Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)

Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV)

Once almost unheard of in this country, cases of this tropical infection were first seen among UK gay men in 2004. Several hundred have since been diagnosed with it.

LGV is caused by a type of chlamydia bacteria that attacks the lymph glands.

Symptoms aren’t always noticeable and doctors sometimes mistake them for other conditions. The condition has three stages.

What does it look like?

First stage
Around four days to a month after getting infected a small, painless sore may appear on your cock, in your mouth or arse. You may have some discharge and pain on pissing.

Second stage
About four days to several months later your glands may become painfully swollen, with fever and feeling ill. If you have the infection:

in your cock you may get discharge and swollen glands in your groin;

in your mouth you may get swollen glands in your neck or armpit;

in your arse you may have painful inflammation (known as proctitis), with blood or pus coming from it, constipation, abscesses and pain when shitting. Most infections have been in the arse;

Third stage
Left untreated, LGV can cause serious lasting damage to your arse and cock that may need surgery.

How is it passed on?

Through unprotected:

fucking or being fucked

fisting or being fisted

sucking or being sucked.

Using things like dildoes on more than one man’s arse can also spread the infection.

How is it prevented?

You can reduce the risk of LGV by:

using a condom

using latex gloves for fisting

covering dildoes with a fresh condom each time you use them and washing them with warm soapy water afterwards.

If several men are having sex, fresh condoms and latex gloves are needed for each man they’re used with.

How is it treated?

A sample of piss or a swab from the affected area is tested for chlamydia. If positive, further tests are done to look for LGV.

A three-week course of antibiotics cures LGV as long as it is caught before stage 3.

If you have any inflammation in your arse, a check-up is essential and you should avoid having sex until the doctor or clinic tells you it’s alright.

No-one is immune to LGV. If you have had it before, you can get it again

Related topics
* Sexual Health Advice & Leaflets

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