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Irritated clitoris
Diagnosed with two bacterial infections since December. Last culture done 3 weeks ago came back negative but still have "twitching" going on down there and clitoris is still irritated. Not constant but still annoying. I am still concerned this could be herpes. Was exposed ( one time) to asymptomatic partner. 3 blood tests, all negative and other STD tests negative. Just do not understand why things are not back to normal down there. Can herpes affect the clitoris? No sores ever broke out, just irritation. Anyone know what this could be?
don't worry... no cause for herpes. u must have a pH imbalance. consult a doc and see if they can tell you. try some of those pH balance wipes.
No reason to think you have herpes at this point or ever. We recommend testing at 3 months post exposure for near complete accuracy with HSV blood tests.
Thank you for the response. I am paranoid about having herpes. I swear I feel tingling in my vaginal and anal area. Maybe it's my imagination. So you think just a one time encounter with an asymptomatic partner chances are low? I will have another herpes test at 14 weeks to be sure. The irritation on clitoris could still be from the bacteria? I am on remicade for UC which is an immune suppressant drug, that could be affecting my healing?
you already paid to ask this of Terri Warren, our herpes expert. Follow up on her advice as far as additional herpes testing. She suggested 16 weeks, not 14. if you are going to bother with a 4th test, might as well wait the extra 2 weeks.
if you have UC, it is known to cause all sorts of issues in the genital area too. It would've been helpful for Terri to have known that info in your post to her too! Indeed being on remicaide can delay healing too.
grace
if you have UC, it is known to cause all sorts of issues in the genital area too. It would've been helpful for Terri to have known that info in your post to her too! Indeed being on remicaide can delay healing too.
grace
Thank you Grace. I am not trying to be a nuisance but I am so confused over these symptoms not going away. From everything I read it is not typical for herpes symptoms to last as long as what I have been experiencing but they just do not seem to go away permanently. My UC is not flaring right now but I do have hemmeroids and weird tingling in the anal and vaginal area which worries me. I just keep trying to analyze this and cannot figure it out. As I said the doctor has me using estrogen cream topically but I still after 3 weeks have irritation on clitoris and the tingling. Not sure if typical after 2 bacterial infections to take this long for all these feelings to still be present or as I said due to the remicade making it harder to fight off completely or could this still be herpes. I have myself sick over this whole situation.
even if your UC isn't flaring up, doesn't mean you won't still have some genital issues going on. are you sticking to your diet for the most part too?
it can take up to 3 months easily until topical estrogen cream makes a real difference. it's not something that works in a few days. You can also use a barrier cream like desitin, zinc oxide, aquaphor , burt's bees diaper cream etc in between using the estrogen to help protect your irritated skin as well as soothe it.
I'd keep being seen every month or two for your symptoms. that way they can retest you for bv to make sure that isn't still an issue as well as keep an eye on things.
it can take up to 3 months easily until topical estrogen cream makes a real difference. it's not something that works in a few days. You can also use a barrier cream like desitin, zinc oxide, aquaphor , burt's bees diaper cream etc in between using the estrogen to help protect your irritated skin as well as soothe it.
I'd keep being seen every month or two for your symptoms. that way they can retest you for bv to make sure that isn't still an issue as well as keep an eye on things.
Thanks again Grace. I keep pretty much the same diet all the time. I am a avid exerciser. I do believe it could be the hemorroids causing some of the discomfort and tingling but I still get concerned what I am feeling are symptoms of herpes. No sores have appeared anywhere yet where I feel the tingling but I do have a slight "pinker" area at my vaginal entrance that is a bit tender. I will put some aquaphor in it to see if that helps. I have also been using peroxide and water douche and Rephresh gel to help in case there is still bacteria. That along with probiotics to help the good bacteria. I appreciate your insight and I guess at this point there is nothing I can do but wait out the next blood test for herpes.
oh stop with the douching!! that isn't a good idea to do regularly. peroxide is non-chlorine bleach so using it regularly can cause irritation, even when diluting it with water. I'd even stop with the refresh at this point in case it's adding to your discomfort too. when I've used that, it's given me some pain in my lower abdomen. usually I recommend a probiotic for vaginitis issues but I'd check with your gi doc first to make sure they are ok with with using fem dophilus by jarrow. sometimes they are really picky about which probiotics you use because you can actually get overgrowth of bacteria . You might want to ask about taking oral flagyl twice a week for a few weeks for bv prevention if it keeps coming back.
I have an appointment this week at my gyno for my yearly check up. I was going to ask them to do another culture for bacteria but since the last one was negative 4 weeks ago I am not sure if they will. Not sure why I still have the pink tender area at the vaginal entrance? Could that be a sign of herpes? With no sores? As I said, this has been the same for about 10 weeks which per everything I've read is not typical of herpes. This is so perplexing. Thank you for all your help
vulvar vestibulitis is a condition that you might want to read about. It's a fancy name for irritation and pain in that area. At this point you need to figure out what is causing the pain. definitely stop everything that could be irritating your skin down yonder in general and give it time to heal.
