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Vaginal Irritation

Two and a half months ago I had sex with a man that later told me he has herpes.  We used a condom and were only together twice.  Approximately two weeks after that I developed vaginal irritation.  I immediately thought it was herpes although no blisters appeared.  I went to the doctor and she said that it didn't look like herpes visually and sent me for a blood test.  The test came up positive for type 1 (which I knew I have cold sores) and did not register type 2.  I went back a few weeks later for a follow-up blood test and the follow up test was also negative.  The doctor assured me that I don't have symptoms of herpes.  However, the irritation continues.  It has been there now for about 4 weeks.  The irritation is only on the external parts (where hair grows) and there is no reddness and nothing visually out of the ordinary.  The doctor has advised me to use hydrocortizone cream twice a day for a week.  I am three days into the cream and I dont see a difference.  Before this irritation began I used to be an avid cyclist, cycling over 100 miles a week.  However, I have not been on the bike in 4 weeks and there is no change in the irritation.  It feels like the skin is raw and the irritation is most intense in the crease where my buttocks meet my legs.  I may be having some slight burning when urinating and there may be a slight odor, not sure at this point if I am imagining these things.  I am wondering if I have some type of vaginal bacteria infection or maybe bacteria infection trapped under the skin.  I can say with certainty that it is not a yeast infection.  I realize that the kind of cycling I was doing in the summer for hours at a time has to be a breeding ground for bacteria.  In the several years that I have been cycling the same mileage I have not had this type of problem.  Any ideas?
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Avatar universal
I know how u feel, my symptoms are more internal and sometimes I bleed after a ride... I don't want to sto circling but I can't find anything to prevent the vaginal irritation... Good luck to u
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your response.  I have actually read the fissure threads.  These issues are different from what I am experiencing.  Mine is more like raw skin and it is more external (just where hair grows).  I am going to ask the doctor to do a bacteria culture at my next appointment.  Anyone out there have a good description on different bacteria infection symptoms?

It is funny the ideas that you mention.  I used to get chronic yeast infections (a condition that worsened when I started cycling).  The suggestions are things I have already been doing for years.  However, they are still good advice as they have warded off the yeast infections quite well.  

I am leaning more and more toward the bacteria infection.  I believe there seems to be more some extra discharge and that there is some buring when I urinate.  The burning when I urinate was not that noticeable at first as my urethra is frequently irritated by my cycling.  However, I haven't cycled in at least 4 weeks.

For people without a sport not being able to ride my bike may not seem like a big deal but it is a huge deal for me.  This is not only where I get my excercise, this is how I socialize with my entire circle of friends.  This has been very isolating for me.
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Avatar universal
There are many of us dealing with issues similar to yours. Symptoms range from burning and irritation to tears and open cuts. Most of us are still looking for a diagnosis and adequate treatment to deal with our symptoms. You may want to read the threads on this board dealing with vaginal fissures. The ladies that respond on these boards have some great advice. I know that they have been a huge help to me.

I myself have been dealing with burning vaginal pains for over 5 months. My gynecologist believes that I have a chronic inflammation issue and now it's a matter of finding the cause and treating it properly. (Do a google search on vulvodynia. This may also provide some useful information.)

Just some ideas for you:

Start by making the simple changes. No matter what the cause of the irritation, these will help prevent further irritation. - Use soaps for sensitive skin (Aveeno Frangrance Free Body Wash, Tide Free or Dreft detergents, Bounce Free dryer sheets or no dryer sheets). Wear cotton underwear and avoid tight clothing when you can. Go without underwear when you're home or sleeping. Use tampons and pads with more cotton (Kotex). Some of us use a small water bottle or cup to rinse after urination to remove possible irritants. Use a cream (A&D Ointment works well for me) on your vaginal area to keep it soft and relieve some of the pain.

Knowing that your an avid cyclist, it seems reasonable to me that you might have some kind of nerve issue. Bike seats put a lot of pressure on the genital area. It just might be something that is worth asking your doctor about...

I hope some of this information is helpful. I hope you continue to post and update the rest of us. Best of luck to you!

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Avatar universal
Yes I am less worried about the herpes as my doctor was fairly adamant that it wasn't.  However, I am concerned as to what it might be.  This has seriously interrupted my life.  Riding my bike has been my passion for several years now and since this has been going on I can't ride.  Anyone have any experience with vaginal bacteria infections or skin infections that match my symptoms?
Helpful - 0
172023 tn?1334672284
If there irritation is staying constant for this long, its not likely herpes, especially in light of the blood tests.  Although sometimes it can take 3 months to show up.  But I would doubt it is.

Also, if its just constant irritation without redness or a skin break, it doesn't sound a lot like herpes.

Helpful - 0
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