A few questions about herpes

Hi Doctor,

I really appreciate what you do.  Thanks for putting up with hypochondriacs (me included, sometimes).

My sexual history: one partner - many "encounters" when we were both virgins, and one protected encounter after he had been with 2 other partners.

A couple (or three) questions.

1.  What could be a non-STD cause of a blister on the labia minora? (I got one blister on the inside of my right labia minora about 2.5 years ago - 5 months after I had had any sexual contact with someone.  We were both virgins and I have since been tested and came up negative for about every STD that can be tested for, including herpes.  Hasn't happened again over the past few years.  I didn't think much of it at the time because neither of us had been with anyone else, but I've always wondered in the back of my mind.)

2.  Do herpes, when they occur, primarily manifest on the labia minora and majora?  Specifically, how likely would it be to get herpes in the pubic hair region and NOT in the more likely, moist areas? (My concern here is that my partner was shedding in areas not covered by the condom and touched my broken skin from shaving earlier that day. I know it's unlikely, but I've read many of your posts and haven't found one specifically catered to my situation, so I just thought I'd throw it out there.)

3. On nearly every site I read about herpes, it says that herpes can be mistaken for bug bites, ingrown hairs, etc.  How on earth does that happen?  I would think it would be a lot easier to tell.  From the websites' points of view, it seems like people should be skeptical of each and every miniscule "happening" down there - and if you're in doubt you should diagnose yourself with herpes!

Thank you for all that you do!  Your answers to these questions will enlighten me and any of my other friends who may have the same curiosities.  My roommate/best friend was recently diagnosed with herpes, and it got me wondering a lot about the virus.

[waringblender]

We're not the doctors at this forum. You have to pay your 20$ or whatever it is to have the doctors answer your questions on the expert forum. We're just the toothless yokels on this forum.

If you were a virgin when you got blisters, why are you concerned about herpes? Were you a Lewinsky virgin? Meaning you gave BJs and let people go down on you?

Herpes symptoms are highly variable, which is why they are mistaken for other conditions.

[summertime222]

Haha no I wasn't a Lewinsky virgin - that was the first penis I'd ever met!  We were both in high school and I know he'd never been with anyone either.  I was trying to post in the expert forum, but since I just joined I haven't learned the ropes yet.  Thanks for the "toothless yokel" response, though!

[gracefromHHP]

The first penis I"d ever met....lol  

grace