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STDs (Expert Forum)
burning and itching
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
burning and itching
by pleasehelp_us, May 22, 2007 12:00AM
My girlfriend and I have just been diagnosed with hsv 2. her first outbreak lasted about a week and seemed to respond very well to valtrex. 500mg of valtrex per day cleared everything up in a couple days. She was fine for about a week...except her "stuff" was more sensitive then before. Then about a week after her outbreak cleared up, she began burning and itching. She was on valtrex of course the whole time. She says that she is burning and itching on the inside and outside. She is now taking 2 grams of valtrex per day and it does nothing. This has been going on for 20 straight days. Its driving her mad and seriously making her depressed. Her OB thinks its still the herpes and because she is stressed that her body is having a hard time fighting it off. She had no antibodies when tested about a month ago, dont know if she does now or not. I know her OB tested her for some things like yeast. not sure exactly what they did.
my question
1. Is this constant and annoying buring and itching caused by herpes? Or is it more likely something else the OB might have missed. like strep b, or valvadynia, or bv, or something like that?
2. Is a womans genitalia more sensitive after an hvs 2 outbreak. Does this sensitivity go away or is it life long? Or was something else causing her extra sensitivity? Could that sensitivity be related to her current problem?
Thank you.
my question
1. Is this constant and annoying buring and itching caused by herpes? Or is it more likely something else the OB might have missed. like strep b, or valvadynia, or bv, or something like that?
2. Is a womans genitalia more sensitive after an hvs 2 outbreak. Does this sensitivity go away or is it life long? Or was something else causing her extra sensitivity? Could that sensitivity be related to her current problem?
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., May 23, 2007 12:00AM
, May 23, 2007 12:00AM
Given the non-response of her current symptoms to Valtrex, she can be certain her current symptoms are not due to herpes. And herpes doesn's cause such itching anyway; if there are no blisters, sores, etc, it isn't herpes. So the direct answers to your questions are:
1) No. I cannot tell from your description whether her initial problem was herpes or not. But her current problems is something else. It sounds most like a yeast infection, but she needs to see her provider for proper diagnosis.
2) I cannot generalize, but to my knowledge, most women who have had herpes do not have increased sensitivity of the genitals once the herpes outbreak has cleared up.
As I said, she needs to follow up with her health care provider. Good luck--
HHH, MD
1) No. I cannot tell from your description whether her initial problem was herpes or not. But her current problems is something else. It sounds most like a yeast infection, but she needs to see her provider for proper diagnosis.
2) I cannot generalize, but to my knowledge, most women who have had herpes do not have increased sensitivity of the genitals once the herpes outbreak has cleared up.
As I said, she needs to follow up with her health care provider. Good luck--
HHH, MD
Member Comments (3)
by estrellab, May 22, 2007 12:00AM
It is a new diagnosis right? Could be related as a first and major breakout. They say the first is the worst. Were you diagnosed by culture or blood test? Check with Doctor, clinic, and continue to follow up on this til you guys get it figured out!! Good luck!!
by Jeremy44, May 23, 2007 12:00AM
To: pleasehelp_us
Just an answer to hold you over until the doc responds. Those symptoms are not due to herpes. Herpes does not cause symptoms without overt sores and valtrex would have cleared anything herpes would have caused. Sounds more like a yeast infection. It's a good idea not to blame herpes when symptoms persist after taking anti-virals, and the fact that the doc said her continuous symptoms were due to herpes signifies that he may not be too knowledgeable about herpes at all.
