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Symptoms seem like warts
I had one partner a few years ago and since then I have had the cervical cancer vaccine. I heard through rumour also that my housemate (about 3 years ago) had genital warts so i don't know if that is relevant (in case it can be caught through surface contact).
About 3 weeks ago I experienced itching and burning in my vaginal area. I had a smallsskin coloured bump which i thought could maybe be a wart.It had been there for months but i read sometimes this stuff lays dormant. I squeezed at it and it got irritated but nothing happened. I went to the doctor who tried to perform a pap smear but there was too much discharge. He said I probably had a bacterial infection. I was given antibiotics. He also did a swab test for herpes (cos my bump lookedlike a lesion), chlamydia and the infections. I asked him if itw as possible it was a wart and he said no.
Antiobiotics finished. Symptoms persisted. I treated myself for yeast in case the antibiotics had caused this. No change. I went back to a different doctor who again, said the bump did not look like a wart and was probably follicultits. She said maybe this was in my head. She saidmy previous tests said i had no infection. She re-tested everything but did not do a pap smear. Everything came back clear.
I itch all the time. Sometimes my vagina burns all day. It is inflamed atthe opening. There are some rough bits i think look like pimples. I change my diet, I put anti-fungal creams on, I bathe in epsom salts, nothing helps. I now have a thick white discharge (I have treated myself for yeast infection three times, its not that.) I feel like it may be spreading backwards. Could they both have misdiagnosed it? What else could it be?! Its driving me crazy.
About 3 weeks ago I experienced itching and burning in my vaginal area. I had a smallsskin coloured bump which i thought could maybe be a wart.It had been there for months but i read sometimes this stuff lays dormant. I squeezed at it and it got irritated but nothing happened. I went to the doctor who tried to perform a pap smear but there was too much discharge. He said I probably had a bacterial infection. I was given antibiotics. He also did a swab test for herpes (cos my bump lookedlike a lesion), chlamydia and the infections. I asked him if itw as possible it was a wart and he said no.
Antiobiotics finished. Symptoms persisted. I treated myself for yeast in case the antibiotics had caused this. No change. I went back to a different doctor who again, said the bump did not look like a wart and was probably follicultits. She said maybe this was in my head. She saidmy previous tests said i had no infection. She re-tested everything but did not do a pap smear. Everything came back clear.
I itch all the time. Sometimes my vagina burns all day. It is inflamed atthe opening. There are some rough bits i think look like pimples. I change my diet, I put anti-fungal creams on, I bathe in epsom salts, nothing helps. I now have a thick white discharge (I have treated myself for yeast infection three times, its not that.) I feel like it may be spreading backwards. Could they both have misdiagnosed it? What else could it be?! Its driving me crazy.
Thanks for your answer.
I went to the doctor a third time and she examined me and said she saw very small warts, the size of a pin head on my cervix and the walls of my vagina. She seemed to think the itching was not caused by them. What is your thoughts on that?
ALso- she said that they did not require treatment as they would go away on their own. Is this true?
I have a new boyfriend and we slept together protected very recently. Could he have the virus? What are the chances of him getting the virus? Is there any chance he could have given it to me even though we had protected sex and the warts are inside?
I went to the doctor a third time and she examined me and said she saw very small warts, the size of a pin head on my cervix and the walls of my vagina. She seemed to think the itching was not caused by them. What is your thoughts on that?
ALso- she said that they did not require treatment as they would go away on their own. Is this true?
I have a new boyfriend and we slept together protected very recently. Could he have the virus? What are the chances of him getting the virus? Is there any chance he could have given it to me even though we had protected sex and the warts are inside?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
First, HPV/warts does not cause itching or red bumps. It is good you were vaccinated, since you are now protected against some of the most troublesome HPV types. But your current problem has nothing to do with HPV. (And by the way, genital HPV is never transmitted through "surface contact" or from infected housemates who are not sex partners. The virus is only transmitted sexually.)
STDs generally do not cause persisnt genital itching or irritation of the sort you describe. Some yeast infections are resistant to the usual treatments, so that may be a possibility despite your belief otherwise. Your symptoms also are not typical for herpes; to be safe, it was reasonable to be tested for it, but the negative swab test probably is valid. It may be a good idea to have an HSV blood test as well, but I don't believe herpes is the problem here. As for a vaginal bacterial infection, the most common type -- called bacterial vaginosis -- usually does not itch. A final thought is that you may have vulvodynia, which is unexplained vulvar itching/burning. It can be a frustrating problem, but is not sexually transmitted -- and therenot a problem we deal with on this forum.
Have you been to one of Australia's excellent sexual health centres? The Australia SHCs are among the best STD/genitourinary clinc systems in the world. There should be one nearby, if you live in or near a major metropolitan area.
I hope this helps. Good luck--- HHH, MD
First, HPV/warts does not cause itching or red bumps. It is good you were vaccinated, since you are now protected against some of the most troublesome HPV types. But your current problem has nothing to do with HPV. (And by the way, genital HPV is never transmitted through "surface contact" or from infected housemates who are not sex partners. The virus is only transmitted sexually.)
STDs generally do not cause persisnt genital itching or irritation of the sort you describe. Some yeast infections are resistant to the usual treatments, so that may be a possibility despite your belief otherwise. Your symptoms also are not typical for herpes; to be safe, it was reasonable to be tested for it, but the negative swab test probably is valid. It may be a good idea to have an HSV blood test as well, but I don't believe herpes is the problem here. As for a vaginal bacterial infection, the most common type -- called bacterial vaginosis -- usually does not itch. A final thought is that you may have vulvodynia, which is unexplained vulvar itching/burning. It can be a frustrating problem, but is not sexually transmitted -- and therenot a problem we deal with on this forum.
Have you been to one of Australia's excellent sexual health centres? The Australia SHCs are among the best STD/genitourinary clinc systems in the world. There should be one nearby, if you live in or near a major metropolitan area.
I hope this helps. Good luck--- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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