can recurring vaginitis be a symptom of genital herpes?

[januejohnson]

two years ago...i chose a new general practioner...as a part of my initial complete exam and not because i had any symptoms...she ordered a herpes test (not currently sure of the type - will be going to pick up a copy of it later today)...well, the results came back positive for hsv1 and hsv2...

when the doctor told me that i had genital herpes...i laughed...OUT LOUD...my thinking was that there is NO WAY i could have genital herpes...i have a close female friend who has the virus and i have NEVER had a single symptom that sounds like anything that she experiences with her 'episodes'...and in the research that i have done since...i have found nothing that indicates that i actually have the virus...

well...i had the same doctor re-test back in july...because as i explained to her...i KNOW that i don't not have this...i don't care what those results said...

this time...i KNOW it was the herpeselect test that was done...and my hsv number came back with a very high hsv number...at least 5.3...my hsv2 number came back as 2.25...

in reading the information that is presented on this site...you have responded several times that it is likely that my hsv2 result is a false positive...

i have an appointment with a new gynecologist on wednesday...i will be requesting a western blot test be done...

i called the general practioner's office today...to request a copy of the initial test results from 2004...she came on the phone and wanted to know why i was requesting it...i informed her that i learned that the herpeselect can sometimes show a false positive for hsv2...she firmly stated that this is not the case in my situation...as i sometimes will experience recurring vaginitis...and that although i don't have ANY of the classic symptoms of the virus...she is insistent it is obvious that my genital herpes presents itself as vaginitis...

in addition to that...i have (what i NOW believe) are sebaceous cysts...that she looked at and firmly declared as herpes and gave me a valtrex prescription for...the thing is...they never went away...three months later...they are still here...they don't itch...they don't anything...they're just there...(i will also be consulting with the gynecologist regarding them on wednesday)...

my questions...can recurring vaginitis (that always clears up after a metronidazole prescription) be a symptom of herpes?...also...can sebaceous cysts be confused with herpes lesions?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is a possibility your HSV-2 antibody test is falsely positive.  All HSV-2 results with ELISA ratio 3.5 and higher are true positives.  However, between 1.0 and 3.5, some are false positive, especially in people with positive results for HSV-1.  Before you assume you have HSV-2, you need further testing.  The definitive confirmatory test is a Western blot, which your provider or local lab can send to the University of Washington clinical laboratory in Seattle.  It's expensive, perhaps $150 or more--but perhaps you will agree that's a small price to pay to perhaps learn you don't have HSV-2.

That said, the absence of typical herpes symptoms doesn't mean much.  Most people with postivie blood tests for HSV-2 have no recognized symptoms of herpes.

Despite your doctor's belief that your sebaceous cysts were herpes, you can be 100% confident she was wrong.  Herpes lesions do not remain unchanged for 3 months, with or without Valtrex or other anti-herpetic drugs.

And no, recurring vaginal discharge that clears up on metronidazole is unlikely to be due to herpes.  That symptom sounds more like bacterial vaginosis, not herpes.  (Herpes sometimes mimicks yeast infection--but in that case, the primary symptom is a localized itch or burning pain, not vaginal discharge.)

Bottom line (no pun intended):  Statistically, there is a 50:50 chance you have HSV-2, but if you do, you are asymptomatic from your herpes.  At least have a repeat HSV-2 blood test, and preferably a Western blot.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[januejohnson]

thanks, doctor...enjoy your trip...

[januejohnson]

one more quick question doctor...as i have not yet been to the new gyn doctor yet...

12 years ago...i was diagnosed and treated for genital warts...i have not had any occurences since that time...is it possible that what i have self-diagnosed as sebaceous cysts could be an outbreak of warts?...the bumps have 'opened' and discharged a cheesy like substance...

would warts remain on the labia for that long with no treatment?...i'm thinking not...which is what is leading me to think i have cysts...especially since one of the bumps seems to have a little knot under the skin...

thanks again for your input...

[Englishman]

I'm no doctor but the fact that the bumps expel a cheesy substance suggests that they are sebeacous cysts (or less likely molluscum), definitely not herpes nor warts.

[januejohnson]

thanks for your input english...i will update on the results once i receive them...

[antonella27]

I am not the doctor, but i was diagnosed with an outbreak of genital warts a few weeks ago.  From my own reserch, i can tell you that untreated warts do not go away on thier own, they will remain on the skin.  The doctor can correct me if i am wrong?  In any event, they will not open and release any type of discharge so i do not beleive what you are experiencing are warts.  If you never had another breakout in 12 years, most likely you no longer have the virus anyhow.

[Englishman]

I thought that warts last the duration of the underlying HPV infection. Once the immune system clears the virus, then warts spontaneously resolve. This can be a few months, 2 years or in rarer cases - never. I'm not a doctor, but this is my understanding and why some doctors recommend "watchful waiting".

[BH81]

Antonella is right.  In my personal experience, warts will stay forever (or at least years) if they are not treated.  I was diagnosed with a few very small genital warts when I was nineteen.  I am now almost 25.  I have had them frozen off many times, particularly in one area.  Last time, about two years ago, I requested to go ahead and get one cut off. Within a few months, it was back.  I have not done anything with it since.  It is very small, but I have decided to just leave it because the scarring I have is much more noticeable and unsightly than the warts ever were.

[becks12]

hello,
About 6 months ago I got a blister down there so I went to the dcotors and she said it looked like I had gential herpes so I took a blood test for it but it came back negative. But then my bf got an out break and went and tested postive for herpes.  well, I know I have it but I have a bump where the blisters were that never goes away. I have taked medication for it three times and still it is there. It doesn't change at all, been there for about 6 months but it does hurt to have sex. I am just wondering why this bump won't go away. Could it be something else?

[becks12]

I have taked medication for this bump I have that is a gential herpe three times and still it is there. It doesn't change at all, been there for about 6 months but it does hurt to have sex. I am just wondering why this bump won't go away. Could it be something else?