Anal tear or herpes

[lovehappily]

I had what seems to be a tiny cut right above the ring of my anus.  It didn't hurt at all. It's possible that it's from shaving and I knicked it and end up finding it later when it's most often in a healing stage and notice that it's a healing cut. This happened twice. The first time it was accompanied with bleeding a few days before. I was wiping to hard in that area and in the shower noticed a shallow cut there, a few days later. And in a day or two it was gone and healed without complication. Once I discover it, which is usually when I'm checking my anogenital area its usually gone the following day or two. If I weren't checking I could honestly say I wouldn't notice it at all. The second time I noticed this little cut was after sex where my boyfriend was playing with my anus while we had sex. The location of the cut is in a small dip/depression right above the anus, directly above it. It's not a sacral dimple mind you. Not sure if I would've noticed if I weren't looking for it. Could this be recurrent genital herpes in my anus? I never have anal sex. it can show up anywhere in the boxer short region. The cut when I look at it with a mirror is a tiny knick, solid white from the flesh showing, never bleeds and never causes any discomfort when passing stools. I know it's unsanitary but sometimes I can dip my nail into the little cut and it's still painless. It's not in my anus but right above it, where it's still anal tissue. It's not the painful fissures that are located right in the anus that hurt and bleed and cause discomfort when passing bowels because I know how those feel and that's more on the rim of my anus. This isn't. Does this sound like genital herpes of the anus? I've never had genital symptoms. Is it fair to assume if it indeed were herpes I would also experience a genital outbreak in addition to an anal one? Does this sound like anal herpes? If not, what's the common description of anal herpes that you tend to see?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  EWH

[lovehappily]

Thanks. You rock! <3

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No it is not.  EWH

[lovehappily]

But it's not suggestive of herpes is it?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The bump you describe sounds largely like folliculitis however you should have your doctor take a look.  For me to try to make a diagnosis without examining you is noot in your best interest.  EWH

[lovehappily]

One final question! I use to get chronic yeast infections and it seems with every yeast infection or when I sweat too much I get this bump on right side of my vagina near the groin area and where hair grows. In the exact same spot each time I have a yeast infection. It's very tiny and heals when the yeast infection clears. It's a small as a needle's head and sensitive maybe because the area is aggravated. I've had it for years and never suspected herpes. I also tend to get yeast infections when I'm this stressed about genital herpes and keep poking and prodding my vagina, so this tiny bump appears and stresses me out further even though I've had it for years and still have tested negative for genital herpes all these years. But now I'm not sure what this is and it scares me. Could a yeast infection cause a recurrent bump and why does it only show up in the same place when I have a yeast infection or sweat too much? The same exact place.  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I'm glad I could help.  EWH

[lovehappily]

Thank you Doctor. I love this service.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

When persons with HSV-1 acuire HSV-2, while symptoms may be milder than for persons who have never had HSV of any sort, they still are usually typical in appearance, presenting as groups of small blisters which go on to break open an form shallow ulcers.  Anal outbreaks, other than location, do not differ markedly in appearance.  EWH

[lovehappily]

Dr.Hook thank you for your timely response. I do admit I have some hypervigilance going on when genital herpes is concerned.

In your clinical experience what do anal outbreaks in the anal region typically look like?

I'm very concerned with the atypical presentation of the hsv 2 virus especially since I already carry the oral strain. I'm afraid I would miss a subsequent infection with type 2 since in me it would be mild.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum. In preparing to answer your question I reviewed you earlier posts on the community site, as well as your correspondence with Dr. Handsfield  a year ago.  It seems that you are both well informed about and  quite concerned about herpes. This can be good news and bad.  As I suspect, in general persons are not attentive enough to the possibility of genital symptoms and as a result can miss the sometime subtle signs of HSV.  On the other hand, too much of a good thing is a problem and being overly vigilant can cause a person to worry too much about normal fissures and minor sores.  

The lesions you describe does not sound at all like an initial HSV lesion and I see no reason for you to be worried about genital herpes from this and your prior posts.  I also agree that since you do not practice anal sex, if you were to get HSV any initial HSV outbreak you might experience would be far, far more likely to be genital in location rather than to occur in your anal crease, an area where the skin is rather thin and susceptible to irritation and sometimes breakdown which might mimic HSV lesions.

My advice is not to worry further about this. I see no need for concern and no need for testing

I hope that these comments are helpful to you.  EWH