what is this

[need to get this out of my head]

i have only ever had sex with my boyfriend. i did have gential rubbing with one guy, who says he does not have herpes, and he had no visual lesions. (this incident happened about 65 days before any of my symptoms occurred). I was viral tested for herpes and it came back negative, i was also tested for a yeast infection and it came back confirmed that i did have one. i saw two doctors during that incident..one of them being one of the leading gyno's in ny. he said that i didnt have herpes..that i probably cut myself from scratching. i have been back to him 2 other times with syptoms (symptoms) that i convinced myself were due to herpes and again he says i dont have it. I started yasmin birth control a month after my first syptoms (symptoms) occurred(first syptoms (symptoms) august 05/ birth control since sept 05). I have never had a blister or lesion that i have seen..the only lesion i know about was the first time the first gyno said that i had cuts in my vagina (internal). I am writing because i am concerned maybe i do have herpes and have just been over looking some gential irriation.Im not sure why but i will finish my period and like clock work i will get external itching of the vagina for about 2 weeks and then it disappears just to happen again after my period. It does not itch inside just outside,and there is no irritation such as burning, stinging, painful urination...only the itch. it is more on one side than the other but it itches both sides. My vagina is always red..both sides. I know i should probably let this herpes thing go but i dont undestand why i get this every month like clock work. I will finish my period and start my pill and 2 days into my pill i get the itching.
My question is does this sound more like a symptom of the pill possibly something with my hormoes or more like herpes.
my other question is how significant is the risk of the genital rubbing with the one kid 65 days before my symptoms occurred. becaues he really is the only one i could have gotten herpes from, i know my boyfriend is does not have anything(he and i were both virgin..i was his first anything)
Thank you so much. I think you might tell me that i am being paranoid but i dont quite understand what would cause this itch monthly..its as though its on a schedule.
Thank you again! it is greatly appreciated, everything you do here at the forum...and well i guess the other things you do outside the forum seem pretty great..so thanks for that too!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

My advice is strictly limited to STD issues; and I can't try to guess causes of problems other than STD or other common genital infections.  Your symptoms are most typical of yeast infection, but also a possibility of herpes.  Allergy (e.g., to perfumes, detergent traces in your underwear, etc) might do it; and some women just have a lot of genital itching.  But I have no opinion about your particular diagnosis.

You don't say what diagnostic tests your docs did for herpes; just looking, without a lab test, is not sufficient.  Ask for a blood test.  As for yeast, most docs ought to be able to figure that out with simple tests.  If you aren't confident your docs are on top of things, consider a visit to Planned Parenthood or your local health department STD clinic.

Sorry I can't be more helpful.  Best wishes--   HHH, MD

[llle]

I am confused about your comments regarding Herpes to Need to get this out of my head.  On previous threads, you have stated that Herpes ALWAYS blisters/crusts, lasts around 10days-2weeks, occurs no greater that once a month and is completely asymptomatic between outbreaks.  So how could these symptoms even be Herpes. On Scared and Alone's thread, she had the symptoms for 6 weeks straight and still you stated Herpes could be a possibility.  Please enlighten as to why either of these could be Herpes?  Thanks for all you do on this site.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

To my knowledge I have never said any such thing.  To the contrary, I have commonly pointed out the atypical nature of herpes.  I have often told particular persons that their symptoms were unlikely to be (or "can't be") herpes, based on the overall context of the question, symptoms, perhaps lab test results, etc.   But every answer I give needs to be interpreted strictly in the context of that particular question.  In this thread, "need to get" provides a rather vague history that is difficult for me to interpret and I simply don't know what is going on with her.  She needs an expert exam and testing.  That is the only take-home message from my response to her.

HHH, MD

[need to get this out of my head]

thank you for your quick response. I was just wondering about my questions. Like if gential apposition is a serious risk. and if getting gential itching monthly could be anything besides herpes...i am not looking for what is it but just if it could be anything else. If it is possible to get feminine itch monthly and it not be herpes, and a very low risk for genital apposition thani am almost certain i do not have herpes. I do not have a promiscuous life style as ive said ive only had sex with one person who has never been with anyone else. so please maybe you could just answer those questions. thank you again

[need to get this out of my head]

oh i forgot the doctors took a culture  of the cut when i first came in in august 2005..this came back negative..and ive ask for a blood test but he is insistent that i do not have herpes

[llle]

Dr.H - This is most certainly not from disrespect (perhaps the exact opposite) but please look at your answer on 6/10/06 to "Copacetic".  I had read that and was just confused by later answers.  So, wouldn't 6 weeks to 2 months without blisters typically NOT be Herpes??  Thanks again for your service.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

My response to Copacetic said "Herpes episodes last 1-3 weeks", which generally is true.  Often I would add "typically", "usually", or some such qualification, but it wasn't necessary in the context of that questions.  I have said a hundred times that nobody should read my response to a particular question as necessarily exactly transferrable to other apparently similar ones.  You won't find me in very many factual inconsistencies, but tone and overall conclusions vary all over the map, depending on my overall judgment based on each question.  There is nothing I would change in my reply either to Copacetic or to the question above.

HHH, MD

[need to get this out of my head]

i am not trying to be rude but i am the one who posted the question and would like some clarification..and i just wanted my two questions answered but you answered IIIe instead...i know you do a lot of work here and i completely appreciate it but i have seen you tell other people to post new threads if they have new questions. i wrote this thread to ask about the significance of genital apposition to contracting herpes and to find out whether or not gential itching which occurs monthly could be anything besides herpes..like i said before i dont need to know what it could be just whether or not it is typical for herpes..that is all. sorry if this seems blunt but i just wanted some questions answered. again thank you for your time honestly if i didnt respect you or your work i wouldnt be here begging you to answer my question but i know you are one of the best thats what your opinion means a lot.

[llle]

I was not trying to get answers for anything other than clarification of his response to you.  That is all.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is a gray zone in thread jumps.  This one was sufficiently on track that it seemed appropriate.

Anyway, the forum moderators aren't obligated to even look at follow-up comments or questions; generally it doesn't happen on most MedHelp forums.  I do it, so undoubtedly have created expectations.  But insistent demanding isn't helpful.

Yes, genital itching that occurs monthly could be any number of things other than herpes.  As I said above, seeing a health care provider is the way to sort this out; you will never get clear answers online.

Genital apposition carries some risk of herpes, but it is low compared with intercourse.

HHH, MD

[need to get this out of my head]

as i said before i wasnt trying to be rude or insitent and i did not know that follow up questions were not usually answered. so thank you for your time and answering my questions.