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STDs (Expert Forum)
can recurring vaginitis be a symptom of genital herpes?
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
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This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
can recurring vaginitis be a symptom of genital herpes?
by januejohnson, Nov 06, 2006 12:00AM
two years ago...i chose a new general practioner...as a part of my initial complete exam and not because i had any symptoms...she ordered a herpes test (not currently sure of the type - will be going to pick up a copy of it later today)...well, the results came back positive for hsv1 and hsv2...
when the doctor told me that i had genital herpes...i laughed...OUT LOUD...my thinking was that there is NO WAY i could have genital herpes...i have a close female friend who has the virus and i have NEVER had a single symptom that sounds like anything that she experiences with her 'episodes'...and in the research that i have done since...i have found nothing that indicates that i actually have the virus...
well...i had the same doctor re-test back in july...because as i explained to her...i KNOW that i don't not have this...i don't care what those results said...
this time...i KNOW it was the herpeselect test that was done...and my hsv number came back with a very high hsv number...at least 5.3...my hsv2 number came back as 2.25...
in reading the information that is presented on this site...you have responded several times that it is likely that my hsv2 result is a false positive...
i have an appointment with a new gynecologist on wednesday...i will be requesting a western blot test be done...
i called the general practioner's office today...to request a copy of the initial test results from 2004...she came on the phone and wanted to know why i was requesting it...i informed her that i learned that the herpeselect can sometimes show a false positive for hsv2...she firmly stated that this is not the case in my situation...as i sometimes will experience recurring vaginitis...and that although i don't have ANY of the classic symptoms of the virus...she is insistent it is obvious that my genital herpes presents itself as vaginitis...
in addition to that...i have (what i NOW believe) are sebaceous cysts...that she looked at and firmly declared as herpes and gave me a valtrex prescription for...the thing is...they never went away...three months later...they are still here...they don't itch...they don't anything...they're just there...(i will also be consulting with the gynecologist regarding them on wednesday)...
my questions...can recurring vaginitis (that always clears up after a metronidazole prescription) be a symptom of herpes?...also...can sebaceous cysts be confused with herpes lesions?
when the doctor told me that i had genital herpes...i laughed...OUT LOUD...my thinking was that there is NO WAY i could have genital herpes...i have a close female friend who has the virus and i have NEVER had a single symptom that sounds like anything that she experiences with her 'episodes'...and in the research that i have done since...i have found nothing that indicates that i actually have the virus...
well...i had the same doctor re-test back in july...because as i explained to her...i KNOW that i don't not have this...i don't care what those results said...
this time...i KNOW it was the herpeselect test that was done...and my hsv number came back with a very high hsv number...at least 5.3...my hsv2 number came back as 2.25...
in reading the information that is presented on this site...you have responded several times that it is likely that my hsv2 result is a false positive...
i have an appointment with a new gynecologist on wednesday...i will be requesting a western blot test be done...
i called the general practioner's office today...to request a copy of the initial test results from 2004...she came on the phone and wanted to know why i was requesting it...i informed her that i learned that the herpeselect can sometimes show a false positive for hsv2...she firmly stated that this is not the case in my situation...as i sometimes will experience recurring vaginitis...and that although i don't have ANY of the classic symptoms of the virus...she is insistent it is obvious that my genital herpes presents itself as vaginitis...
in addition to that...i have (what i NOW believe) are sebaceous cysts...that she looked at and firmly declared as herpes and gave me a valtrex prescription for...the thing is...they never went away...three months later...they are still here...they don't itch...they don't anything...they're just there...(i will also be consulting with the gynecologist regarding them on wednesday)...
my questions...can recurring vaginitis (that always clears up after a metronidazole prescription) be a symptom of herpes?...also...can sebaceous cysts be confused with herpes lesions?
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 06, 2006 12:00AM
, Nov 06, 2006 12:00AM
There is a possibility your HSV-2 antibody test is falsely positive. All HSV-2 results with ELISA ratio 3.5 and higher are true positives. However, between 1.0 and 3.5, some are false positive, especially in people with positive results for HSV-1. Before you assume you have HSV-2, you need further testing. The definitive confirmatory test is a Western blot, which your provider or local lab can send to the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle. It's expensive, perhaps $150 or more--but perhaps you will agree that's a small price to pay to perhaps learn you don't have HSV-2.
That said, the absence of typical herpes symptoms doesn't mean much. Most people with postivie blood tests for HSV-2 have no recognized symptoms of herpes.
Despite your doctor's belief that your sebaceous cysts were herpes, you can be 100% confident she was wrong. Herpes lesions do not remain unchanged for 3 months, with or without Valtrex or other anti-herpetic drugs.
And no, recurring vaginal discharge that clears up on metronidazole is unlikely to be due to herpes. That symptom sounds more like bacterial vaginosis, not herpes. (Herpes sometimes mimicks yeast infection--but in that case, the primary symptom is a localized itch or burning pain, not vaginal discharge.)
Bottom line (no pun intended): Statistically, there is a 50:50 chance you have HSV-2, but if you do, you are asymptomatic from your herpes. At least have a repeat HSV-2 blood test, and preferably a Western blot.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
That said, the absence of typical herpes symptoms doesn't mean much. Most people with postivie blood tests for HSV-2 have no recognized symptoms of herpes.
Despite your doctor's belief that your sebaceous cysts were herpes, you can be 100% confident she was wrong. Herpes lesions do not remain unchanged for 3 months, with or without Valtrex or other anti-herpetic drugs.
And no, recurring vaginal discharge that clears up on metronidazole is unlikely to be due to herpes. That symptom sounds more like bacterial vaginosis, not herpes. (Herpes sometimes mimicks yeast infection--but in that case, the primary symptom is a localized itch or burning pain, not vaginal discharge.)
Bottom line (no pun intended): Statistically, there is a 50:50 chance you have HSV-2, but if you do, you are asymptomatic from your herpes. At least have a repeat HSV-2 blood test, and preferably a Western blot.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
12 years ago...i was diagnosed and treated for genital warts...i have not had any occurences since that time...is it possible that what i have self-diagnosed as sebaceous cysts could be an outbreak of warts?...the bumps have 'opened' and discharged a cheesy like substance...
would warts remain on the labia for that long with no treatment?...i'm thinking not...which is what is leading me to think i have cysts...especially since one of the bumps seems to have a little knot under the skin...
thanks again for your input...