Sexually Active, Canker Sore On Labia Minor. Treatment Can Be Delayed?

Posted on Fri, 10 Jun 2011

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 Answered on

Tue, 22 May 2012 Last reviewed on

Question : I'm a sexually active college student and I just found what looks like a canker sore on my labia minor. I'm leaving for a ten day vacation with my family in a few hours, flying to DC for a wedding, so I really have no time to see a Dr before we leave. Can this wait two weeks until I'm back home and can go to the clinic on campus?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (-4 hours later)

Hello.
Thanks for writing to us.
A canker like sore on the labia minor can be herpes or some other sexually transmitted disease. It cannot wait for fifteen days for treatment as by then it may have spread systemically to other areas of your body.
You will have to attend to a clinic as soon as possible so that after complete examination a proper diagnosis is made and the required treatment can be prescribed by the attending doctor.
Genital sores usually do not respond to any over the counter available treatments and proper antibiotics and anti viral drugs are needed for remission.
If you cannot attend a clinic, use an OTC antiseptic as last resort.
I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. If there are additional concerns, I am available for your followups.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (4 hours later)

What is an example of an OTC antiseptic?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rakhi Tayal (1 hour later)

Hello.

Thanks for writing back.

You can use ointment neosporin or bacitracin or polymyxin-B based ointments freely available at all the stores. But these are very less helpful in viral infection like herpes. These will only prevent superadded bacterial infection.

Sincerely hope it will help.

Wishing you an early recovery.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar