What is vaginal ulcer?

Women's private hygiene care is very important, because if there is any disease in one's reproductive organs, it will not only be difficult to treat, but also be detrimental to one's own mental health. Some women suffer from vaginal ulcers because they do not pay attention to their hygiene. If you want to treat vaginal ulcers, you must first know what vaginal ulcers are.

Most vulvar ulcers are caused by vulvitis. Ulcers can be seen in various parts of the vulva, most commonly on the labia minora and the inner side of the labia majora, followed by the vestibule membrane and around the vaginal opening. Many diseases can cause vulvar inflammation, such as nonspecific vulvitis, herpes simplex virus infection, Behcet's disease, vulvar tuberculosis, syphilis, lymphogranuloma venereum, etc., which may cause vulvar ulcers. In addition, about 1/3 of vulvar cancers manifest as vulvar ulcers in the early stages of the disease. Generally speaking, the common causes of vulvar ulcers are as follows.

Vulvar ulcers can manifest as acute vulvar ulcers and chronic vulvar ulcers. Acute vulvar ulcers have the following manifestations:

(1) Nonspecific vulvitis. The condition is mild, and ulcers often appear after scratching. Ulcers are generally superficial but very painful, and sometimes may also cause systemic symptoms such as low fever and fatigue.

(2) Herpes virus infection. This condition develops quickly. At first, multiple rashes appear on the affected area. After the rashes break, they turn into superficial ulcers. The ulcers vary in size, with a yellow-gray base and slightly higher tissue at the edges. There is obvious congestion and edema, and there is severe pain.

(3) Behçet’s disease. Also known as oculomotor-genital syndrome, it is a common cause of acute vulvar ulcers. Acute vulvar ulcer is a development stage of Behcet's disease and may occur simultaneously or successively with eye and oral lesions. The onset is acute and relapses are common.

Chronic vulvar ulcers can be seen in tuberculosis and cancer. Vulvar tuberculosis is rare and occasionally secondary to severe tuberculosis of the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, internal reproductive organs, peritoneum, or bones. It often occurs in the labia or vestibule membrane. The lesion develops slowly. It usually appears as a small localized nodule at first, which soon breaks down into a shallow ulcer with soft and thin edges. The ulcer is irregular in shape, with an uneven base and covered with cheesy moss. The affected area is usually painless, but may cause severe pain after being irritated by urine or friction.

The above are some of the causes of vaginal ulcers. There may be more reasons that we don’t know about, but no matter what, as long as we can find the causes, we can find treatments for vaginal ulcers.