Confused and Scared

[Looking4Answers33]

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant from sexual assault/encounter (I would not terminate & welcome this baby with open arms).Unfortunately, about six weeks back (Feb. 26th),my ex and I reunited and engaged in sexual intercourse.He had been with another woman, and tho we had protected sex, the condom broke.I noticed 2 days later that I had some slight irritation and went to my OB. I was concern about herpes. (After the condom broke and he removed his penis, I noticed a large sore on the shaft of his penis,not a lesion, but it looked almost like a patch of raw, open skin.)  She said she saw some irritation at my vaginal opening and took a culture.She prescribed Valtrex, for precautionary measures until the results came back which were negative.2 days after starting the Valtrex my symptoms escalated.I had intense pain and burning, no itching or lesions anywhere, and no sign of fever or fatigue. I went back and a full culture smear as well as STD panel was run for trich, gonn, even yeast, all negative.She prescribed Flagyl for the swelling in my vagina & vulva area.I took this medication for 3 days and due to nasty side effects discontinued.I have been to 3 doctors since, and all tests are negative (one doctor mentioned vulva varicosities & vestibulitis) however, my symptoms continue to progress.Symptoms now are intense burning, rawness, irritation, extreme swelling, and of course fear.My current doctor doesn’t see the need for a blood test, and I know at only  6 weeks it is still to early to detect it from this exposure.Does this sound anything like herpes?I have read that not everyone presents with lesions on the initial outbreak.I have not had any clusters, lesions, or blisters to the area.(I am checking almost every day.)Please let me know if there are tests to take, or if I am just worried. I called my ex to see if he had been tested, he laughed saying he gets tested every 6 months and is clean, but he does routine testing & not herpes testing.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

No, even the most severe or prolonged genital herpes outbreak doesn't go on for 6 weeks.  And if you had herpes, you would have obvious open sores, not just pain and redness.  So you can be completely certain herpes isn' the problem.   All evidence is strongly against it.

[Looking4Answers33]

Thank you for such a quick response!  I have found a single provider, as the other doctors were all in the same OB group so I did see all of them on routine OB checkups (they required that I visit all of them at least once during the pregnancy).  Having the one doctor to see allows me to feel a little more secure in knowing that my treatment isn't being tossed amongst numerous opinions.  It does make sense that if it were herpes, the Valtrex would have made it better, not worse.  I also have had a hard time thinking that a herpes outbreak, even an initial one would last over six weeks. Have you ever seen such a case?  I appreciate your comments, as they do ease my fear about a possible herpes infection being the direct culprit.
Thank you again!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

We try to limit this forum to professional advice from the moderators.  Please use the STD community forum for person-to-person advice.  Thanks for your understanding.

HHH, MD

[km6010]

I am going through the same thing. I'm 31 weeks pregnant and for me it started at 12 weeks after intercourse. I have the same symptoms-burning, rawness, irritation-everyday. I too thought it was herpes as well and have seen more than one doctor and been tested many times for STDs. My OBG thinks that it is hormonal in the absence of infection, that he has seen cases like this in pregnancy before.
Have you tired changing the soap, laundry detergent( try dreft) and tiolet paper you use??
Also making sure you wear cotton underwear? That will rule out some allergies that you could have developed. I know you mentioned you tested negative for yeast, so did I but my doctor recommended that I try using a week of tetazole( antifugal cream) along with a week of baking soda baths to try to restore the vaginal ph. It didn't cure it a 100% but did make it a bit better. You vould also try using Replens, its a vag lubricant that is supposed to restore the ph of the vagina and it helps a bit with taking the rawness feeling away. My doctor also gave me Lidocane ointment that will at least numb the area and take the discomfort away. Its a little weird but helps. I completely understand what you are going through. I have lived the last 4 months in fear that I have some sort of std or serious problem with no real answers. I would love to hear if you get to the bottom of it but in the meantime I hope all this info helps.

KM

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Perhaps most important, you can be sure herpes isn't the problem.  It is virtually impossible that herpes symptoms would progress while taking valacyclovir (Valtrex).

Beyond that, I have no opinion. Direct examination by a health care provider is much more reliable than anything I could judge by written description, and I certainly cannot come up with a diagnosis if 3 doctors have not been able to do so.

I suggest you stick to one ObG provider and stop shopping around for different opinions.  Whatever you have, it most likely doesn't represent any serious risk to your pregnancy, your health, or your baby's health.  But in-person care is the only way to sort this out.

Good luck--  HHH, MD