I have the symptoms of Genital Herpes but a negative swab test

[Eleanor 1970]

I am a female who's had 6 small, clustered red bumps and about 6 other non-clustered bumps in my pubic hair for about 4-5 weeks.  The bumps are not at all painful but they do itch.  They started off small and a pale peach/pink color but have grown a bit larger and redder over time. Some, but not all, of the bumps have a white head and produce a bit of white pus.  This morning after I got out of the shower I noticed they were "sweating" a bit.  I have no bumps on my labia minora and when I was visually examined by a doctor last week she said I have none inside my vagina or on my cervix.  My doctor said the bumps resembled herpes and I was given a swab test that came back negative.  I'm afraid that since I've had the bumps for a few weeks, the swab result may have been a false negative even though my doctor was able to extract some fluid from the bump.  When she opened it with a sterile scalpel, she said something about how she was expecting fluid to come out but that she didn't see any (just a bit of blood, I guess).  I am going back for a blood test next week but in the meantime I'd like your opinion.  Here are some other pieces of information: 1) the bumps seem to be spreading away from the original "site."  In the last 2-3 days, I have noticed a few non-clustered/scattered bumps on my inner thighs and in between the cheeks of my buttocks (though none on my anus).  I have also developed a few bumps in the hair on either side of my vaginal lips (labia majora, I guess?) but still none on the inner labia.  These newer bumps also itch quite a bit but are not at all painful.  2) The lymph nodes in my genital region are a bit tender to the touch (this is also a new symptom, not something I noticed when the first bumps appeared).  What are your thoughts?  If this is folliculitis, would it spread like this?  What if there is no hair coming out of the bump?  I keep thinking if this was herpes it would hurt, but I'm worried about the slight tenderness in my lymph nodes and about the spreading.

I had unprotected sex with someone about 4 months ago and have had protected sex with someone else since - I noticed no bumps or lesions on either but I wasn't really looking, either.  I used to tweeze, shave, and use a cream hair remover quite a bit in my pubic area but haven't done so since this showed up.  Thanks in advance for your help.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I don't think these are the symptoms of herpes at all.  Among many reasons, herpes lesions don't last 4-5 weeks.  I think you need to consult a doctor who knows what herpes looks like, and how to distinguish it from folliculitis, which is what I believe you have.  Meantime, please leave the lesions alone, so they'll be easier to diagnose.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[KristenP]

Hey i dont have enough money to pay 19 dollars but please answer my question!!!

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I answered Eleanor's question--the doctor who told her she probably had herpes was most likely incorrect.

Dr. Rockoff