What is it?
Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted infection that is caused by a type of Chlamydia trachomatis that is specific to LGV. This is not the same Chlamydia trachomatis that is a more common genital infection in Canada. LGV is extremely rare in Canada.
What are the symptoms?
The infected person may have a short-lived sore at the place of entry into the body (usually the genitals), and may generally feel unwell. The sore will disappear and later, you may experience complications caused by lymph glands and vessels in that area of the body. Although affects to the lymph glands are different in both men and women, swelling of the genitals (elephantiasis) may occur in either sex. In men or women who have rectal sex, there may be inflammation of the rectal walls.
The time from infection to the development of the genital sore is 3-30 days; the time from infection to the development of the buboes (swelling of the lymph glands at the top of the legs) is from 10-30 days up to several months.
What's the test like?
Testing for LGV is often very unsatisfactory. The diagnosis is made on the basis of the appearance of the symptoms in someone who has been sexually active in a country where the disease is more common.
What is the treatment?
LGV is treatable by a health care provider with antibiotics and draining of the buboes. Sexual partners should be examined and treated if they have had sex with an infected person in the 30 days before the start of symptoms in the infected person.
How common is LGV?
It is extremely rare in this country and is more common along the equator.
Of particular concern to men
Men may notice swelling of the lymph glands at the top of the legs (buboes) and those may break open and drain pus and later on scarring may result.
Of particular concern to women
In women, the lymph glands in the pelvis are more frequently involved and this may result in strictures (closing off) of the rectum, or fistulae (openings) between the vagina and rectum. | 
