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HSV or not??
Four weeks after protected sex (vaginal only, no oral, and used a condom correctly for the duration), I developed a stinging rash around my genitals, including both sides of my buttocks nearest my vaginal opening (where the cheeks touch). The rash formed a frame if you will around my vulva and was limited to/did not extend beyond the area covered by my underwear/panties. The rash popped up just as my period was ending and I had just removed a pad (Always brand).
Facts:
1) my partner tested negative (via bloodwork) for HSV I and II. (I saw the print-out of his results with my own eyes).
2) I was in a monogamous relationship before this for many years where we both tested negative via blood tests for HSV (both types) and consistently used polyisoprene condoms (as that is my only form of birth control and I am allergic to latex)
3) I have never had sex without a condom in my life - not once - and do not allow anyone to perform oral sex on me without a dental dam or non microwavable plastic on the rare event that I allow oral at all. I also always use water-based lube with condoms.
4) I have never had a rash in the same area, but do have a history of vaginal irritation of unknown origin. Yeast, bacterial and parasitic cultures usually come up negative. I have had BV once in my life and a few mild yeast infections, but usually, the source of irritation cannot be found. Routinely checked for STDs as well and always negative.
About 1 week prior to the rash, I thought I had a yeast infection (or bacterial) and the cultures for yeast, bacteria and parasites came back negative. By the time the culture results were back, I had already tried treating myself with Monistat, which burned me badly, but seemed to help for about 1 day.
5) I am allergic to latex but my last encounter was with a latex condom.
I went to an STD clinic to have the rash examined within 24 hours. Two infectious disease doctors looked at the rash and said it looked like herpes. Even though I went the very next day (they were literally swabbing the rash within 24 hours), some of the rash had already started to resolve according to the doctor that did the swab.
She opened one of the vesicles to get a sample (This was painless, which I found odd) and took a blood sample as backup.
When I returned for my results, I was told that, based on my bloodwork, I was positive for HSV-2. They did not have any details on the culture at that time. The results did not state whether HSV antibodies were isolated or whether it was positive or negative or which type. I returned a week later to get a copy of my labs to share with my PCP for a follow up, only to be told that all of my tests were negative. Only this counselor (a different person at the same facility) said that my culture WAS negative. I'm thoroughly confused now because I don't think she was looking at the right thing (or the previous person wasn't). When she gave me a copy of my labwork, the only thing I see, looks like bloodwork (igg lab). I don't see the culture at all and asked for it repeatedly. She insisted what she gave me was the culture, but this is what it says:
Test Performed: HSV Type 2 Igg / In Range <0.90
These are not culture results as far as I can tell. However, the previous counselor clearly had a sheet of paper which referred to culture results - but had no info on whether negative or positive etc. (I saw it with my own eyes, but did not check to make sure it was my name on the paper)
I feel like I have to start all over. Could this be contact dermatitis or a fungal infection of some sort (other than candida), or something else?
The rash mostly cleared up in a few days with some diaper rash cream. I have not taken antivirals.
In the 4 weeks, since the initial rash popped up, it has cleared up, left my skin darker where it was, and it sometimes feels like it is trying to come back at any given moment. I am now experiencing anal irritation as well - but I can't tell if this is the usual irritation I have in that area (hemrrhoids). Also, the rash never hurt or burned when I urinated (in fact, urinating on it was somewhat of a relief). I'm just concerned about whether or not it was/is HSV. Do I need to start over with testing?
I'm really frustrated because I did the right thing by being seen while the rash was fresh and still have no answers.
Facts:
1) my partner tested negative (via bloodwork) for HSV I and II. (I saw the print-out of his results with my own eyes).
2) I was in a monogamous relationship before this for many years where we both tested negative via blood tests for HSV (both types) and consistently used polyisoprene condoms (as that is my only form of birth control and I am allergic to latex)
3) I have never had sex without a condom in my life - not once - and do not allow anyone to perform oral sex on me without a dental dam or non microwavable plastic on the rare event that I allow oral at all. I also always use water-based lube with condoms.
4) I have never had a rash in the same area, but do have a history of vaginal irritation of unknown origin. Yeast, bacterial and parasitic cultures usually come up negative. I have had BV once in my life and a few mild yeast infections, but usually, the source of irritation cannot be found. Routinely checked for STDs as well and always negative.
About 1 week prior to the rash, I thought I had a yeast infection (or bacterial) and the cultures for yeast, bacteria and parasites came back negative. By the time the culture results were back, I had already tried treating myself with Monistat, which burned me badly, but seemed to help for about 1 day.
5) I am allergic to latex but my last encounter was with a latex condom.
I went to an STD clinic to have the rash examined within 24 hours. Two infectious disease doctors looked at the rash and said it looked like herpes. Even though I went the very next day (they were literally swabbing the rash within 24 hours), some of the rash had already started to resolve according to the doctor that did the swab.
She opened one of the vesicles to get a sample (This was painless, which I found odd) and took a blood sample as backup.
