Treating HPV with Aldara now Herpes like ulcers!!

[Micro123]

I have genital HPV and I was treating the warts using Aldara. Applied a lot of the cream Monday to the outside of lower labia minora. Wednesday the labia was hard, swollen and really sore. Friday the swelling was reduced and in it place were 2 sore lesions located just inside the labia.

I am now convinced it is herpes from looking at pictures online and reading the symptoms. I am also experiencing tingling down there too! I also have a decreased appetite although this could be from worry.

I am going to visit my doctor tomorrow just wanted to know if it could be anything else and by some miracle NOT Herpes? *Wishful thinking*

Worried beyond belief at this stage :-(

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Good news.

Terri

[Micro123]

Results came back negative for both viral and bacterial thankfully.

Turns out it was an irritation and is practically back to normal already! Now back to removing warts.

Thank you guys for your support :-)

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Sounds good.

Terri

[Micro123]

Thanks for your feedback.

I went to the doctor on Monday she said it did not look like a typical Herpes sore. But regardless she took a swab to be sent for both viral and bacterial testing.

Obviously there is no guarantee that it may not be Herpes. But for now she said not to jump to any conclusions - easier said than done right :-)

I should have the results by the end of the week. I will keep you posted.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I have definitely seen aldara cause very significant ulcers in the genital area, for sure!  Eight percent of people who use aldara have irritation from the medicine, it is part of the way the medicine functions, to cause enough irritation to bring immune cells to the surface of the skin to become of aware of the virus being there.  

Having said that, if you didn't have this reaction to Aldara the first time, you definitely need to get these lesions evaluated and swab tested by PCR for herpes.  It could also be that the Aldara irritated the area enough that it caused a herpes outbreak to happen.  

Please let me know who this goes.

Terri

[Micro123]

I also forgot to mention my last full screening for STDs was in early February. All clear with the exception of HPV. I've had 2 unprotected sexual encounters since then with the same person also the same person I was sleeping with before my last screening.

I'm assuming I could have been infected since then and that the herpes were triggered when I was treating the HPV warts. This is my second outbreak of warts did not have any reaction to Aldara first time around. However I did not have warts in the labia area that time around?

Thank you for ANY advice/information provided!