Pain with no other symptoms

[mmmmmm]

Ok, so for the past 9 days I have been having a pain on my left outter lip of my vagina.  The pain is more interal (it doesn't hurt to touch the surface or anything)...it has been coming and going and is not a continual pain!  No other symptoms or anything lesion like...does this sound like anything serious to you?

*Brief history...skin to skin contact with a few people but never any penetration...the last encounter was probablly 2 months ago.

Thanks for you help!

[mmmmmm]

Thanks for the additional information!  It really cleared up some questions I had!!  I was only wondering becasue probablly once a month I get an itch on the left side of my vaginal opening.  It usually last for a few days, but only for probably an hour or two each day.  My gyn. said that it probably just a build up of bacteria but never tested me for herpes, so I never really knew for sure.  But now I'm am glad that I pretty much rule out herpes as a cause to the problem.  Thanks again, your website is great!!!!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Herpes symptoms come for a few days continuously, then there is at least a month with no symptoms at all.  When symptoms are present, there are sores; herpes does not cause pain without visible sores.

[mmmmmm]

Thanks for the help!  I noticed you said no STD causes pain that comes and goes, and that got me wondering.  Do STDs (imparticular Herpes) causes other symptoms (such as the itching or burning sensation people describe) that come and go over the course of a few days or would the symptoms be pretty continuous?  Thanks!

[mmmmmm]

I forgot to add...I had my yearly with the gyno a month ago and got tested for chlamydia, syphillis, and gonarrea and they all came back negative.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This question is very similar to the one immediately before yours.  Pain alone is rarely an STD symptom; and in any case, no STD could cause pain that comes and goes.  And as you seem to know yourself, you really have not been at risk for STD.  See a health care provider if the symptom persists, or if you develop other, more typical symptoms, such as genital sores or abnormal vaginal discharge.  But you can be sure an STD isn't the problem.

Regards--  HHH, MD