Aa
hsv 2 or something else?
I had unprotected sex once in march 2012. I didn't think much about this until a few things started to occur.
3 weeks after I lost my voice. A few weeks later excoriation of perianal area. This has happened twice more over a period of 3 months and each time was a little worse. No visible lesions, sores or flu like symptoms, discharge normal. Just red and burning all over perianal area and half way up my labia, evenly spead over both sides and the last two times it hurt to pass urine.
Each time I could attribute my symptoms to something else but now I am beginning to wonder if it could be hsv 2 as I have never in my life ever had anything like this, not even thrush.
The first time it happened I thought it was because I was wearing panty liners constantly because of breakthrough bleeding. I had restarted the pill after a 12 month break and things had not yet settled down. The second time I had a mild cold with a cough which was causing a bit of stress incontinence which I thought caused the excoriation. The third time I had shaved my vaginal area, using soap and a day or so later it started again.
Each time I thought it looked like thrush, so I used canesten. Each time it appeared cleared up, sort of. The third time the cream stung and felt like it was burning my perianal area. The weird thing is, it felt like my normal discharge was burning me. If I used a tampon it helped.
Pap smear in April showed normal vaginal flora. It also seemed to go away when I got my period and back again after. I stopped taking the pill thinking that it may be the cause as I only went back on it because I could not stand the symptoms I was experiencing with menopause. Since then no more excoriation but a constant neualgic sensation on both sides of labia sensation.
Everything I look up says it could be hsv 2. I have hsv 1 but very rarely got a cold sore and have not had one in many years, so I know what they feel like before and after.
Could this be hsv 2? I am so very scared. So I go and get tested?
3 weeks after I lost my voice. A few weeks later excoriation of perianal area. This has happened twice more over a period of 3 months and each time was a little worse. No visible lesions, sores or flu like symptoms, discharge normal. Just red and burning all over perianal area and half way up my labia, evenly spead over both sides and the last two times it hurt to pass urine.
Each time I could attribute my symptoms to something else but now I am beginning to wonder if it could be hsv 2 as I have never in my life ever had anything like this, not even thrush.
The first time it happened I thought it was because I was wearing panty liners constantly because of breakthrough bleeding. I had restarted the pill after a 12 month break and things had not yet settled down. The second time I had a mild cold with a cough which was causing a bit of stress incontinence which I thought caused the excoriation. The third time I had shaved my vaginal area, using soap and a day or so later it started again.
Each time I thought it looked like thrush, so I used canesten. Each time it appeared cleared up, sort of. The third time the cream stung and felt like it was burning my perianal area. The weird thing is, it felt like my normal discharge was burning me. If I used a tampon it helped.
Pap smear in April showed normal vaginal flora. It also seemed to go away when I got my period and back again after. I stopped taking the pill thinking that it may be the cause as I only went back on it because I could not stand the symptoms I was experiencing with menopause. Since then no more excoriation but a constant neualgic sensation on both sides of labia sensation.
Everything I look up says it could be hsv 2. I have hsv 1 but very rarely got a cold sore and have not had one in many years, so I know what they feel like before and after.
Could this be hsv 2? I am so very scared. So I go and get tested?
if you've never had herpes igg blood testing, by all means seek it out to know your status. It's part of being sexually responsible. It doesn't cause all the symptoms you are having if you do test + but you should know your status in general.
for some reason some folks just insist that herpes is the cause of everything genitally :(
for some reason some folks just insist that herpes is the cause of everything genitally :(
Hi Grace,
I did as you suggested when I had the same symptoms and was tested. My swabs came back candida +++ externally and + high vaginal swab. I asked to have a sore looking patch swab. Negative swab for HSV 1 and 2. When I suggested that swabs were not always accurate, I was told, "you would be surprised how accurate these test are". The gyn was not keen to do further testing, however she suggested LS and was referred to another gyn for consult. He does not think it is LS but prescribe betnovate 0.1% and aqueous cream twice a day for 6 weeks and once a day for 6 weeks. I am due to see him 15 feb. This has helped at little and the odd labia sensations are less but still there.
