Herpes or Vulvodynia?

About 3.5 years ago I got a new boyfriend. After we had sex, he told me that a few weeks prior to use getting together, he recieved unprotected oral sex from a female friend who he said was clean.

Well, soon after we had sex, I started to get all sorts of problems "down there". I have a history of yeast infections, but a few weeks after we had sex, I got a severe case of one. As well, I was diagnosed with PCOS (which I know is unrelated). But over the past 3 years, I've been getting what I can best describe as "irritations", in that my vagina area is very itchy. It used to be like that for a week at a time, but now it's subsided to maybe twice a month for a day or too.

Other than the rash that I got once from the severe yeast infection, I never noticed any visible "lesions". I get regular pap smears, and have been tested for all STD except herpes.

I don't think it is herpes, I just want some thought on this.I have a feeling that it could be vulvodynia, but no doctor can confirm this of course.  My doctor and dermatologist say that I just have sensitive skin, and sensitive nerve endings in my vaginal area.

I should also note that other than my boyfriends oral sex encounter, we've both only been with each other.

Could his oral sex episode be causing any of this? Or is it just a coincidence?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

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To your question:

I agree that the nonspecific symptoms you describe don't sound like herpes.  It sounds to me like your doctor and dermatologist are correct; I suggest you continue your care with them and follow their advice.  There is no reason to suspect your symptoms have anything to do with your BF's oral sex encounter a few weeks before you got together; I'm sure they do not.

Goode luck--  HHH, MD

[maryjane1975]

Thanks... even though we're both clear of STD's is there any kind of bacteria he could have gotten from here that he's passed to me?