herpes? yeast? vaginal lesions?

[confusedandfrustrated]

I have been very reluctant to post this, but after much deliberation here I am. About 8 months ago I became sexually active again after a break for about a year. I have been with 3 guys including the current and have had unprotected sex once when I was raped about 4 years ago. Before these 8 months I hadn't experienced any vaginal troubles, I only wish i could say the same now. About a month into the activity I experienced what I believe was my first yeast infection. I didn't go to the doctor and I didn't treat it. I just waited until it went away which it did about a week later. Last week I experienced my 4th occurence of whatever it is. Since the first one I have had an abundance of this, cottage cheese like discharge. The discharge has had an oder twice out of the four times, but this last time I noticed what I believe has been causing me so much pain during urination, lesions. I believe they have been there everytime, but i have never looked before until this time when the pain couldn't be ignored. The lesions are like paper cuts, and from another forum I found out that these occur in women who are fair skined and have sensitive skin which I do. At times I experience pain during sex. Could the lesions and discharge be connected? Is it actually a yeast infection? Is it herpes and if it is how did I get it when I haven't had unprocted sex since that once and I had no problems until now.

Also, I believe this is not connected to the above but I was wondering about vaginal swelling. When aroused, my vagina swells immensly at the bottom below the labia near my anus. The only way I can think of to describe it is puffy and bloated. Is this normal?

Sorry this is so long and probably not enough information to conclude, but I would greatly appreciate any advice.

[taysmommy]

well it sounds like a yeast infection to me, herpes isnt going to lay dormant in your system for 4 years and then suddenly pop up (ok breath now) and herpes isnt going to produce vaginal discharge or a foul smell, and also will not be like "paper cuts" they will first be red bumps, very painful, then blister up and go away normally within 14 days, so yours doesnt sound like herpes (yah!)

although you can get herpes even though you have protected sex, it can be passed to you if your partner has, or is getting a cold sore on thier mouth and performs oral sex on you, but again your symptoms dont sound like herpes at all,

a yeast infection needs to be treated, when i get them i experience paper cut like , not really sores but there very uncomfortable, im not sure but i believe for your first yeast infection they say to see a doctor first, personally i just got the over the counter treatments and they work very well, many also come with a cream that you can use externally, (directly on the area) and it eases the burning feeling

[myproblems18]

i beleave that it is herpes because i have been there and done this! i was also raped by an ex- boyfriend that had herpes, i didnt have sex for a year after that then i became stressed and tired and just tired of life really and my boyfriend went away for about 5 weeks and all that and while he was gone i also had a dicharge as well as lesions and i got treated with that but herpes can sit in your system its just has to have a reason to come out like a yeats infection or stress something like that! Valtrex is a very good drug for this its helps a lot! If you need anything else let me no!

[taysmommy]

i also know from experience, and it still doesnt sound like herpes to me, honestly with herpes you will have painful blisters like i said that progressivly get worse, and i had no discharge, my doctor told me herpes does not cause discharge, so see your doctor, but my guess is still with the yeast infection

but i do agree with valtrex, it cleared mine up in a week, and i only had ONE outbreak years ago, never had one since,

[taysmommy]

i was wrong, i looked at the symptoms of herpes on a web site and it stated that discharge can be present with herpes, but not foul smelling discharge, if you google herpes symptoms i think it will really ease your mind

[confusedandfrustrated]

Thank you so much for your info. I have googled everything that could pop into my tiny little brain, in panic of course. I finally broke down and got some medicine for a yeast infection. I don't want to go to the doctor, that's just how I am and most of why I started this forum. The cuts are getting worse and more painful any suggestions to ease the pain? I am pretty sure it's not herpes now, because I don't have the ulcer or blisters, they are just cut like and don't fit the discription of any of the multiple sites I have looked up. I spent about 5 hours on the internet doing research. By the way, the reason for my stress and concern is that I am about to start taking birth control, therefore my partner and I will no longer have to use condoms, which means if it is an STD he will get it. I am supposed to go pick the pill up tomorrow and I don't want to start taking it until I know what's going on, but he wants me to start right away because he does not like condoms. He got mad when i suggested waiting, what should I do?

[taysmommy]

hopefully the external cream that comes with the medication will ease your pain, BUT if the cuts are getting progressivly worse and more painful then you might just have to see a doctor, as much as you dont want to go, you might need antibiotics or something(although im not sure what would be causing this besides a yeast infection, im sure a doctor could rule out anything serious) and if your worried about a different kind of STD i think its VERY smart that you continue using condoms regardless of what the bf wants, does he realise that if it is an STD he will get it? well i would advise no sex until you get this resolve, that could be the reason the cuts are becoming more irritated, and if this doesnt get better with the medication for heavens sake get yourself to a doctor! you dont want to deal with this for a long period of time, it needs to get cleared up,

im hoping the medicine works for you hon, take care!

[medorita]

These symptoms sound all too familiar. You should definatly see a doctor and get an antibiotic for a yeast infection. I certainly do not have herpes and am suffering from the same symptoms. If it is or may be a yeast infection, you should not go on the birth control pill until it is completely eradicated because the pill can raise your succeptability to yeast.

As well, I heard that for the pill to be really effective, you should take it for a cycle or two before using it as birth control. You can tell that to your impatient man. Also, considering telling him about this pain, you will feel a huge wait off your shouldars and find out if he is really there for you or not.

Check out this link and see if anything rings a bell:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/WomensHealth/messages/674.html

[Mezmeraa]

I'm sure by now that you've gotten proper care for what sounds like a nasty yeast infection.  I've experienced a few bad ones myself.  But I wanted to make sure someone told you that the vaginal swelling you were experiencing during sexual arousal is normal.  It probably looked abnormally swollen to you because of the yeast infection (or whatever it was) but it's natural for a woman's genitals to become engorged during arousal and unless there is pain or discomfort associated with it, it's nothing to worry about.  I hope you are feeling much better now!

[puffypat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpes

try to go to this page..it says that herpes may look like papercuts as well..well..no harm in checking with doctor rite? i have blister at vaginal area too once in a blue moon but its not fluid-filled..and ive been for a checkup for any std and it turned  out totally negative..anyway im going to check again soon..as i just had the blister last week..hopefully it will turn out negative again..sigh..

[lor617]

this sounds like herpes and a yeast infection at the same time ... i had the exact same symptoms... they only look like papercuts at first instead of round lesions because of the soft skin on the vulva area... if you were to spread the area and look they probably look like round blisters now... am I right? meds are great these days and dont worry,... outbreaks lessen over time... you could have aquired herpes at any time you had sex Condom or without) or oral sex ... its entirely possible for a man to have herpes sores on the shaft of his penis that is uncovered by the condom. hope this info helps... and by the way... doctors visits can be greatly empowering...its your body!! ask questions!