Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), which is an uncommon sexually transmitted disease and is characterized by its spreading though having unprotected vaginal, oral or anal sex is caused by certain types of the bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. This disease causes swollen and painful lymph nodes, which can then break into large ulcers. As it develops, lymphogranuloma venereum goes through 3 distinct stages where the first 2 stages may be minor and you might not even be aware of any symptoms until you reach stage 3, called genitoanorectal syndrome.

The diagnosis of LGV is usually made serologically (through complement fixation) and by exclusion of other causes of inguinal lymphadenopathy or genital ulcers.

As treatment for LGV, blood and fluid culture tests may be done as well as testing for other sexually transmitted diseases, such as syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, Chlamydia and hepatitis; people who have had sexual contact with anyone who has LGV within 60 days before the affected person had symptoms should be examined and tested; and, antibiotics cure infection and prevent ongoing tissue damage, but they will not help remove scars.

After a 3-30 day early development (incubation) period, this is the first stage of LGV where a small painless bump or pus-filled lesion forms (on the penis, vulva, scrotum or in the vagina) that may wear away to form an open sore (ulcer). After 2-6 weeks, the second (inguinal) stage begins where the first lesion appears and consists of painful swelling of the groin or other lymph nodes. Symptoms such as fever, fatigue and chills may be experienced. You may have blood or mucus coming out from the opening to the large intestine (rectum) if the infection is in the anus. Genitoaneorectal syndrome is the third stage of the disease. This stage may be the first time symptoms are seen, particularly in women. Those who have been infected in the anus have rectal infection (proctocolitis), which can cause pain with defecation, scarring and deep boils (abscesses). The lymphatic system may be damages, causing enormous swelling of the genitals as well as draining from scarred areas of the skin caused by deep tissue infection, when the infection is in the genital tract.

Three different sub-types of the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis cause lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV), which is spread through sexual contact.

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