Has anyone had any experience with vaginal ulcers? My almost 12yr old came to me last night and told me she had something that looked like an ulcer. Eventually I convinced her to show me, it's the size of a 5c piece, and looks black along the edges. I'm not sure if the colour is caused from rubbing her underwear.
I asked her the difficult sex questions, if someone else (or herself) has been touching down there. She was disgusted by the thought of it, but I'll be coming back to her later tonight to ask again. Sometimes she will dwell on a question and tell me the truth a day or two later.
What other causes could there be? What can we do at home to ease the pain and discomfort?
I'm ringing the doctor today (she has covid and in iso for another 4 days) so I'm hoping they will see her sooner rather than later.
6 Replies
Sounds like a blood blister to be honest and I assume you mean it's on her labia/vulva for it to be visible.
Has she fallen on anything, is an item of her clothing too tight or rubbing, could she have been bitten by something?
Obviously, it's better to not speculate and just wait and see what the Doctor's diagnosis is but warm baths (absolute no soaps/bubbles etc), panadol and loose fitting pants would be my advice until then for the discomfort. I'd also get her to try not to sit on it (easier said than done I know lol)
Just to ease your mind.. I had something similar at this age and it was a tick!!
No idea how it got there, I speculated it was on my underwear when I bought the clothes in off the line one day.
It got bigger and bigger and I had to get my dad to pull it out (I was so embarrassed) with a special tick book thing and the area was numb for a few days before it healed.
Don't push the sexual contact again. Take her to a doctor she is comfortable with. If they are concerned, they will ask more questions.
In the meantime, this is a link about ulcers common in teenagers that isn't STI related to put you at ease that there are causes that can be innocent.
https://dermnetnz.org/topics/non-sexually-acquired-genital-ulceration#:~...(NSGU)%20is%20painful%20ulceration,ulcers%20and%20ulcus%20vulvae%20acutum.
Good for you Mumma for taking this serious and thinking of everything, because things happen and many over look these things. Get the Dr to look and test it, they will know what it is, if she is keeping anything from you. May be innocent but I am with you, it needs to be asked.try a salt bath it may help.
Could it be an ingrown hair? I get them occasionally and they just look like a swollen lump and if it's in the inner lip area it can look a bit like an ulcer. Just a thought.
Could definitely be caused from undies or pants that are too tight or of course a but too much self exploration. Is there a nurse helpline in your state you could call for advice?
I would offer panadol and an icepack.
I have had a bunch of bartholin cysts which sound similar. Its basically the gland that lubricates the vagina getting obstructed and collecting fluid. Might not be it but worth looking into.
Hopefully the doctor sorts it out for you guys with minimal hassle and trauma.
Also how amazing is it that she told you!? I was 18 the first time I got one and i wouldn't tell my mum, it got so big and infected my parents had to call an ambulance because I was in so much pain!