Genital Rash

[SamH23207]

I have what I can only assume to be a rash extending from my left buttock cheek, up the left side of my labia, and partially on my clitoris, it began with the labia being very swollen red and painful, after the pain was mostly gone, I developed small round bumps that were filled with a clear liquid, after they burst they turn into a painful scab. I am not sure if this is an symptom of a type of yeast infection or not. I hope someone can help, it is keeping me from sleeping.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination but it can be genital herpes. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Most individuals have no or only minimal signs or symptoms from HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection. When signs do occur, they typically appear as one or more blisters on or around the genitals or rectum. The blisters break, leaving tender ulcers (sores) that may take two to four weeks to heal the first time they occur. Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first outbreak.

The only way of ruling it out is by getting yourself tested for genital herpes. Laboratory tests include: culture of the virus, direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) studies to detect virus, skin biopsy, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to test for presence of viral DNA. I sincerely advise you to consult a dermatologist and get it ruled out.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.