Terrfied about Herpes

[worriedgirl]

Hello,

Had sex over a year ago in May. Went to gyn back then and had an abnormal pap smear. Went back yesterday to gyn to retest pap and for hpv. She found no genital warts but still waiting to hear back on hpv.

Over the past year I have been experiencing ping pong tingling sensations every day. No lesions except one red hard bump a year ago about 3 months after sex in August. The sensations go from the right to the left a couple of times per day. I also noticed yesterday a pimple like bump on my upper left pubic bone. I popped it and pus came out but now there is a dark bump. I have been working out at the gym alot in the past month and taking cycling classes. Can you get herpes from cycling seats?

Please tell me if this sounds like herpes? Have you ever heard of women having these kind of symptoms and it is herpes?

Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

This does not sound like herpes.  A pimple wiht pus sounds like a blocked follicle--if you pop these, they leave a mark that lasts a long time.  As to the sensations, they are most likely from anxiety.  I advise you to ask your gynecologist specifically whether she suspects herpes and to consider ordering a herpes blood test, just for peace of mind (yours).

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[worriedgirl]

AM TOTALLY FREAKING OUT. sO UPSET.

Just wanted to clarify,

I had sex May 15th 2003, abnormal pap June 12th 2003, and then I had a colposcopy done although they didn't test for HPV. The results came back benign. The red bump appeared in August and went away in about 2-3 weeks. No scaling or pain or anything. I am waiting for the HPV results since I just went back to gyn. The tingling sensations were constant and all the time back in August and have since become less and less. I am now only up to 1-2 tingling sensations in various parts of my vagina a day. It used to be like 10 or 12 a day. I have never had any problems or pain or fever or any symptoms thus far except this tingling and itchiness.

I am just so depressed right now thinking I might have herpes.

[CRAZY BRAIN]

Please do not be so scared of Herpes. So many people have it by the time they hit 30 it is common. It won't kill you, it hurts but it is not life threatening. It is a minor skin condition no more no less. It is treatable, but not curable, just like alcoholism, just like Exzema (eczema) etc. I do know what you mean about worrying about this, I too went through that. Anxiety can be controlled, just alow yourself say 5 mintues a day at a certain time to worry then you can worry, but then stop it after that. Put this in perspective, it is NOT CANCER, It is very common, the outbreaks average a week 4-6 times per year, and you can live your life just fine with it. My advise to all of you DO NOT READ THE INTERNET for info on STD's remember most of these sites focus on PREVENTION!