Ulcers on lady bits

[Maddie2019]

Hi all, sorry if this is TMI but I’m worried sick and can’t find anything relevant online so hoping one of you may of experienced this or has some advice.

I’ve had sore lady bits for a week or so, when I looked I could see ulcers!! I went straight to the out of hours GP and she said it wasn’t STI related, or anything like she had quite seen. She said they were literally the same ulcers you get in your mouth but on your gentials instead.

I need to arrange an appointment on Monday with the hospital, but I know how bad waiting times are and I’m so anxious I needed some thoughts beforehand.

Sorry for how gross this is, I’m hoping someone can help!

A genital ulcer is located on the genital area, usually caused by sexually transmitted diseases such as genital herpes, syphilis or chancroid. Some other signs of having genital ulcers include enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area, or vesicular lesions, which are small, elevated sores or blisters. The syndrome may be further classified into penile ulceration and vulval ulceration for males and females respectively.

Genital ulcers are not strictly a sign of an STD. They can occur in patients with Behcet's syndrome, lupus, and some forms of rheumatoid arthritis (all non-communicable diseases). Genital tuberculosis, often caused by direct genital contact with infected sputum, can also present as genital ulcer.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genital_ulcer

Thanks, I’m super worried and wanted to see if anyone had anything similar. I haven’t heard of anything like this unless it’s STD related and can’t find much on treatment 😬

Why is it always something embarrassing 😩😩

Have you been itchy and scratching? I had ulcers from scratching too much, turns out it was eczema. Once that was treated, I stopped itching and everything calmed down again.

Omg please don't ask people medical questions on here or google. You will freak yourself out x

Sounds like herpes to me.

Hi OP, It must be worrying not knowing what it is and could well be something or nothing. If it's like mouth ulcers as your GP suggested then I get them when I get stressed - or say if I have a cold.

What department of the hospital has your GP suggested you contact? If it's a GUM clinic then there can be walk in times so you could be seen sooner than making an appointment. Have you tried looking online? Whatever happens, the important thing is to get answers and if needed treatment for it, especially if the ulcers are painful.

...and don't worry about the tmi - you'll probably find other have posted about the same...and more!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/behcets-disease/symptoms/

My friend has this condition, originally they treated her for chrons disease for years and then the ulcers started to appear. She went for several sti checks that were all clear (she hadn’t actually had a sexual partner in years) and then a Dr at the hospital when she was admitted with Chrons flare up said it was this!

Do you have any of the other symptoms?

Could you go to a sexual health clinic near you? As you are symptomatic you may get seen the same day. Even though it may not be an STI you will at least be seen quickly by someone who is an expert in conditions relating to that area.

...and what @Unusualusernames said, given the reply from the poster after, who really is not equipped to make a diagnosis, like the rest of us!

May I ask where exactly these ulcers are located ( can you be more specific?), how large and how many? I’m asking because whenever I get thrush and use Canestan pessaries or suchlike I get exactly what I would call small ulcers all around the inner labia, mainly at front. They are painful, and last about 4 days. I can only assume it is a external skin reaction to Canestan ingredients. It happens every time.

Have you used any new/different medication or toiletries lately? Are the ulcers changing or starting to get better?

I assume you would know if there was any risk of you catching an STD at the moment ( new partners / potentially dodgy partner). If not, then you shouldn’t worry about that being the cause.

Sorry not to be more helpful; the first time I had my ‘Canestan experience’ I was totally freaked out so I sympathise.

If it was herpes your gp would have identified it despite what mnetters say. Hope you get proper answers op.

Thanks for your reply.
It’s difficult because I have UC which is basically chrons but just of the bowel so my symptoms are basically the same as Behçets.
I’m so stressed, it taken 2 years to diagnose my UC and I’m currently now in a flare as it is. I don’t think I can take another 2 years of finding out what this is. I guess I’m just a worrier!
When I went to the out of hours GP she said it looked like another immune disorder which caused this and linked to UC which I’m guessing she meant Behçets.

I’m so so stressed and anxious right now

Have you used any new toiletries or anything? Or any washing powder with “new improved formula” recently?

I thought I’d contracted some hideous disease recently and it was the new improved formula of my washing powder. My knickers were just the first thing I wore that had been washed in it. It was agony.

Sounds like herpes x

I experienced this when i was 14 (now in 30’s) diagnosed with behcet's disease. I was hospitalised for a week, treated and never had any symptoms since. I wasn’t sexually active either.

I had this. It wasn’t an STD. Sexual health nurse concluded that it was herpes but from a cold sore. So I think I picked my cold sore while on the loo and then wiped.
It hurt so much to pee that I would pee in the shower to dilute it. Ulcers kind of fell off and that was that.

apparently keto is good for auto immune issues
do something fun or watch a rom com or something to take your mind off it. or have a drink

Thanks for your reply.

It doesn’t tend to have the usual symptoms for me as Thrush does, no itchiness, usually discharge or anything like that.

It’s on the inner labia, there’s one bigish one and some more coming near the location, it’s all red and swollen on one side to (again sorry for tmi)

The only newish medication I’m on is my immune suppressants for ulcerative colitis (Similar to chrons disease).

Regarding partner I’ve been with the same one for 6 years and have regular screenings from the clinic when I pick up some more pills.

And I definitely agree with advice to go to a GUM Clinic or a gynaecologist. GUM Clinics are often very anonymous which may help you feel less anxious.

Clearly your GP wasn’t able to put your mind at rest, and you deserve that.

No it’s strange, no itching just really sore and swollen

Out of interest what was the treatment?
Did they manage to go relatively quickly?

Yes, I get this. Been seen at the GUM clinic, not herpes and not any other STI either. I must admit, I never sought any further investigation which is maybe not good. I get them if I've worn sanitary towels for a few days, so I assume it's a reaction to an irritant but I also get them randomly at other times. I've been stressed and run down for a long time now so I put them down to that really.

I’m going to try and make an appointment with the GUM clinic on Monday, not sure if I should make an appointment with my own GP either.

I looked online and the GUM don’t have any available appointments until The end of September. Really hoping I can get a walk in.

Hi, thanks for your reply.
Out of hours GP said to make an appointment with the GUM clinic on Monday, doesn’t look like they have any available appointments online until the end of September so hoping I may be able to get a walk in.

I’m just super stressed and worried 😟

I have had a couple of these (on immunosuppresents for UC), the IBD nurse told me it's due to low immunity from the medication.
I've tended to get more mouth ulcers, though I did recently get one in my armpit.
I would speak to your IBD nurse and see what they recommend.