2 negative blood test, 1 positive culture

[socal447]

I am a female. About 2 years ago I was having what I thought was a UTI infection. I went to the doctor and they told me that the infection looked like herpes and that blood tests and cultures were unecessary because they were "sure" of it. (obviously not a very good doctor). Suspicious about these results I went for a second opinion a few months later and the new doctor gave me a blood test. I tested negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2. They told me that the virus may take time to set in so to be sure I should come back in 3 months and re-test. My boyfriend also went for a test and tested negative for both types (we had been monogomous for about 6 months at this point). After the 3 month period I went for another test and tested negative again for both HSV 1 and HSV 2. I assumed the entire thing was over and neither of us had either HSV 1 or HSV 2. Fast forward 2 years and I was having similar symptoms which I again attributed to a UTI. I went to my doctor with pain, swelling, painful and frequent urination, and some small torn skin at the opening of my vagina. Again the doctor suggested herpes and I explained to him the entire story. (I am still monogomous with the same sexual partner). He did a urinalysis to test for UTI as well as a few cultures of the inside of my vagina. The urinalysis came back as saying that I in fact had a UTI and was given antibiotics for this. A few days later the doctor said that my culture came back positive for HSV-1.  This makes no sense to me. He says the cultures are more accurate than the blood test. How is this possible?

[sincethen]

I know, and I am SO puzzled as to what's going on with me, I mean my vulva is also irritated at the same time with these patches....where would the blisters appear? only on the labia major and minor? Or in the pubic hair too? The pink patches also show up in my pubic hair just below my underwear line. So you don't think I could should get the western blot? You didn't really answer my questions.

I know I keep checking on this to make sure, but again I've had this pain and these coming and going pink patches for at least 6 months now and it's affecting me in a way that I just can't get myself to start a relationship with a man because it's painful and I don't know if it's contagious, I'm just trying not to be uninformed because I couldn't stand giving anything to anyone because I was did find out what was wrong. I've been to 2 general practitioner doctors and a gynecologist and on Tuesday I'm going to see a dermatologist. I'm so upset that no one can fix my pain or even diagnosis me, it's extremely frustrating.

[gracefromHHP]

pink patches in the bikini line aren't likely to be herpes reoccuring.  that would be an unusual place for recurrences.

grace

[sincethen]

Hi Grace, I've had similar issues to socal447, like irritation, and fequent urination, but only I have pink patches around my bikini line that are irritating and itch every once in a while along with the vaginal pain. I've been tested soo many times for hsv1 and hsv2 with the herpeselect test and all were negative. Do you think my doctor could culture the pink patches? Also, if I couldn't get a culture, do you think the Western Blot test would catch this even if the herpeselect did not? I'm really egar to find out what is going on with me since I've been in a lot of pain down there and just want some meds now!

[gracefromHHP]

Unfortunately even the best blood tests we have available at this point still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections.  No reason to doubt your lesion culture and typing.

grace