Granuloma Inguinale (Donovanosis) in Teens

Granuloma inguinale—also called Donovanosis—is a rare sexually transmitted infection (STI) that can cause slowly growing, painful or painless sores in the genital area.

In many countries it’s very uncommon, but it still exists in some regions and can cause serious tissue damage and scarring if it’s not treated early.

TeenThreads mission:
👉 Shine light on even the rare STIs, so your health is never left to guesswork.

What Is Granuloma Inguinale (Donovanosis)? (Simple + Real)

Granuloma inguinale, also known as Donovanosis, is a bacterial STI caused by Klebsiella granulomatis (formerly called Calymmatobacterium granulomatis).

It mainly affects the skin and tissues of the genital and anal areas and causes:

• slowly enlarging, beefy‑red sores (ulcers)
• bleeding when touched
• possible tissue destruction and scarring over time

It usually develops gradually, not overnight, and needs medical treatment to stop it from spreading and damaging tissue.

Other Name(s)

• Donovanosis
• Granuloma inguinale
• Klebsiella granulomatis infection

(Different names, same infection.)

Difference Between Granuloma Inguinale and Similar Conditions

Granuloma inguinale can be confused with:

• Syphilis
• Chancroid
• Genital herpes
• Skin cancers or other chronic ulcers

Key differences:

• Sores are often beefy‑red, raised, and may bleed easily
• They tend to spread slowly and can destroy tissue if untreated
• They usually are not very painful at first, which can delay care

Only a healthcare professional and lab tests can tell for sure what’s going on.

Difference Between Normal and Abnormal State

Normal Genital / Anal State:

• No open sores or ulcers
• No slowly growing red lesions
• No bleeding from the skin without injury
• No chronic, non‑healing wounds

Possible Granuloma Inguinale Signs:

• Small, painless bump in the genital or anal area that slowly enlarges
• Beefy‑red, raised sores that may bleed easily when touched
• Sores that spread and may merge into larger areas
• Ulcers that don’t heal and may cause tissue loss or scarring

Any persistent, non‑healing sore in the genital or anal area should be checked.

How Granuloma Inguinale Shows Up (Patterns & Stages)

1️⃣ Early Stage

• Small, firm bump or nodule appears at the site of infection
• Often painless or only mildly uncomfortable
• May be easy to ignore at first

2️⃣ Ulcerative Stage

• Bump breaks down into a red, raised ulcer (sore)
• Ulcer has a “beefy‑red” appearance and may bleed easily
• More sores can appear and slowly spread

3️⃣ Advanced / Chronic Stage

• Sores may become larger and more destructive
• Scarring and tissue loss can occur
• Genital shape or skin surface may change due to scarring

Early treatment can prevent progression and long‑term damage.

Causes 

Granuloma inguinale spreads mainly through sexual contact with someone who has the infection.

It can spread through:

• vaginal sex
• anal sex
• oral sex (less common, but possible if contact with sores occurs)

It is not spread through casual contact like hugging, sharing food, or using the same toilet.

Risk Factors

• Unprotected sex (no condoms or barriers)
• Multiple or new sexual partners
• Sex in areas where granuloma inguinale is more common
• Limited access to STI testing and treatment

Risk ≠ blame. It just means awareness and testing are important.

Who Is Vulnerable / Susceptible?

• Teens and young adults who are sexually active
• People with partners from regions where Donovanosis is more common
• Anyone with persistent genital or anal sores who hasn’t been evaluated

Granuloma inguinale can affect any gender and doesn’t care about labels or stereotypes.

Complications (If Not Treated)

Untreated granuloma inguinale can cause:

• Large, chronic ulcers in the genital or anal area
• Significant scarring and tissue destruction
• Changes in genital shape or function
• Secondary infections in damaged skin
• Increased risk of HIV transmission if exposed

Early treatment can prevent most of these complications.

Prevention

• Use condoms during vaginal and anal sex
• Use barriers (like condoms or dental dams) for oral sex when possible
• Avoid sexual contact with anyone who has unexplained genital or anal sores
• Get regular STI testing if sexually active
• Talk openly with partners about STI history and testing

Prevention = protecting your skin, your comfort, and your future.

How Granuloma Inguinale Develops

Exposure during sex → bacteria enter through tiny breaks in the skin → small bump forms → bump slowly turns into a red, raised ulcer → ulcer spreads and may cause tissue damage if untreated.

Testing and treatment interrupt this process and help prevent scarring.

Common Symptoms

• Small bump or nodule in the genital or anal area that doesn’t go away
• Beefy‑red, raised sores that may bleed easily
• Sores that slowly enlarge or spread
• Ulcers that don’t heal over weeks or months
• Possible mild pain, but sometimes little or no pain at first

Any persistent genital or anal sore deserves medical attention.

What Other Problems Can Look Like Granuloma Inguinale?