They are hard to describe, but feel like hair is catching or like little needles and where this feeling occurs it looks red. Also pin prick sensations between buttocks. Last week I developed tiny pimple like things around buttocks, 3 from what I can see. Darker than skin colour and do not appear to have a head. No itching, they do not hurt and they just went away, no scabbing. Another symptom I have is bilateral pain in the
buttocks. I do have right sided sciatica due to IM injection years ago but never left sided.
The reason I am still concerned it that the 'doofus' I had sex with made a weird comment about herpes zoster. I know that herpes zoster is shingles but I don't think he does, although he should, he is a doctor. I just think he threw it out there because I wouldn't have sex with him again. So it is most certainly possible that he has HSV 2.
Should I push for Igg tests? From what I read on here it is probably not HSV 2 but reading other forums and other peoples symptoms does make me wonder. Although I am inclined to think some people have more than herpes going on.
Jenna
I did as you suggested when I had the same symptoms and was tested. My swabs came back candida +++ externally and + high vaginal swab. I asked to have a sore looking patch swab. Negative swab for HSV 1 and 2. When I suggested that swabs were not always accurate, I was told, "you would be surprised how accurate these test are". The gyn was not keen to do further testing, however she suggested LS and was referred to another gyn for consult. He does not think it is LS but prescribe betnovate 0.1% and aqueous cream twice a day for 6 weeks and once a day for 6 weeks. I am due to see him 15 feb. This has helped at little and the odd labia sensations are less but still there.
They are hard to describe, but feel like hair is catching or like little needles and where this feeling occurs it looks red. Also pin prick sensations between buttocks. Last week I developed tiny pimple like things around buttocks, 3 from what I can see. Darker than skin colour and do not appear to have a head. No itching, they do not hurt and they just went away, no scabbing. Another symptom I have is bilateral pain in the
buttocks. I do have right sided sciatica due to IM injection years ago but never left sided.
The reason I am still concerned it that the 'doofus' I had sex with made a weird comment about herpes zoster. I know that herpes zoster is shingles but I don't think he does, although he should, he is a doctor. I just think he threw it out there because I wouldn't have sex with him again. So it is most certainly possible that he has HSV 2.
Should I push for Igg tests? From what I read on here it is probably not HSV 2 but reading other forums and other peoples symptoms does make me wonder. Although I am inclined to think some people have more than herpes going on.
Jenna
topical estrogen is different than taking the birth control pill. taking the pill doesn't replenish estrogen stores to the skin in the genital area.
Thank you so much for your advice and opinion, much appreciated. As for taking oestrogen, I did get consult gyn and because I have endometriosis, using just oestrogen is not an option for me, that's why I went back on combined pill. Gyn was not happy as I am a hight risk of dvt etc and has refused to give me a script. I understood the risks when I asked gp for it but I think I will just suck it up and see how I go unless you have any advice on this for me.
Thanks again :)
Thanks again :)
genital herpes wouldn't reoccur so extensively.
at this point, the next time you have symptoms ( should you get them ), be seen while you have them for testing for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally. from your description of things, contact dermatitis or a fungal infection are the most likely causes of your symptoms though there can be other causes.
if you are starting to experience changes from menopause, another thing that can occur is a decrease in estrogen to the genital skin. it makes the skin thin out , be more sensitive and more prone to infections. typically your gyn can tell by examining you if this is the case and topical estrogen is often helpful.
grace
at this point, the next time you have symptoms ( should you get them ), be seen while you have them for testing for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally. from your description of things, contact dermatitis or a fungal infection are the most likely causes of your symptoms though there can be other causes.
if you are starting to experience changes from menopause, another thing that can occur is a decrease in estrogen to the genital skin. it makes the skin thin out , be more sensitive and more prone to infections. typically your gyn can tell by examining you if this is the case and topical estrogen is often helpful.
grace
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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.