When I returned for my results, I was told that, based on my bloodwork, I was positive for HSV-2. They did not have any details on the culture at that time. The results did not state whether HSV antibodies were isolated or whether it was positive or negative or which type. I returned a week later to get a copy of my labs to share with my PCP for a follow up, only to be told that all of my tests were negative. Only this counselor (a different person at the same facility) said that my culture WAS negative. I'm thoroughly confused now because I don't think she was looking at the right thing (or the previous person wasn't). When she gave me a copy of my labwork, the only thing I see, looks like bloodwork (igg lab). I don't see the culture at all and asked for it repeatedly. She insisted what she gave me was the culture, but this is what it says:
Test Performed: HSV Type 2 Igg / In Range <0.90
These are not culture results as far as I can tell. However, the previous counselor clearly had a sheet of paper which referred to culture results - but had no info on whether negative or positive etc. (I saw it with my own eyes, but did not check to make sure it was my name on the paper)
I feel like I have to start all over. Could this be contact dermatitis or a fungal infection of some sort (other than candida), or something else?
The rash mostly cleared up in a few days with some diaper rash cream. I have not taken antivirals.
In the 4 weeks, since the initial rash popped up, it has cleared up, left my skin darker where it was, and it sometimes feels like it is trying to come back at any given moment. I am now experiencing anal irritation as well - but I can't tell if this is the usual irritation I have in that area (hemrrhoids). Also, the rash never hurt or burned when I urinated (in fact, urinating on it was somewhat of a relief). I'm just concerned about whether or not it was/is HSV. Do I need to start over with testing?
I'm really frustrated because I did the right thing by being seen while the rash was fresh and still have no answers.
Hi there! Thanks so much for posting an update, and congrats on your negative hsv testing!! I'm going through a semi-similar thing where I have herpes symptoms (a little diff than yours) but negative results. I was just wondering how long it was until your symptoms finally went away, since you never found out for sure what was causing the irritation? I'm trying to decide on a doctor i should see next (infecious disease or a diff gyn) b/c my current insurance plan is awful so I really can't afford to be seen continuously by different doctors until they diagnose me. I've had symptoms on and off for 4 months and just don't see an end in site, but your story gives me hope!! Thanks again and all the best to you. -Arielle
*Update*
I just wanted to post an update in the event that someone else experiences the same weird rash and comes across this post. The rash was made up of a lot of small bumps with a few isolate whitish bumps where the butt cheeks touch (sorry I can't be more technical with my description). This freaked me out because I've heard that fungal rashes are not bumpy. To be honest, it looked like a bad diaper rash.
When the rash first popped up it stung - esp when I took a shower and water touched it. Then it just itched off and on. It didn't turn into sores, but scabbed a little and flaked/sloughed off (gross).
So, about a month after the first rash appeared, I still felt a strange burning sensation in that area and - much to my dismay - it came back! This time, I went to my gynecologist who couldn't say for sure what it was, but insisted that, contrary to what the infectious disease doctors thought, it did not look like herpes/HSV to her (there were no white bumps this time, just the small itchy bumps). She gave me topical Nystatin to relieve the itching, but did not take a culture of the rash. She did take a culture from inside however. The Nystatin relieved the itching immediately, but the bumps remained. A few days later, the doctor's office called and prescribed an antibiotic for a bacterial infection and a double dose of Diflucan for fungal/yeast. The bumps took about a week to fade completely. Once they faded, I stopped using the cream and still felt the burning or itching off and on for months afterwards. I also experienced horrible proctitis - like I was passing glass which then burned.
The fact that it came back, I had anal irritation as well, and there was no culture taken from the rash the second time to be sure, made me even more afraid that it was herpes. After reading that blood tests so soon after a new exposure were pretty much worthless, I decided to get re-tested again after stressing and worrying for nine months/36 weeks for peace of mind. The test (IGG type specific for I and II) was negative for both.
I'm not sure what it was - maybe a fungal infection or dermatitis of some sort - but it was not herpes.
I hope this helps.
I just wanted to post an update in the event that someone else experiences the same weird rash and comes across this post. The rash was made up of a lot of small bumps with a few isolate whitish bumps where the butt cheeks touch (sorry I can't be more technical with my description). This freaked me out because I've heard that fungal rashes are not bumpy. To be honest, it looked like a bad diaper rash.
When the rash first popped up it stung - esp when I took a shower and water touched it. Then it just itched off and on. It didn't turn into sores, but scabbed a little and flaked/sloughed off (gross).
So, about a month after the first rash appeared, I still felt a strange burning sensation in that area and - much to my dismay - it came back! This time, I went to my gynecologist who couldn't say for sure what it was, but insisted that, contrary to what the infectious disease doctors thought, it did not look like herpes/HSV to her (there were no white bumps this time, just the small itchy bumps). She gave me topical Nystatin to relieve the itching, but did not take a culture of the rash. She did take a culture from inside however. The Nystatin relieved the itching immediately, but the bumps remained. A few days later, the doctor's office called and prescribed an antibiotic for a bacterial infection and a double dose of Diflucan for fungal/yeast. The bumps took about a week to fade completely. Once they faded, I stopped using the cream and still felt the burning or itching off and on for months afterwards. I also experienced horrible proctitis - like I was passing glass which then burned.
The fact that it came back, I had anal irritation as well, and there was no culture taken from the rash the second time to be sure, made me even more afraid that it was herpes. After reading that blood tests so soon after a new exposure were pretty much worthless, I decided to get re-tested again after stressing and worrying for nine months/36 weeks for peace of mind. The test (IGG type specific for I and II) was negative for both.
I'm not sure what it was - maybe a fungal infection or dermatitis of some sort - but it was not herpes.
I hope this helps.
Hi and welcome. If you tested negative for hsv esp with the igg being below 1, then you dont have it.
I feel as you that the rash is dermatitus as did respond to the creams and no need to start over again.
I feel as you that the rash is dermatitus as did respond to the creams and no need to start over again.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
