Raw, abraded skin next to clitoris

[lorelei25]

Ow. I have a small patch of raw, slightly itchy, slightly painful skin on the side of my clitoris and also on the labia. Doesn't look like a blister or a cut-- more like small, barely visible red abraded patches (less than 1 mm each) Some (maybe/maybe not) relevant background: 1) my ex husband had genital herpes. I have never shown any symptoms of herpes, but I know that it is possible to carry the herpes virus and be completely asymptomatic. Could this be a sudden outbreak of previously asymptomatic herpes? 2) I recently divorced and became sexually involved with a new man, and this sore patch on my clitoris/labia started around the same time. When I first noticed the sore spot, the area was lightly covered with slightly whitish stuff-- I thought it was smegma (sp?) but when i gently rubbed it away, the skin beneath looked abraded & raw. But I also noticed some overal slight dryness/itchiness/yeasty feeling all over my genitals, so I used an over the counter yeast infection cream and after a few days everything improved. But this small area of slightly abraded skin is still there, maybe two weeks later. ---Anyway: should I be concerned about this? Does it seem possible that it is a slow-healing abrasion leftover from a yeast infection? Or a sudden manifestation of previously unsuspected herpes? Or some other STD caught from my new partner? Or just some minor and random skin irritation that I should stop worrying about? thanks for any thoughts.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

From the symptom you describe, herpes would not seem the most likely cause, and herpes would not last more or less unchanged for 2 weeks.  However, since your husband has genital herpes, it has to be considered a possibilty.  A traumatic lesion or yeast also sound like possibilities.  Or, as you say, some other sort of irritation.

Bottom line:  Most likely your lesion isn't herpes, but I cannot tell any more than you have figured out yourself.  The way to sort this out is to see a health care provider.  Even if s/he agrees the lesion itself isn't herpes, you should have a blood test for HSV-2.  That's the only way to know whether you acquired your husband's infection somewhere along the line.  If you did, you are at risk of transmitting the infection to future sex partners, whether or not your current problem is herpes, and whether or not you have symptomatic outbreaks of herpes.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[estrellab]

I too want to ask this forum Doctor similar questions. Like I said in my other post see a doctor and ask for a Herpes Select, type specific test or Western Blot to be sure. I want to figure out how to and ask the Doc some questions myself. Goodluck!! EB