Possible Asymptomatic Herpes?

[Nakdan]

I apologize in advance for the length of this post, but I wanted to be as thorough as possible:

September 15-18 – I had protected sex with a newish partner.

September 25 – October 2 – I experienced tingling and pressure during urination, it wasn’t painful but my bladder kept contracting toward the end of the urine flow.  My urine sample showed that I did not have a UTI.  Chlamydia was also negative.  My doctor said that I may have bladder spasms and gave me something for it.  My symptoms subsided after this, but I noticed a white non-smelly discharge that has lasted to the present time.

October 18 – I noticed a small raised spot on the upper right part of my vulvar lips.  It didn’t hurt, but there was slight tingling in that general area.  The doctor said that I didn’t have herpes and everything looked normal.  I also had a sore neck, headaches and a sore back, but no other symptoms.  The tingling lasted until the end of October and the bump disappeared.

November 9 – I took a herpes test which came back negative a week later.  I’m not sure what type it was, but the doctor said it that both the IGG and IGM were negative.  

November 11- The tingling returned in the same place as before but was now slightly painful and felt like it was burning.  It was worst when I was standing or walking, but not as noticeable when I sat down.  It was seemed to be localized on the right upper part of my vulva and also on the right side of my clitoris and felt like a cut.  But I didn’t see anything when I looked at it with a mirror.  Also, it wasn’t painful when I touched the area.

November 15 to present – I’m still experiencing a constant localized pain on the right side of my clitoris (like a cut) and on my vulvar lip in addition to occasional tingling on the center part of my vulva right below my pubic hair and near the opening of my vagina.  However now my thigh (where my leg meets my genitals) aches and tingles.  I feel some slight tingling down my leg, but not always down the back where the sciatic nerve is.  I’ve been experiencing a little numbness on my right buttock and thigh.  Also I think I saw some small red bumps on the left side of my vulva, but they did not hurt when I touched them.  My pubic area also itches from time to time.

However I have experienced no swollen lymph glands, painful inflamed blisters, fever, or burning sensation during urination and no lower back pain.  

1. Was the tingling I felt during urination at the end of September possibly my first herpes outbreak?
2. Was the tingling I felt in October possibly the prodome or another outbreak?
3. Could my negative blood test have been due to not yet seroconverting?
4. Could I have herpes inside that is causing the burning pain?  Can you have pain with no blisters?
5. I had protected sex with someone when I was feeling no symptoms at the beginning of November, is it possible that I exposed them to herpes?
6. Are there any other diseases that might explain these symptoms?

Thanks!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Herpes does not cause the symtoms you describe, regardless of what you might have read.  Lots of online sites describe tingling and burning pain as symptoms of herpes, but that is true only in conjunction with typical herpetic blisters and ulcers.  Had you come to me with those symptoms, even testing you for herpes would not have entered my mind.  And since you have been tested and negative, you can be even more certain your symptoms have nothing to do with herpes.

1, 2) No; see above.  3) Unlikely.  To be 100% certain, you could have another test 3 months after exposure.  It also will be negative.  4) No.  5) Almost certainly you don't have herpes, so it isn't an issue.  6) You symptoms are not those of any STD.  However, they are classical for genitally-centered anxiety.  You might discusss that possibility with your personal health care provider.  But in the meantime, relax about herpes. That's not the explanation.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[Nakdan]

Thanks so much for the quick response!  Another quick question, could my symptoms be related to yeast or vaginitis?  I've experienced that in the past.

Thanks again!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Glad to have helped.  Yeast infection probably is the single most common syndrome that is confused with herpes--so yes, that sounds like a possible explanation.  But I can only speculate; it's not the only possibility.  Discuss it with your provider.

HHH, MD

[Sha Dallas]

It is so amazing because I am having the same exact problem but I was too afraid to go to my doctor again, fearing that it could be herpes. I too, took some exams and they came back negative. I was recently on birth control to try something new and I experiened a white non-smelly discharge. I immediately felt like it was because of the pills, but I could not go to my doctor because I changed locations. So I will keep this in mind when I talk to my physician.

Sha Dallas

[apollo13]

Doc,  Are you saying that prodrome symptoms only appear in conjunction with a symptomatic outbreak?  Another STD specialist has stated that prodrome symptoms (burning, tingling, stinging, etc.) may be a herpes outbreak that does not break the skin surface because of a healthy immune system.  Thoughts?

[Blessed518]

A related discussion, Herpes exposure was started.