Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is an infection caused by a bacterium from the <em>Chlamydia trachomatis</em> family. It can occur more than once in a lifetime.
What is LGV?
Why get tested?
This infection is difficult to diagnose because the majority of people infected with LGV have no symptoms and therefore do not seek medical attention.
However, some symptoms may be present, depending on the stage of the disease.
If you have had risky, unprotected sexual contact, you should consult a healthcare professional for screening tests.
The search for Lymphogranulomatosis venereum (LGV) by genotyping is carried out in the context of a positive Chlamydia trachomatis result from an anorectal sample. If you have symptoms of LGV, we invite you to make an appointment with a healthcare professional.
Signs and symptoms
LGV symptoms progress through three stages.
Primary stage
(3 to 30 days after transmission):
- • Appearance of one or more painless chancres (ulcer-like lesions) at the site where the bacteria entered the body (mouth, throat, urethra, vagina, cervix, rectum, anus). They often go unnoticed.
- • The lesion(s) generally disappear after a few days, without treatment
- • However, the disappearance of the chancre(s) does not indicate healing. The person with LGV can still transmit it even after the lesions have resolved.
Secondary stage
(2 to 6 weeks after lesion resolution):
Onset of the following symptoms, which may last from several weeks to several months:
- • Fever, chills or fatigue
- • Muscle or joint pain
- • Bloody discharge or pus from the anus
- • Tender or swollen lymph nodes in the groin or neck
- • Pus discharge from lymph nodes in the groin or neck
- • Constipation
Tertiary stage
(1 to 20 years after transmission):
If LGV is not treated, it can cause significant permanent damage:
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•
Deformity of the genital organs:
- • Perforation or narrowing of the vagina, colon or rectum
- • Swelling of the genitals due to obstruction of the lymphatic vessels
- • Discharge of blood or pus
- • Liver or joint inflammation
Transmission
- • Oral sex (contact of the mouth with the penis, vulva, vagina or anus)
- • Vaginal intercourse (penetration of the penis into the vagina)
- • Anal intercourse (penetration of the penis into the anus)
- • Contact between the genital organs
- • Sharing sex toys
- • Mother-to-baby transmission at birth
Window period or incubation period (time interval before the disease is detectable)
- • 10 days to 6 weeks
Prevention
To provide the best protection against LGV, condoms should be used:
- During all contact between the genital organs;
- Throughout the duration of oral, vaginal or anal intercourse;
- During every sexual encounter.
Using a latex dam to cover the vulva or anus during oral sex reduces the risk of LGV transmission. It prevents direct contact between the mouth and genitals. To make a latex dam, unroll a condom, cut off the end and cut it lengthwise.
Sex toys should not be shared. People who share sex toys can reduce the risk of LGV transmission by covering them with a condom. They must change the condom between each partner.
Using a latex glove reduces the risk of LGV transmission during sexual intercourse with insertion of fingers or fist into the anus. The glove must be changed between each partner.
LGV treatment
Since LGV is a bacterial infection, it is treated with antibiotics, which must be used for about 3 weeks.
Since the infected person can transmit the disease even during treatment, it is important to avoid all sexual activity during treatment, as well as for the 7 days following. If sexual activity cannot be avoided during this period, it is essential to use a condom.
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