Should I be worried about herpes?

[bananahannah_207]

First guy I slept with was also a virgin and we were in a long term committed relationship. 7 months ago I rebounded and slept with a guy about 8 times. He always wore a condom. I recently reached out to him because I was stressed and he said he'd never had symptoms of herpes but he went and got tested (for herpes specifically) two weeks ago and told me he was negative. 6 months ago I was with another guy (I was in a bad place, I've learned a lot since then) and we never had sex but there was skin on skin contact without a condom. His private region rubbed against my pelvic/pubic area several times (not down there where my actual parts are but more of my bikini area). He's also never had symptoms and said he got tested regularly. Should I be very concerned? I've been tested and come back clean for everything else but they didn't test me for herpes. It's been several months. I shaved 4 days ago (my whole bikini area) and now I have red bumps. Most have hairs growing out of them and they aren't painful or itchy but they're stressing me out. I'm just concerned I guess and looking for reassurance.

[bananahannah_207]

As a follow up, I went into the quick care clinic and met with a doctor who has lots of experience. He said that it looked like an irritation and did not think it was herpes at all. He did swab it however. Now I'm freaking out. It still doesn't hurt or itch or anything but I'm so worried about my results and I have to wait a whole week. He told me not to worry but should I anyways?

[bananahannah_207]

I would never want to unintentionally pass it on. I will be going to the doctor tomorrow (today now I guess) to see what I should do. I guess I was just looking for reassurance because I feel so sick right now.

[candycrush69]

If you're really concerned do the test but be prepared for the outcome either way. Because most of your partners may have antibodies in their system and probably haven't an outbreak yet, and sense it's not transmitted through fluid i.e. semen. There is a risk every time you're with a new partner that you could get or already have it, and never know because you've never had an outbreak to your knowledge. Remember you're sleeping with everyone that your partner has slept with and you're relying on them to know that every partner that - that person has slept with hasn't had it. So either find out for sure and be more careful & selective when playing around or don't find out and potentially be like the unaware & inspecting & possibly pass it on to someone else because you never bothered to find out for sure.

[bananahannah_207]

I made another post, but tonight I noticed a small cut like thing under my clitoral hood on the right side. It doesn't hurt, itch, or sting (that I am aware of). It's about a centimeter wide and it looked like it was bleeding but it isn't. I'm freaking out and have no idea where it came from. I wore tight lace underwear today without cotton lining which may have rode up. I shaved down there within the last 5 days but I feel like I would have noticed if I had cut it with a razor. I had sex 4 days ago protected and not rough (with my original boyfriend who has only slept with me). I also recently took Metronidazole for BV which I hear can cause yeast infections (it doesn't seem to have helped though because I am still getting thick white discharge). I also check down there frequently for any issues because I'm paranoid. I plan on going to a doctor tomorrow but I really need some kind of advice tonight. I'm so wound up I can't sleep.

[HowardH]

This largely repeats the questions you had twice before. The answers are the same -- your symptoms are not typical for genital herpes. And given your sexual history, it would be very surprising for you to have herpes.

Shaving doesn't trigger herpes outbreaks. Almost certainly it's just minor folliculitis, i.e. hair follicle inflammation (and maybe a few ingrown hairs) from shaving.

You migth consider having an HSV blood test for both HSV1 and HSV2. But beware:  the tests are not perfect and can give misleading results. If you do it, insist on only the IgG antibody test and that IgM testing not be done. The HSV IgM antibody test is inherently unreliable and often misleading.

Good luck.