Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)
- Lymphogranuloma venereum, or LGV, is a sexually transmissible infection (STI).
- The bacteria that cause LGV are rare types of Chlamydia. LGV is more infectious than other types of genital chlamydia infection.
- LGV can be treated by antibiotics.
How do you get LGV?
LGV is spread through unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex, especially is there is trauma to the skin or mucous membranes. It can also be spread by sharing sex toys.
How can you prevent LGV?
- Have regular STI tests.
- Always use condoms and/ or dams and water-based lubricant when having sex.
- Talk to your sexual partners about sexual health.
- Always wash sex toys with soap and water before, after and between sex play.
What are the signs and symptoms?
Around 3 to 30 days after exposure, a small painless lump or sore appears on or in the penis, rectum, vagina, cervix or mouth. This heals after a few days and most people are not aware of it.
Over the next 2 to 6 weeks, the infection spreads to the local lymph glands usually in the groin or inside the pelvis. People may also have:
- fever
- chills
- weight loss
- sore muscles and joints
- a feeling of being generally unwell.
Where the infection is in the rectum, there can be:
- a discharge of blood, pus or mucus from the anus
- a painful urgent feeling of needing to pass a bowel motion (poo) but being unable to do so
- diarrhoea or constipation
- stomach pain.
In the final stages, the infection can cause widespread scarring and deformity in the affected area.
In rare cases, LGV can infect the brain and the liver.
If you have signs and/or symptoms of LGV, see your doctor or healthcare professional for a swab of the lump or discharge. LGV often occurs with other STIs including syphilis, hepatitis C and HIV so it is important to also be tested for these.
See your doctor or healthcare professional as soon as possible if you think you may have LGV.
Antibiotics can successfully treat the LGV infection. People with LGV should not have sex until the full course of antibiotic treatment has been completed.
Painful swollen lymph nodes may need to be drained using a needle. Sometimes surgery is required in later stages of the disease. Other infections that often occur with LGV (such as HIV, syphilis, other STIs and hepatitis C) should also be treated if they are diagnosed.
How do you tell your sexual partners?
If you test positive for LGV or another STI, it is important to let your sexual partners know so they can get tested and treated (if needed) too. This is to make their health is not impacted and the infection does not continue to spread. If your regular sexual partners do not get treated, you can get it again.
You can tell your partners yourself – if you feel safe and comfortable to do so. If you don’t want your partners to know your name, you can ask your health care worker to do it or send an anonymous message from:
Last reviewed: 25-06-2025
Acknowledgements
Public Health
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