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Could this be herpes? Terrified
Hi, I'm going to give you the whole story so you can get a good picture of what's happening. I've had sex with two guys. The first was my boyfriend at the time, and we took each other's virginity. I'm sure he couldn't have had anything, as he had never even had so much as a blow job before me. The second guy, I'm not dating, but have known for about two years. We've had sex three times. The first two were protected. The third time, we were drunk and he put his penis on my vagina unprotected for a little while. We put on a condom when we got to full-on sex. This was 11 days ago.
Remembering that we nearly had unprotected sex and knowing that he's had sex with other women, I asked him if he was clean and if he had been tested. He said that he had been tested 2 months ago and was clean. I asked him if he's had unprotected sex since, and he said no. I do believe him in that, as he was always the first to reach for a condom when we started to get into sex. Today, I had walked around in the heat all day and when I got home at night, I looked around my pubic area and found two clusters of red dots, one on each side of my pelvic area. They are both at the very top of my bikini line. They hurt when walking around with underwear on, but don't hurt when I press on them and don't itch.
I put a mirror in between my legs and checked my vagina lips and all around that area, and there was nothing near the actual vaginal entrance. I feel fine otherwise. I'm just terrified that this could be herpes. I did shave my entire vagina region yesterday, so it could also be razor burn, which I do get frequency and this looks like razor burn, but I read that herpes can often be mistaken for that. My thighs also rub together, and I haven't worn the underwear I had been wearing very much, so it could also be from the new underwear rubbing against my skin all day in the hot weather, as it is only on my underwear line. However, I am still extremely scared.
I want to get tested, but I'm only 19, still on my parent's insurance and don't want them to know, and have no car to get to a clinic. I'm hoping to go to a Planned Parenthood or other clinic when I move out of the house in a couple of weeks- the anticipation is just stressing me out beyond belief, so any info would be much appreciated. For example, is it odd that they are both at the very top of my bikini line, far away from the vagina, or could this still be herpes? Sorry for the long story, but any help would be much appreciated!
Remembering that we nearly had unprotected sex and knowing that he's had sex with other women, I asked him if he was clean and if he had been tested. He said that he had been tested 2 months ago and was clean. I asked him if he's had unprotected sex since, and he said no. I do believe him in that, as he was always the first to reach for a condom when we started to get into sex. Today, I had walked around in the heat all day and when I got home at night, I looked around my pubic area and found two clusters of red dots, one on each side of my pelvic area. They are both at the very top of my bikini line. They hurt when walking around with underwear on, but don't hurt when I press on them and don't itch.
I put a mirror in between my legs and checked my vagina lips and all around that area, and there was nothing near the actual vaginal entrance. I feel fine otherwise. I'm just terrified that this could be herpes. I did shave my entire vagina region yesterday, so it could also be razor burn, which I do get frequency and this looks like razor burn, but I read that herpes can often be mistaken for that. My thighs also rub together, and I haven't worn the underwear I had been wearing very much, so it could also be from the new underwear rubbing against my skin all day in the hot weather, as it is only on my underwear line. However, I am still extremely scared.
I want to get tested, but I'm only 19, still on my parent's insurance and don't want them to know, and have no car to get to a clinic. I'm hoping to go to a Planned Parenthood or other clinic when I move out of the house in a couple of weeks- the anticipation is just stressing me out beyond belief, so any info would be much appreciated. For example, is it odd that they are both at the very top of my bikini line, far away from the vagina, or could this still be herpes? Sorry for the long story, but any help would be much appreciated!
it's unfortunate that you went somewhere where they didn't do a proper exam :(
you've convinced yourself you have genital herpes but your symptoms really sound like vaginitis. Find somewhere else where you can be seen sooner and follow up on this further.
you've convinced yourself you have genital herpes but your symptoms really sound like vaginitis. Find somewhere else where you can be seen sooner and follow up on this further.
Calm down honey. I think you're over-reacting...usually with a first infection you are down and out with fever, flu-like symptoms and insufferable burning and itching. What you are describing doesn't sound like it to me, and I have had it since 1989. :) I think they would have tested you on the spot if they thought you had it. Don't obsess, you're probably fine!
Well, bad news. I went to the doctor, and they basically told me to pee in a cup and get out, because my mom told them I just wanted to get my vagina checked out- which is what I wanted, for someone to look around down there. I peed in a cup, it was fine for bacteria and all that, and told the doctor my concerns about herpes in private. She said I could come back for a full pap smear, but the earliest I could make an appointment is nearly two weeks from now.
