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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Irritated Vagina
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
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Irritated Vagina
by StacyP, Oct 20, 2003 12:00AM
Firstly, I've suffered from a itchy vagina and the symptoms of thrush regularly for the past few years and treated myself for thrush often with not much help.
I had a one night stand about 6 months ago. It was a bit traumatic on my vulva area. We used a condom but it also included oral sex (on me) which resulted in the area having small abrasions and swelling as it was rather dry and quite harsh on the skin. However afterward the swelling continued and the area felt like it was burning, raw and irritated for a number of days. This now returns monthly before my period. The skin is only ever red, slightly swollen and a strong burning sensation (no rashes, no sores) which lasts between 5 and 10 days. Its always in the same area directly outside the opening of my vagina (sometimes either side or occassionally one side more than the other) and nowhere else. I have since been to the Gyneocologist who has done biopsys of both my cervix and vulva. These tests have diagnosed chronic cervicitis with HPV and Koilocytosis on the vulva with thickening of the skin and HPV on the vulva. I dont have any visible warts but the Dr could see thickened areas when he applied a acidic acid wash to the area and he said the area (the vestibular glands?) appeared a bit swollen (this was at a time I didnt have any syptoms of burning etc). He has given me a bethamesasone cortisone cream which provides significant relief but it doesnt go away completely. I guess my questions are:-
1. Could this burning and redness be caused my the herpes virus even if i have never had any sores at all but it is recurring on a monthly basis?
2. Could this be a result of the trauma from sex/oral sex and becasue of the presence of the wart virus they have become aggravated and the skin flares up with this sensation of burning when my hormones change each month? (i'm not on the pill either and my periods are irregular)
3. Is the diagnosis i have been given through pathology results (not just by observation) characteristic of the symptoms i am experiencing.
I have been extremely stressed out about the herpes issue for the past six months and i have found some information about HPV and burning vulvar syndrome, however, i am still concerned because the burning has only ever been present since my last sexual contact. I have always experienced thrush like symptoms such as irritation and itchyness around the time of my periods which may have actually been the HPV (i believe i probably had this before this all happened as my last boyfriend had slept with someone who had it) and i was constantly itchy and experiencing temporary burning after sex on a regular basis.
Your opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou for your time.
I had a one night stand about 6 months ago. It was a bit traumatic on my vulva area. We used a condom but it also included oral sex (on me) which resulted in the area having small abrasions and swelling as it was rather dry and quite harsh on the skin. However afterward the swelling continued and the area felt like it was burning, raw and irritated for a number of days. This now returns monthly before my period. The skin is only ever red, slightly swollen and a strong burning sensation (no rashes, no sores) which lasts between 5 and 10 days. Its always in the same area directly outside the opening of my vagina (sometimes either side or occassionally one side more than the other) and nowhere else. I have since been to the Gyneocologist who has done biopsys of both my cervix and vulva. These tests have diagnosed chronic cervicitis with HPV and Koilocytosis on the vulva with thickening of the skin and HPV on the vulva. I dont have any visible warts but the Dr could see thickened areas when he applied a acidic acid wash to the area and he said the area (the vestibular glands?) appeared a bit swollen (this was at a time I didnt have any syptoms of burning etc). He has given me a bethamesasone cortisone cream which provides significant relief but it doesnt go away completely. I guess my questions are:-
1. Could this burning and redness be caused my the herpes virus even if i have never had any sores at all but it is recurring on a monthly basis?
2. Could this be a result of the trauma from sex/oral sex and becasue of the presence of the wart virus they have become aggravated and the skin flares up with this sensation of burning when my hormones change each month? (i'm not on the pill either and my periods are irregular)
3. Is the diagnosis i have been given through pathology results (not just by observation) characteristic of the symptoms i am experiencing.
I have been extremely stressed out about the herpes issue for the past six months and i have found some information about HPV and burning vulvar syndrome, however, i am still concerned because the burning has only ever been present since my last sexual contact. I have always experienced thrush like symptoms such as irritation and itchyness around the time of my periods which may have actually been the HPV (i believe i probably had this before this all happened as my last boyfriend had slept with someone who had it) and i was constantly itchy and experiencing temporary burning after sex on a regular basis.
Your opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. Thankyou for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Oct 21, 2003 12:00AM
, Oct 21, 2003 12:00AM
Your symtoms and signs certainly do not sound like herpes. The tests showing irritation and HPV sound consistent with your symptoms. I would attribute the fact that the symptoms began after your sexual contact not to your having contracted something new but to your worrying that you did.
Trauma plus HPV don't "add up" to something more than either one alone. The trauma of oral sex months ago has no long-term physical consequences.
I think that regular use of a weak steroid to deal with the burning and regular GYN exams to look for HPV effects are all you need medically. As to your ongoing concerns about herpes, yeast, and so forth, you may want to consider counseling as well. Worrying about what you manifestly don't have is not going to do you and your relationship any good.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Trauma plus HPV don't "add up" to something more than either one alone. The trauma of oral sex months ago has no long-term physical consequences.
I think that regular use of a weak steroid to deal with the burning and regular GYN exams to look for HPV effects are all you need medically. As to your ongoing concerns about herpes, yeast, and so forth, you may want to consider counseling as well. Worrying about what you manifestly don't have is not going to do you and your relationship any good.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Dr. Rockoff