Worried Sick

[questions]

In Dec. 2005, I had brief genital contact (less than 5 mins, NO intercourse) with a boy (17). He said he was a virgin. It was the only sexual contact I had before my current BF. In Jan. 2006, I began dating my boyfriend (17). We were both virgins, and began having unprotected sex. My BF had no sexual contact before me. In Sept. 2006 (9months after the contact), I was wiping, and noticed a spec of blood. I examined the area, and discovered a very small break in the skin of my left outer labia. It bled a little, and was painless. I called my OB/GYN, and she told me it was probably irritation from shaving. I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend while it was there. It was gone in a week, but I began to have anxiety. I check my vagina with a lighted mirror everyday. I have had no lesions, but in late Dec. 2006, I had an urge to urinate with no pain. My Dr. did a urine culture for a UTI, but it was negative. The Dr. said herpes was very unlikely since she found no lesions and my symptoms were atypical. In Jan. 2007 I noticed a few tiny tan/pink (painless) bumps at the head of my BF

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I don't know how I can reassure you more than you have already been reassured by your BF's negative tests and his doctor's diagnosis he doesn't have herpes.  You dont' have it either.  Based on your and your BF's sexual histories, the risk of genital herpes is very low. Andneither your symptoms nor your BF's sound like herpes, which generally doesn't bleed and doesn't cause 'fleshy bumps'.  His negative blood tests nail it down.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[questions]

Thanks. I felt a bit limited by the 1600 characters. The break in my skin, or the fissure only bled when I first looked at it. I know I should be comforted, but I am still scared. Does my boyfriend's negative status mean that I don't have it for sure? If I did have it and consistently had unprotected sex with him for a year, would it show up in a blood test? Should we both wait 3 months and then be tested together?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Scared or not, all I can do is repeat what I said originally:  clearly neither you nor your BF has genital herpes.  If you want further reassurance, then sure, ask your provider for a blood test, but you can do that now; there is no reason to wait 3 months.  But you really don't need it; here isn't the slightest reason to believe you might havee genital herpes.  (You might have a positive test for HSV-1, because 20-40% get it in childhood.  But that is irrelevant to your concerns here.)

Please take additional questions to your own health care provider.

HHH, MD