I asked her if it might be a yeast infection, and she said it might, though yeast infections are usually "messy and gross." No one could even look to see if it looked normal. She said she could do cultures in my pap smear, but I'm afraid the bumps might be gone by then if it is indeed herpes. My vagina has felt dirty all day, like there's sand in it, and it's just this constant irritation. Even my butt has started to irritate a little bit.
This is starting to sound more and more like herpes, and not knowing is driving me crazy. I can't go another two weeks living like this. I can't eat or sleep not knowing. I just started a second job- I can't go about life like this! Does anyone know of anything I should look out for in the meantime? Right now, both sides of my labia minora are red, one more than the other, and there's some bumps on them. They don't really hurt, just itch, but not enough to have to scratch. Also, if anyone can answer the question about the chances of catching genital herpes orally when you've made out with the person a lot and haven't seen any symptoms around the mouth, and while the person insists that they've been tested and are clean.
I asked her if it might be a yeast infection, and she said it might, though yeast infections are usually "messy and gross." No one could even look to see if it looked normal. She said she could do cultures in my pap smear, but I'm afraid the bumps might be gone by then if it is indeed herpes. My vagina has felt dirty all day, like there's sand in it, and it's just this constant irritation. Even my butt has started to irritate a little bit.
This is starting to sound more and more like herpes, and not knowing is driving me crazy. I can't go another two weeks living like this. I can't eat or sleep not knowing. I just started a second job- I can't go about life like this! Does anyone know of anything I should look out for in the meantime? Right now, both sides of my labia minora are red, one more than the other, and there's some bumps on them. They don't really hurt, just itch, but not enough to have to scratch. Also, if anyone can answer the question about the chances of catching genital herpes orally when you've made out with the person a lot and haven't seen any symptoms around the mouth, and while the person insists that they've been tested and are clean.
Well, I haven't slept all night, and the guy I thought I might have herpes from called me at 6 a.m. (after I texted him all night) and did his best to reassure me. He said that he had all the proper testing and didn't have any unprotected intercourse, including oral, in the three months prior to the test and after the test. He swears that he's clean, and that all my symptoms are psychological.
It made me feel a little better, but he did go down on me unprotected, and I didn't think to ask if he had gone down on anyone else. If he did have in his mouth, what would be my chances of contracting it genitally? Are they low, especially since I've made out with him a lot, and have no symptoms in my mouth?
Also, I'm starting to think this might be a yeast infection. However, what threw me off is what I thought looked like blisters and redness on my labia, though I could be wrong and it could just be inflammation. Can this happen in yeast infections, too? I also had some white, odorless discharge from my vagina today. Is that a sign of herpes, yeast infection, or both?
Sorry for all the bothering- it's just that my doctor's appointment isn't until much later today, and I have to spend a whole day at a brand new job until then, so some sort of peace of mind is nice!
It made me feel a little better, but he did go down on me unprotected, and I didn't think to ask if he had gone down on anyone else. If he did have in his mouth, what would be my chances of contracting it genitally? Are they low, especially since I've made out with him a lot, and have no symptoms in my mouth?
Also, I'm starting to think this might be a yeast infection. However, what threw me off is what I thought looked like blisters and redness on my labia, though I could be wrong and it could just be inflammation. Can this happen in yeast infections, too? I also had some white, odorless discharge from my vagina today. Is that a sign of herpes, yeast infection, or both?
Sorry for all the bothering- it's just that my doctor's appointment isn't until much later today, and I have to spend a whole day at a brand new job until then, so some sort of peace of mind is nice!
many things cause bumps and rashes in the genital area which is why being seen is important. screen for the infections I mentioned too. if they suspect that these are herpes related, they can do a lesion culture and typing now.
to properly screen from unprotected sex, you would need to wait until 6 weeks post encounter for syphilis testing and 3 months for herpes, hiv and hepatitis blood testing.
to properly screen from unprotected sex, you would need to wait until 6 weeks post encounter for syphilis testing and 3 months for herpes, hiv and hepatitis blood testing.
Yeah, I'm starting to think it is herpes, despite the guy swearing that he's clean. The bumps are starting to itch as well- don't know if it's me thinking too much into it or getting it right. However, I don't know until I see a doctor. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
