Vaginal Infection

[jilby]

In April I had inprotected sex with my ex boyfriend a week later I noticed a distinct onion smell in my discharge.  Something I had never had before and therefore I thought it had something to do with my diet.  I then engaged in more intercourse whereby the infection? got worse and it felt like I had contracted a really bad case of thrush however the smell changed to a fishy smell.  Although I took oral medication(Difflucan) and used Canestan this did not clear up.  I eventually went to the doctor and had all STD tests including a swab of my vagina opening which resembled a paper cut.  All test were negative.  The doctor prescribed Flagyn which after taking the four tablets showed a vast improvement in my discomfort and after 5 days the symptoms had cleared.  For two months I had no syptoms or problems however I had refrained from any sexual intercourse.

In June I engaged in intercourse again and this seems to have started the ball rolling.  First with the smell (fishy) and then discharge and more recently a lesion at the bottom opening of my vagina.  I initially treated the smell with natural treatments such a yogurt and hydrogen peroxide and cider vinegar douche which seemed to help the ordour.  Shortly after doing the cider vinegar douche I noticed that I had the sensation of blisters near the opening of my vagina.  The discharge was also thin, white watery in consistency.  I went back to the doctor after 6 days of this flaring up and had all the test including all STD's done again.  All negative.  The doctor's examination of the lesions proposed that it was Genital Herpes although a major swab(which hurt like hell) was done and Valtrex was prescribed.  This test also came back negative.  I took most of the course of Valtrex however after a week started developing a rash on my chest and face which looked like small blisters with yellow heads.  I then went back to the doctor who advised that I had an allergic reaction and to refrain from completing the course.

I am now at my wits end.  I have just been to the gynie who did an internal and advised that my vagina looks inflamed and the discharge resembles thrush and as far as he is concerned it looks ok however I still feel itchy and uncomfortable.  I mentioned the Genital Herpes and showed him the results of the test carried out and he has now taken samples to check whether it is a bacteria present that has not been detected.  He has also advised that I undertake a blood test for the Genital Herpes virus.   My main concern also lies with the fact that my ex boyfriend had numerous amounts of the drug Famvir in his closet. When I confronted him about this he advised it was not for genital herpes but a skin condition.  I am reluctant to believe that diagnosis and wonder if he could be carrying the virus.

Anyway at 36 this is very distressing and as I have not had children as really concerned that this could impact on my fertiillty.  Please let me know your thoughts.  Considering the issues leading up to the lesions could something else beside Genital Herpes be present?

Please help

[auntiejessi]

Oh forgot to add -

Famvir is an antiviral used for herpes, chicken pox and shingles.  All of those are skin conditions, but that's really misleading.

[auntiejessi]

Hi there -

It sounds as if you have recurrent bacterial vaginitis (believe me, I sympathize).  This could be happening because of herpes outbreaks, or just because.  Some women are just more prone to it.

I'd suggest getting a type specific IgG herpes blood test.  Cultures often give false negatives, so a blood test will help figure things out.  We have a great herpes forum here that you should check out for more info, but I can tell you that if you do have herpes, your life is not over, you can still have kids, etc.

But get tested first.  You need to know what is going on.  Ask your doctor to test you for bacterial vaginitis (which is what you had when you took flagyl), group b strep, etc.  Ask for an endocervical culture to see what, if any, bacteria grows.  This won't show if you have herpes, but that's why you'd take the blood test.

Good luck!