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Trying to rule out genital HSV1.
Hi Dr,
I want to rule out genital HSV1 based upon symptoms alone. Can you help me?
Two days after shaving my bikini area, and visiting my boyfriend, I woke up with 3 eraser-head sized, water-filled blisters on my mons pubis (nothing internal, or on my vulva). No vaginal sex at this point. Can’t be sure oral sex had even occurred either (new boyfriend). I don’t think it did. The blisters rose above the surface of the skin, and they were taut, and not fragile at all. They looked/ behaved like the type you get on your heel from shoe friction. They were true blisters, not pustules and were strangely not painful until I popped them. They healed completely within 24-48 hours.
5 days later, I shaved again, visited my boyfriend, and developed even larger blisters the next morning. This time, they were preceeded by severe itching. One blister was so large it was the size of my thumb nail. I think that the day before, we had engaged in oral sex. Again, these lesions drained and healed completely within 2 days. I couldn't get in to see a doctor to get them cultured because they healed so rapidly. It’s been over a year later, and I’ve never had a recurrence.
In both cases, the blisters were NOT preceeded by any red bumps, or accompanied by flu-like symptoms, (fever, swollen glands, painful urination). There was also nothing internal (in the vulva/vaginal area). Other than the itching I experienced before their appearance I experienced virtually no pain at all.
Do these symptoms reflect a herpetic infection at all? My doctor suspected an allergic reaction from the indigo dye in my jeans (in both cases I had shaved, not worn underwear and worn the tight jeans). He thinks shaving created an entry point for the dye to seep into my skin, and because I’m a highly atopic individual with a history of sensitive skin, it was some allergic response. I haven’t had it since because my body apparently desensitized itself from repeat wearing of the jeans.
I want to rule out genital HSV1 based upon symptoms alone. Can you help me?
Two days after shaving my bikini area, and visiting my boyfriend, I woke up with 3 eraser-head sized, water-filled blisters on my mons pubis (nothing internal, or on my vulva). No vaginal sex at this point. Can’t be sure oral sex had even occurred either (new boyfriend). I don’t think it did. The blisters rose above the surface of the skin, and they were taut, and not fragile at all. They looked/ behaved like the type you get on your heel from shoe friction. They were true blisters, not pustules and were strangely not painful until I popped them. They healed completely within 24-48 hours.
5 days later, I shaved again, visited my boyfriend, and developed even larger blisters the next morning. This time, they were preceeded by severe itching. One blister was so large it was the size of my thumb nail. I think that the day before, we had engaged in oral sex. Again, these lesions drained and healed completely within 2 days. I couldn't get in to see a doctor to get them cultured because they healed so rapidly. It’s been over a year later, and I’ve never had a recurrence.
In both cases, the blisters were NOT preceeded by any red bumps, or accompanied by flu-like symptoms, (fever, swollen glands, painful urination). There was also nothing internal (in the vulva/vaginal area). Other than the itching I experienced before their appearance I experienced virtually no pain at all.
Do these symptoms reflect a herpetic infection at all? My doctor suspected an allergic reaction from the indigo dye in my jeans (in both cases I had shaved, not worn underwear and worn the tight jeans). He thinks shaving created an entry point for the dye to seep into my skin, and because I’m a highly atopic individual with a history of sensitive skin, it was some allergic response. I haven’t had it since because my body apparently desensitized itself from repeat wearing of the jeans.
Okay, got it! Thank you so much for your valuable input. I will put this behind me and will not worry further!
Also, to futher clarify, my doctor never actually SAW the lesions because they healed so rapidly (appeared on a saturday, were gone by monday). He made his diagnosis based upon my characterization of symptoms. Either way, the rapid healing time further points away from herpes, yes? I know deep down I don't have herpes, but reading these stories of people who never get a positive blood test makes me worry a little, so I try to focus on the symptoms to feel better.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm glad to have helped. I hope this settles it for you. From the start, there was no chance that problem was herpes. Even if your blood test had been positive for either virus type, my conclusion would have been asymptomatic herpes plus another cause of the lesions/outbreaks you described. Anyway, I hope this settles it for you.
Thanks Dr. Hunter,
I was actually a little sneaky in wanting you to weigh in on the issue without first informing you of my negative blood results ;) Because I'm a worrier by nature, I've had several negative Herpselect tests since this incident (which was 1.5 years ago). All tests, including a Western Blot performed by the U of W 7 months after the initial outbreak, were all negative for HSV1 and HSV2. To top it off, my boyfriend at the time (and only possible exposure) was also tested and was negative for both HSV1 and HSV2. I supposed I just worked myself up reading about people who have negative serology, yet still have the virus, so I wanted further confirmation that I don't have it by having you give your opinion based on my symptoms alone. Thank you!
I was actually a little sneaky in wanting you to weigh in on the issue without first informing you of my negative blood results ;) Because I'm a worrier by nature, I've had several negative Herpselect tests since this incident (which was 1.5 years ago). All tests, including a Western Blot performed by the U of W 7 months after the initial outbreak, were all negative for HSV1 and HSV2. To top it off, my boyfriend at the time (and only possible exposure) was also tested and was negative for both HSV1 and HSV2. I supposed I just worked myself up reading about people who have negative serology, yet still have the virus, so I wanted further confirmation that I don't have it by having you give your opinion based on my symptoms alone. Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
However, based on your symptoms, I agree with your doctor that this isn't herpes. As a matter of fact, before I got to the past paragraph, I was also thinking about an allergic reaction. In any case, herpes simply would never cause the kinds of large blister-like lesions described (I think you have what a dermatologist would call bullae -- singular bulla). Furhter, the timing -- onset of one batch of lesions after sex, and another batch after another sexual exposure -- is strongly against herpes. And bullae often are typical of allergic reactions, so that explanation fits with your atopic history.
For those reasons, responding to the opening question, I can assure you -- as did your doctor -- that herpes (either HSV-1 or 2) is not the cause of your symptoms. Of course I have no way of knowing whether you might have a separate, asymptomatic genital HSV infection. That would require a blood test. But unless you have other reasons to strongly suspect genital herpes, I see no need for it.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
However, based on your symptoms, I agree with your doctor that this isn't herpes. As a matter of fact, before I got to the past paragraph, I was also thinking about an allergic reaction. In any case, herpes simply would never cause the kinds of large blister-like lesions described (I think you have what a dermatologist would call bullae -- singular bulla). Furhter, the timing -- onset of one batch of lesions after sex, and another batch after another sexual exposure -- is strongly against herpes. And bullae often are typical of allergic reactions, so that explanation fits with your atopic history.
For those reasons, responding to the opening question, I can assure you -- as did your doctor -- that herpes (either HSV-1 or 2) is not the cause of your symptoms. Of course I have no way of knowing whether you might have a separate, asymptomatic genital HSV infection. That would require a blood test. But unless you have other reasons to strongly suspect genital herpes, I see no need for it.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
