Herpes on clitoris?

[moet88]

Hi, I had some itching/swelling/pain on the left side of my clitoral hood soon after getting my period last week. I woke up to a burning itching sensation & checked my vulva to find that one side of my clitoris was VERY swollen. I didn't do anything to it besides investigate with my fingers, & the symptoms went down some later that day, & periodically flared up again. I would have 1-2 hrs where everything would look fine, maybe minor swelling, and then it would come back, but not as bad as the 1st time. That evening I got a rash/hives on my hips (maybe unrelated). By midnight, almost my entire trunk and my upper arms were covered, & some on my face, thighs. I took Benadryl & slept.

Next day the body rash was gone except some on my arm & torso. But vulva conditions were about same, minor flare ups on the clitoral hood with itching and swelling that came & went. Each flare lasted ~45-90min. I used vagisil medicated wipes which worked for a little while. By evening the body rash returned, but not nearly as bad, just  around hips, torso,wrists,& face. Next day it was gone except for on my elbow.

I've been unable to find any lesions or spots on my vulva. I saw a nurse practitioner Tues morning & she couldn't either. She only saw minor irritation. She didn't think it was herpes & swabbed my vagina for yeast and bacteria, & were negative. She thinks it is allergic, b/c of the body rash. I got a prednisone shot & some prednisone pills, which I am still taking. The shot didn't immediately work--I had prolonged, minor itching & pain in the same clitoral region thru-out that day. It would disappear for 15-30 min but then return. The discomfort was not as severe as the 1st 2 days, but would come for longer periods of time. Could this be a sign of herpes? It has been a few days since & the clitoral issues are mostly subsided, but I still have a fleeting, itchy, raw feeling that comes and goes quickly, but no swelling, redness or lesions that I can find.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

No, that is extremely unlikely

Terri

[moet88]

Thank you Terri. Is it possible that while he was giving me oral through my clothes, his saliva could have soaked through my thin pants and underwear (no pantyliner) and carried virus particles and infected me?

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I don't think you have put yourself at risk for herpes infection,no.  If anything taking prednisone woulld make a herpes outbreak way, way worse.

Terri

[moet88]

And also, do my symptoms sound like a herpes outbreak? Would the prednisone be possibly masking full-blown symptoms?

[moet88]

Thanks Terri,

So do you think that given the activities I mentioned, I have put myself at risk for herpes infection? How well does the virus go through clothes or enter non-genital skin?

Thanks

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Many men do scratch their genital area routinely.  It's a guy thing, watch baseball players!

This alone does not concern me.  

The issue I do see pretty often is the IgG Herpeselect missing HSV 1 infection, but I've not seen it miss HSV 2 anywhere near as often.  You could certainly get a western blot if that would make you feel better.  Your provider could order the test directly from the University of Washington lab or you can become a clinic patient of ours and we can order it for you.

Terri

[moet88]

Ran out of room...

My boyfriend & I tested negative for both Herpes types (Herpeselect IgG). No numbers given, they simply read "negative." However, my boyfriend has been with many women before me. I’m a virgin. Could his result have been a false negative? I read on another post that IgG tests can become negative in an infected person. He says he’s never had symptoms, but I see him scratch down there often. His last sexual encounter was 2 yrs ago, so any infection he has should be at least that old. Should I ask him to retest with a western blot?

The only activities we have done include him rubbing his penis on my vulva, with him wearing running shorts and me in underwear and thin pants, and him rubbing my vulvar area with his fingers over my underwear (He would have been touching his penis first too). He has also sort of performed oral through my pajama pants. Could virus have gone through clothing if I was wet? I have read your pamphlet, and that herpes generally does not wick through clothing. However my clothing was thin, and very wet at the time. Also, he would have been rubbing on my buttocks, back, and torso with his hands after touching his penis. Could I have washed virus down to my genital region if I showered right after? Do you think these activities have put me at risk?

Can herpes enter the genital nerve region through the buttocks, back, or thighs?

I am really concerned about my boyfriend having a false negative result. His previous partners have included many women who have also had many, many partners. While my boyfriend is past that stage & is very loyal & sweet, I cannot help but fear he must have something from his younger days.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.