Overview of Vaginal Ulcerative Disease

Genital ulcers may be located on the vagina, penis, and anorectal or perineal areas and may be infectious or noninfectious. Vaginal ulcers affect patients of all ages and are commonly due to sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes simplex virus, the most common cause of genital ulcers in the United States. Non–sexually transmitted infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus, and other noninfectious causes, such as trauma, medications, and autoimmune disease, rarely can present with genital ulcers. Appropriate his-tory, examination findings, and targeted testing must be used to correctly diagnose and treat vaginal ulcers.