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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
Genital warts? Herpes?
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.
Genital warts? Herpes?
by W, Feb 21, 2004 12:00AM
I have been in a monogomous relationship for over two years. My boyfriend is the only guy I've ever slept with. Sex has been painful (but not excrutiating) for most of my relationship. Without having another frame of reference, I foolishly believed that this was normal. (Unfortunaly, so did my boyfriend although he has had several partners.) It's usually the most painful in the beginning when he is working his way inside of me. Some days it's a little more painful and somedays it's a little less but it's pretty constant. I can remember very times days when it didn't hurt at all.
Recently I asked my boyfriend to look down there and see if he could find anything that might be causing me pain. He found flesh-colored lumps of various different sizes clustered together in the opening of my vagina that were painful to the touch. I have no idea how long they've been there but I would not be surprised if it were quite some time. I thought that it might be genital warts or herpes so I went to the clinic to get tested. The doctor inspected both me and my boyfriend. She said that she was not sure what the lumps inside of me were but my boyfriend had genital warts. (He had a small wart on the shaft of his penis)
She told me that the fleshy lumps didn't look like typical herpes or genital warts but she checked me for herpes anyway because she wasn't sure. (She also checked me for syphalis) I haven't gotten the results back yet but I have been closely monitoring the infection for a little over a week and the fleshy bumps have not seemed to change noticably in appearance or size. There is no redness and I have no other symptoms.
1) Do you think this sounds more typical of warts or herpes?
2) Could they be anything else besides genital warts or herpes? (When my boyfriend and I first started dating he got tested for the five major STD's - AIDS, gonorrea, syphalis, chlamydia, and Hep B - and was negative)
3) I noticed that some people who were diagnosed with genital warts had biopsies taken. Should my doctor have taken one?
4) If I do have genital warts, which type of treatment would you reccomend. (The doctor prescribed my boyfriend Condylox.)
5) If the test for herpes comes back negative, what do you suggest I do next.
Thank you for your time.
Deeply Concerned and Impatient
Recently I asked my boyfriend to look down there and see if he could find anything that might be causing me pain. He found flesh-colored lumps of various different sizes clustered together in the opening of my vagina that were painful to the touch. I have no idea how long they've been there but I would not be surprised if it were quite some time. I thought that it might be genital warts or herpes so I went to the clinic to get tested. The doctor inspected both me and my boyfriend. She said that she was not sure what the lumps inside of me were but my boyfriend had genital warts. (He had a small wart on the shaft of his penis)
She told me that the fleshy lumps didn't look like typical herpes or genital warts but she checked me for herpes anyway because she wasn't sure. (She also checked me for syphalis) I haven't gotten the results back yet but I have been closely monitoring the infection for a little over a week and the fleshy bumps have not seemed to change noticably in appearance or size. There is no redness and I have no other symptoms.
1) Do you think this sounds more typical of warts or herpes?
2) Could they be anything else besides genital warts or herpes? (When my boyfriend and I first started dating he got tested for the five major STD's - AIDS, gonorrea, syphalis, chlamydia, and Hep B - and was negative)
3) I noticed that some people who were diagnosed with genital warts had biopsies taken. Should my doctor have taken one?
4) If I do have genital warts, which type of treatment would you reccomend. (The doctor prescribed my boyfriend Condylox.)
5) If the test for herpes comes back negative, what do you suggest I do next.
Thank you for your time.
Deeply Concerned and Impatient
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, Feb 22, 2004 12:00AM
, Feb 22, 2004 12:00AM
Your lumps do not sound anything like either genital warts or herpes. Even if they were, this would not explain your pain on intercourse.
Once the tests for herpes are back and negative--as they surely will be--your doctor may indeed consider a biopsy to see what they are. But whatever they turn out to be, you should consider consulting a gynecologist or urologist who specializes in sexual dysfunction, unless the biopsy makes clear that the lumps are indeed the cause of the discomfort you feel during intercourse.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Once the tests for herpes are back and negative--as they surely will be--your doctor may indeed consider a biopsy to see what they are. But whatever they turn out to be, you should consider consulting a gynecologist or urologist who specializes in sexual dysfunction, unless the biopsy makes clear that the lumps are indeed the cause of the discomfort you feel during intercourse.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
