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Heroes or Vulvadynea
Started jan - 2 smAll itchy bumps one on each labia exactly same position - never gone away but not visible to eye. Slowly increasing pain/stinging/burning sensation in labia - never had a single breakout - relentless - never goes away. Small chronic itchy bumps along grove - equal to both sides - after months decided to apply apple cider vinegar which worked. Blood test show only hsv1 - I have had a lifetime if cold sores. Now have burning stinging in bulbs/ hands/ feet constantly and relentlessly ? Herpes neuropathy (god I hope not) started on valtrex which has helped immensely and cannot come off it as it all comes back - even on valtrex (500 mg) I have very slight continuous tingling vulva and worse in fingers....this has ruined my life....any advice? I remain unconvinced that it's genital herpes - could hsv1 be systemic without being an sdt? The sexual health clinic and gps I have been to are not experienced enough and I find I am having to manage my own condition ....ANY advice would b appreciated.
If your Valtrex is definitely keeping your symptoms down, then you probably have a virus that responds to it - certainly possibly HSV.
If you have had these bumps longer than 48 hours, a swab may come back with a false negative. If you have a fresh lesion, get them swabbed right away.
HSV-1 can be contracted from a kiss, but it would not cause genital outbreaks. The virus does not "cross the equator" from above to below the waist, or vice versa. It can, however, be transferred to the genitals via oral sex, and would then be considered genital HSV-1. 1/3 of all new genital infections are caused by HSV-1. Less commonly, it can be transferred via genital-to-genital contact, as it does shed genitally, though not as often as orally.
I doubt your genital symptoms are HSV-1, if you've had a lifetime of cold sores. Your antibodies would protect you against re-infection elsewhere on your body. It could be a new infection of HSV-2, if you had sex with a new partner who is positive for type 2, AND you had your blood test earlier than 4 months past the last time you had sex. Herpes can present in any number of ways, and in fact could be a mild first episode in cases in which the patient had a prior oral HSV-1 infection, as you did. However, your symptoms could also be from other conditions. See a doctor to rule out other causes.
I highly recommend another reliable blood test now, preferably the Western Blot, which would be conclusive. Antibodies to HSV-2 would certainly have generated enough to trigger a positive result, if you are carrying the virus at all. If you've ever had chickenpox, you should also ask your doctor whether your earlier symptoms could have been due to shingles.
Good luck to you - I hope you find both the cause and relief soon.
If you have had these bumps longer than 48 hours, a swab may come back with a false negative. If you have a fresh lesion, get them swabbed right away.
HSV-1 can be contracted from a kiss, but it would not cause genital outbreaks. The virus does not "cross the equator" from above to below the waist, or vice versa. It can, however, be transferred to the genitals via oral sex, and would then be considered genital HSV-1. 1/3 of all new genital infections are caused by HSV-1. Less commonly, it can be transferred via genital-to-genital contact, as it does shed genitally, though not as often as orally.
I doubt your genital symptoms are HSV-1, if you've had a lifetime of cold sores. Your antibodies would protect you against re-infection elsewhere on your body. It could be a new infection of HSV-2, if you had sex with a new partner who is positive for type 2, AND you had your blood test earlier than 4 months past the last time you had sex. Herpes can present in any number of ways, and in fact could be a mild first episode in cases in which the patient had a prior oral HSV-1 infection, as you did. However, your symptoms could also be from other conditions. See a doctor to rule out other causes.
I highly recommend another reliable blood test now, preferably the Western Blot, which would be conclusive. Antibodies to HSV-2 would certainly have generated enough to trigger a positive result, if you are carrying the virus at all. If you've ever had chickenpox, you should also ask your doctor whether your earlier symptoms could have been due to shingles.
Good luck to you - I hope you find both the cause and relief soon.
Hi, herpes sores are not on both sides but only one and they donot remain nonstop. You need to find out what the bumps are so have them swabbed or scrapped and have a PCR test performed.
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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.
