Initial herpes outbreak?

[anxious2extreme]

About 5 weeks ago I had an unprotected sexual encounter. Yesterday I started to notice some itching in the vaginal area...not actually inside it, but rather on the skin around it. Low down, almost toward my butt cheeks. It was itchy on and off and felt raw when I did scratch it. This morning the itch was still there but not as bad and it didn't feel irritated when I showered and washed. It hasn't been persistently itchy today but feels a little irritated when the area comes in contact with my underwear. I tried checking it out in a mirror and the area does look red and there are definitely small red bumps on both sides. Again this is the outer skin of the vaginal area, not inside the lips or directly on the labia. It is more down towards my butt. The bumps hurt/feel irritated to the touch. Also, last week I had body aches (a little in my legs but mostly in my arms and shoulders), a terrible headache that lasted two days, and canker sores that lasted a week. My question is, does this sound anything like a possible herpes outbreak? If I hadn't had the unprotected sex last month I would assume it was razor burn irritation and probably take no notice of it. I will also note that I did shave the area on Saturday evening and then proceeded to go out without underwear because I was wearing white pants. Sunday I also went commando because of a white skirt. Do you think it could be a reaction to an irritant I came in contact with this way? I know it is too soon for a blood test to be reliable - do you think I should go and have the bumps cultured or just wait another 2 months? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[gracefromHHP]

Honestly it's not all about herpes believe it or not!!!  

You should go to your doctor and get tested for the whole shebang.  You need a wet mount done to check for yeast and bacterial infections.  A visual exam is also helpful to see if this looks like irritation, infection or something else.  Do not shave again until everything has cleared up.  

If your doctor thinks it looks like herpes - you want a lesion culture and typing done of the active symptoms - not wait until enough time has passed for the blood test.

grace

[anxious2extreme]

Thank you Grace for your prompt response. I understand that a lesion culture could give me some answers if this is a herpes outbreak, but I don't know if the bumps that I have can be considered lesions. They don't appear to be open or blistered, they look more like razor burn bumps or small pimples. Could these be cultured? If they can I will try to get into the doctor tomorrow. It could be that they will form into lesions soon.

Clueless - I have been reading through some of your posts, both here and on the HIV forum (I'm worried about that as well) and I saw that you contracted HSV from one encounter. I know you stated that you didn't have a real "outbreak" and the symptoms you had were mild, but can you tell me approximately how long after your encounter you developed even these mild symptoms? I've been reading conflicting opinions - some say that if you develop symptoms after the initial sex act during which you contracted it, the symptoms will appear within 10 days or so (2 weeks at most). Others say it can take up to 6 weeks. Can anyone provide insight on this? Would I be developing symptoms after 5 weeks?

Last thing I want to mention. After four weeks I did have two bumps on my butt;they were on the cheek, not really near the anus. They came up suddenly (but on one of the days I was experiencing body and headache) and looked exactly like bug bites. They were pretty substantial in size from the get-go, were solid and itched like crazy. I assumed they were bug bites. They itched for 2 days or so and then stopped itching and turned purplish in color. They flattened out but remained large and purple. They never turned into anything that would be considered a blister, but could they still have been herpes lesions? They are just starting to fade now, after one full week.

[gracefromHHP]

Yes you can get a pcr swab of any active symptoms.  Part of why herpes is so under diagnosed is because everyone assumes that you'd have blister like lesions only and they would be very painful so a lack of those types of symptoms results in a lack of proper testing :(   Don't obsess over timelines either - the vast majority of people who have herpes don't get "classic" symptoms within a 2-20 day timeframe.  

You can read posts until the cows come home. You can count days.  You can obsessively look at your hoo hoo with a magnifying mirror and professional spotlight until you've given yourself a sun burn down yonder - it still doesn't replace going to the doctor for a proper exam and full testing.  The sooner you go the better because it increases your chances of having an accurate lesion culture if herpes is suspected by the practioner.  

Yeah I know I probably sound a bit cranky this morning but just go and be seen so you can start on your way to getting answers to what is going on.

grace