Could I have Herpes???

[dumbandconfused]

Well,a few days ago I started to have some irritation in my vaginal area and I didn't think much about it, but now I its getting itchy and a little swollen, but I haven't noticed actual bumps or lesions, only a little irritated skin thats sort of wrinkly.  I have a little discharge thats very similar to clear snot, but it smells kind of funny.  I've been reading up on the internet and I've come to the conclusion that I need to see a doctor because the internet can't tell me for sure if I have a yeast infection or some sort of STD.  I've never had vaginal or anal sex, but 8 days ago I got drunk and gave a guy I didn't know a handjob and I also put my mouth on his penis. He didn't come in my mouth, though.  I'm just wondering if I could have gotten genetial herpes from him from putting the front half of his penis in my mouth.  I'm pretty sure he didn't have any open sores or anything like that. I don't even know if he has herpes at all, but I just don't know.  From what I understand from what I've read is that herpes is transmitted between tissues and that the virus embeds in the tissue from being massaged in, so it doesn't seem like I should have anything on my gentials if they didn't have contact with anything.  I don't know, I might be way off, I was just wondering how it works, and if I am at risk to have herpes. I would also like to know what I might have, if you can tell me, but I know it's probably impossible to tell over the internet.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You are correct about mechanisms of transmission--and therefore you cannot have genital herpes.  You cannot get herpes by hand to genital contact; and you cannot catch any genital infection by contact between your mouth and a persons's genital area.  STDs don't travel through the body that way.  To catch a genital STD, a person's infected site --usually his or her genital area, sometimes mouth--must have direct contact with the susceptible person's genital area.  For more information about herpes transmission, see the herpes article in the link "STD Quick Facts and Articles" on this forum's home page.  (It sounds like you may be naive about all STDs and their transmission.  I suggest you read all the articles in that link.)

As to what you might have, the "irritated skin" is most suggestive of a yeast infection--which as you may know is extremely common (all women get a vaginal yeast infection at least a few times). But as you already know, you need to see a health care provider and get it checked out.

Good luck--  HHH, MD