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STD Questions
I have three questions:
(1) Is there much statistical difference between testing at 12 weeks versus 16 weeks post exposure for HSV? I’m at the 12 week mark and starting to “pace”…..can I just test now, or should I wait until 16 weeks? (Oh yeah, I have vulvodynia - -so, my vulva never feels right - - but, I’ve never seen any lesions nor have my doctors ever indicated a problem aside from some small fissures - - their thought was the fissures were due to a yeast infection or just vulvar inflammation from the vulvodynia).
(2) I was diagnosed with Molluscum in April 2007. I had quite an outbreak and the dermatologist ended up freezing them because the Aldara wasn’t working. There was one part on my vulva (in the fold between the labia majora and the labia minora) that blistered after the freezing. Or, so, I assume the blister was from the freezing. I scratched the blister off (I know, I shouldn’t do that) - - and applied Neosporin. Nothing ever developed after that …. It all healed up quite nicely. I haven’t had any occurrence of MC since April. Every once in a while, however, it’s itchy right where the blister was (no lesion/just red) - - should I be concerned? I’ve never seen any lesions - - my thought is that it’s just a potential nerve spasm/damage from the freezing that’s causing it to itch. If I put on hydrocortisone, it stops itching.
(3) This is an "off the beaten path" question….but wondered what your professional opinion was………… Are medical professionals (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, etc) held at any higher standards of “coming clean” about their STD status? My prior partner, a male nurse practitioner, told me his STD blood work came back all negative (and so did mine) but I ended up catching him in some lies at the end of our relationship and it’s got me “what ifing” myself to death about his STD status. (Of course, the pain from the vulvodynia never allows me to ever relax….ugh).
Thank you so much!!!
(1) Is there much statistical difference between testing at 12 weeks versus 16 weeks post exposure for HSV? I’m at the 12 week mark and starting to “pace”…..can I just test now, or should I wait until 16 weeks? (Oh yeah, I have vulvodynia - -so, my vulva never feels right - - but, I’ve never seen any lesions nor have my doctors ever indicated a problem aside from some small fissures - - their thought was the fissures were due to a yeast infection or just vulvar inflammation from the vulvodynia).
(2) I was diagnosed with Molluscum in April 2007. I had quite an outbreak and the dermatologist ended up freezing them because the Aldara wasn’t working. There was one part on my vulva (in the fold between the labia majora and the labia minora) that blistered after the freezing. Or, so, I assume the blister was from the freezing. I scratched the blister off (I know, I shouldn’t do that) - - and applied Neosporin. Nothing ever developed after that …. It all healed up quite nicely. I haven’t had any occurrence of MC since April. Every once in a while, however, it’s itchy right where the blister was (no lesion/just red) - - should I be concerned? I’ve never seen any lesions - - my thought is that it’s just a potential nerve spasm/damage from the freezing that’s causing it to itch. If I put on hydrocortisone, it stops itching.
(3) This is an "off the beaten path" question….but wondered what your professional opinion was………… Are medical professionals (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, etc) held at any higher standards of “coming clean” about their STD status? My prior partner, a male nurse practitioner, told me his STD blood work came back all negative (and so did mine) but I ended up catching him in some lies at the end of our relationship and it’s got me “what ifing” myself to death about his STD status. (Of course, the pain from the vulvodynia never allows me to ever relax….ugh).
Thank you so much!!!
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Directly to your questions:
1) No, there isn't much difference between 3 and 4 months in HSV blood test results. Four months is a little safer, but probably by only a few percent. The data on this sort of thing aren't very precise.
2) The easist and most straightforward treatment of molluscum contagiosum is to open each lesion with a needle and express the core. It's immediate and effective. Freezing is good too, but requires going back to the provider each time a new lesion appears. Aldara is slow and unreliable. In any case, certainly freezing and other treatments normally cause blistering. Based on your description, I would not have reommended HSV testing. But at least you'll know for sure after the test result return negative.
3) It would be nice to assume that medically trained persons are more likely to recognize STD symptoms when they have them and to discuss the situation frankly with their sex partners. To the extent they have more medical understanding, I suspect they do so. But clearly you can't generalize or predict for any particular person. I have been aware of plenty of medical professionals who are totally clueless or just don't give a ****. You're in a much better position than I am to judge whether your former partner is being truthful about STD testing. All that said, few people--medically trained or not--lie outright. Most people who say they were tested and negative probably are telling the truth. Of course, they may or may not have had reliable testing.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
1) No, there isn't much difference between 3 and 4 months in HSV blood test results. Four months is a little safer, but probably by only a few percent. The data on this sort of thing aren't very precise.
2) The easist and most straightforward treatment of molluscum contagiosum is to open each lesion with a needle and express the core. It's immediate and effective. Freezing is good too, but requires going back to the provider each time a new lesion appears. Aldara is slow and unreliable. In any case, certainly freezing and other treatments normally cause blistering. Based on your description, I would not have reommended HSV testing. But at least you'll know for sure after the test result return negative.
3) It would be nice to assume that medically trained persons are more likely to recognize STD symptoms when they have them and to discuss the situation frankly with their sex partners. To the extent they have more medical understanding, I suspect they do so. But clearly you can't generalize or predict for any particular person. I have been aware of plenty of medical professionals who are totally clueless or just don't give a ****. You're in a much better position than I am to judge whether your former partner is being truthful about STD testing. All that said, few people--medically trained or not--lie outright. Most people who say they were tested and negative probably are telling the truth. Of course, they may or may not have had reliable testing.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