• Syphilis
• Chancroid
• Genital herpes
• Skin cancers or precancerous lesions
• Other chronic skin infections or inflammatory conditions

Because many conditions can cause chronic sores, testing is essential for a correct diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Tests

Granuloma inguinale can be challenging to diagnose and usually requires a healthcare professional and lab support.

A provider may:

• Ask about symptoms and sexual history
• Examine the sores and surrounding skin
• Take a small sample (biopsy or scraping) from the sore
• Send the sample to a lab to look for “Donovan bodies” (bacteria seen under a microscope)
• Test for other STIs (like syphilis, herpes, HIV)

Diagnosis is based on both how the sores look and what the lab finds.

Treatment and Therapies

Good news:
Granuloma inguinale is treatable with antibiotics.

Treatment usually includes:

• Prescription antibiotics taken for several weeks (until sores are fully healed)

Key rules:

• Take all medication exactly as prescribed, even if sores start to look better
• Avoid sex until your provider says it’s safe and sores are healed
• Make sure sexual partners are evaluated and treated if needed
• Follow up if sores don’t improve or if new ones appear

With proper treatment, sores usually heal and further damage is prevented.

Statistics & Reality

• Granuloma inguinale is rare in many countries
• More common in certain tropical or resource‑limited regions
• Often under‑recognized because it looks like other conditions

Rare doesn’t mean impossible—especially if there’s travel or partner history from affected areas.

Alternative / Complementary Support

Helpful (with professional guidance):

• Keeping the area clean and dry
• Wearing loose, breathable clothing to reduce friction
• Pain relief as recommended by a provider
• Mental health support if you feel anxious, ashamed, or scared

These do not replace antibiotics. Donovanosis requires medical treatment.

New Treatment Approaches

• Improved access to STI testing and antibiotics in high‑risk regions
• Better training for healthcare providers to recognize rare STIs
• Public‑health efforts to reduce stigma and encourage early care

Cost of Treatment

• STI testing may be low‑cost or free at public or teen clinics
• Antibiotics are often covered by insurance or available at reduced cost
• Some clinics offer sliding‑scale or no‑cost care for teens

Insurance & Confidentiality

• STI testing and treatment are often confidential
• In many places, teens can access sexual health services without parental notification
• You can ask about privacy before any exam or test

Prognosis

• Good with early diagnosis and full treatment
• Sores usually heal, though some scarring may remain
• Delays in treatment increase the risk of tissue damage and complications

Granuloma inguinale is serious—but very manageable when addressed early.

Complications: What Happens If No Treatment?

• Large, chronic, non‑healing sores
• Significant scarring and tissue destruction
• Changes in genital or anal structure
• Higher risk of other infections, including HIV, if exposed

Ignoring chronic sores doesn’t make them “go away”—it just gives them more time to cause damage.

Living With or After Granuloma Inguinale 

• Finish all prescribed antibiotics, even if you feel better
• Get retested or re‑examined if your provider recommends it
• Use condoms consistently in the future
• Talk honestly with partners about STI testing and history
• Remember: an STI diagnosis does not define your value or your future

Your body is not “ruined” by an infection—it’s asking for care, not judgment.

Myths vs Facts

❌ Myth: “If a sore doesn’t hurt much, it’s not serious.”
✅ Fact: Some serious infections, including Donovanosis, can start with painless or mildly painful sores.

❌ Myth: “Only common STIs matter.”
✅ Fact: Rare STIs can still cause major problems if ignored.

❌ Myth: “Genital sores are always herpes or shaving cuts.”
✅ Fact: Many conditions can cause sores—testing is the only way to know.

❌ Myth: “Talking about a weird sore is too embarrassing.”
✅ Fact: Speaking up is how you get answers, relief, and protection.

When to See a Doctor or Clinic Now

Consider getting checked if:

• you notice a sore or bump in the genital or anal area that doesn’t heal
• the sore is red, raised, and bleeds easily
• you have multiple or spreading sores
• a partner tells you they have Donovanosis or another STI
• you’re sexually active and haven’t been tested in a while

Asking for help is not “too much”—it’s smart, brave, and protective.

Trusted Resources (Learn More)

• CDC – Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

  https://www.cdc.gov/std/

• MedlinePlus – Sexually Transmitted Diseases

  https://medlineplus.gov/sexuallytransmitteddiseases.html

• WHO – Sexually Transmitted Infections

  https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexually-transmitted-infections

TeenThreads Final Word

Granuloma inguinale (Donovanosis) may be rare—but your health, comfort, and future are not.

You can:

• learn the signs of even the uncommon STIs
• get tested without shame
• protect your body and your relationships
• treat sexual health like what it is—health

Real power is knowing what’s out there—and knowing you deserve answers, care, and respect every step of the way.

By TeenThreads Content Team