 

Behcets disease can become very bothersome to you without treatment, you will usually have mouth ulcers and possibly symptoms in other parts of your body too.

How can I avoid getting these sores?

 

We don't know why some people get Behcets disease, but there are good treatments that can control the symptoms.

 

 

 

How to avoid catching infections during sex.

• If you and, or, your partner has had unprotected sex in the past get yourselves 'checked out' by a doctor.
  
  

• Don't have unprotected sex especially if you are worried that you or your partner might have an infection.
  
  

• Learn about safe sex.
  
  

• Avoid mouth-genital contact if you or your partner has cold sores on the lips or in the mouth.

At SHAC (at Clinic 1A), we can examine you to check for any of these causes of sores, ulcers and blisters of the genitals. We consider that ulcers are 'urgent cases' and will always see you on the same day that you contact us. We are always happy to test you for infections, to help put your mind at rest. We can also give you advice and information about staying healthy.

 

 

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