Hi Grace, I thank you for all your help. This Friday I was diagnosed with my 3rd bacterial infection. Here is my question. They put me on Cleocin, 3 nights if suppositories. Today my vaginal area is more red and irritated then it was before I started the medication. I see red streaks. Last night I had some slight pain in my upper leg, could this be a herpes outbreak? 3 months since exposure now and never any sores, just the irritation and burning. Not sure if this is reaction to medication or possible herpes outbreak? Thank you for your help
Grace, thank you for getting back. You mentioned once that you get BV. What do you use to get rid of? I am at my wits end with discomfort down there. Cannot wait for last herpes test to confirm that has nothing to do with this but I need to feel normal again. You have been a lifesaver...
I ended up treating it with oral and vaginal flagyl at the same time and went on fem dophilus by jarrow for months. I also had to use topical estrogen cream to restore the skin.
Thank you , I will keep this in mind. I do not think it is gone yet. Still does feel right down there and the Clocin is supposed to be stronger. I do take acidophilus supplements every day, eat yogurt, etc.... I am doing all the right things. How long did it take you to get rid of it?
the one day cleocin vaginally is just more convenient. it actually isn't statistically better than metrogel is.
acidophilus and yogurt don't colonize the urogenital track in females. all that does is make your bowel flora healthier.
I had bv almost non-stop for 4 years :( it was a total nightmare and caused me more trouble than my herpes ever could.
acidophilus and yogurt don't colonize the urogenital track in females. all that does is make your bowel flora healthier.
I had bv almost non-stop for 4 years :( it was a total nightmare and caused me more trouble than my herpes ever could.
Wow, 4 years? I feel so sorry for you, this is 3 months and I feel like I am ready to go insane. It's hard when you need a doctor to prescribe you the right thing. My BV does not have an odor, I just have discharge and irritation and whatever you want to call it that is bothering my clitoris. I can't wear regular jeans and just stretch or workout pants, jeans are to bothersome down there. Do you feel home remedies are the answer or to just keep trying to let the doctor get it right?
Grace, one other question. I mentioned to my doctor that I have been taking Epsom salt baths every night for 15-20 minutes to soothe the area and they said I should not take baths that will make it worse. ( for BV) . Is this true? I value all your advice. Thank you
if you can find a vulvodynia specialist in your area, consulting one might be helpful.
the epsom salt baths won't make bv worse.
the epsom salt baths won't make bv worse.
I just want to say what a wonderful person you are to help people with your knowledge and advice. This forum has helped me tremendously. I read a post on this site last night about someone who has herpes that just had constant burning down there. I know you said that is not common for herpes. That is similar to what I experience. It is either a burning feeling near the vaginal entrance and that area is slightly " pinker" then the other labia or my clitoris is "itchy" irritated. Are these common symptoms for BV? Now I worry I could have both. It seems like it is either or, never a day that some part doesn't feel right. I wonder why when I read about BV everyone says their discharge has an odor, mine does not. I did question the doctor and they confirmed the bacteria I am testing positive for is Gardenerella.
50% of people who have bv, don't get odor or discharge to know that they have it.
herpes doesn't cause constant burning nor does it cause constant irritation and redness. just a matter of finding out what else is going on down yonder ( as if herpes wasn't enough! ).
herpes doesn't cause constant burning nor does it cause constant irritation and redness. just a matter of finding out what else is going on down yonder ( as if herpes wasn't enough! ).
Still praying with all my might that this is not herpes. I am going to ask my doctor about the oral and vaginal Flagyl and taking Fem dophilis. Hoping she is willing to try. I have an appointment with a vaginal specialist but they can't get me in until the end of May. Thank you again for everything , this forum is addicting.
Hi Grace, I know you are enjoying your kids now, so gals for you. It is now 10 days since I took the last antibiotic for the bacteria infection. I started taking Ultimate Flora " supplement son Sunday. I still have a tender pink area at vaginal entrance. Is this normal? The burning is better, not completely gone and still have some tingling and twitching now and again. Clitoris is better, not 100%. I just need to know if BV symptoms continue this long after finishing meds or could this still possibly be herpes? Down to a little over a week for next herpes test. I am a nervous wreck.... Or maybe BV not gone? Thank you so much
Hi Grace, I know you are enjoying your kids now, so gals for you. It is now 10 days since I took the last antibiotic for the bacteria infection. I started taking Ultimate Flora " supplement son Sunday. I still have a tender pink area at vaginal entrance. Is this normal? The burning is better, not completely gone and still have some tingling and twitching now and again. Clitoris is better, not 100%. I just need to know if BV symptoms continue this long after finishing meds or could this still possibly be herpes? Down to a little over a week for next herpes test. I am a nervous wreck.... Or maybe BV not gone? Thank you so much
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
