Still Concerned

[infection or anxiety]

Back in Sept I posted a concern on the HIV forum. I am a female who had uprotected sex with an old friend who's std/hiv status is unknown to me. Now I am wondering if I have acquired herpes. Every since the 1st exposure on July 7-9 my body has not been right. I have been going back and forward for testing and everything has been neg. I went to the doc on 10/17 and took a full std panel and everything came back neg except hsv1. I have never been diagnosed with this but I do have cold sores occasionally. I was with this same man again on 10/21at the end of my cycle and starting experiencing another discharge and went to the doc 1wk later. Everything was neg but was given a shot of penicillian, wk of doxy and 3 flagyl pills. On Nov 14 I went back to the doc because I had what I thought was hemorroids. I have never engaged in anal sex. My doc gave me a cream & informed me that I had a yeast infection. I used a prescription cream for the yeast & the discharge never went away. I went back to the doc & she informed me that I had a bacteria infection that is not contagious & prescribed metronidazole & said that the hemorroids are healing fine. I started having pain in my side & have finished taking all the meds. I am going to the doc tomorrow due to still having a discharge(white). I have had what I thought were razor bumps on the top of my vagina which itched. There were never any blistering. I also have had several pimples in my face which I rarely ever get pimples. Not even sure if they are pimples. I don't have any open sores. I have been going back & forward from yeast to bacteria. My questions are

1. Could there be something that the doc's are not catching?
2. How long should I wait to be tested with another full std panel?
3. Could the hemorroids be hsv2 or something even without have anal sex?
3. Are there any specific questions I should ask my doctor the next time I go back?

I am really ready to clear this up. I guess you do reap everything you sew

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I can't tell whether your doctor's term "vaginal infection" means BV.  He is the one to ask.

I deleted a comment from username drj061299.  If you didn't see it, don't worry.  If you did, I deleted it because most of the information was wrong. There are no data to suggest BV is caused by yeast meds, and the ideas about sex without lubrication, heat and friction have no basis.  (First time I ever heard such a thing....)

I can't help further.  Follow up with your provider.  This thread is closed.

[infection or anxiety]

Thanks for replying. Is a vaginal bacteria infection the same as bacteria vaginosis? My doc told me that the bacterial infection that I have is not contagious. Can men get bacteria infections and pass them?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I would like to help but probably cannot.  Regardless of "My body has not been right" and your other symptoms, nothing you mention suggests herpes.  Even though herpes can be confused with yeast infections and can cause nonspecific symptoms like vaginal discharge, such confusion generally is limited to patients who have not been professionally evaluated.  A gynecologist or other experienced health care provider is not likely to miss herpes.

To your specific questions:

1) "Could" there be something the doc is missing?  Possibly yes, but probably not herpes or any other STD.

2) Herpes and hemorrhoids are not likely to be confused with one another.

3) Since herpes is on your mind, ask your doc about having a blood test for HSV-2.  You can expect a negative result.  If positive, it won't necessarily explain your symptoms (you could have asymptomatic herpes plus something else causing the discharge etc).  But if negative, which is what I expect, it will conclusively exclude herpes as a cause.  Also, talk to your partner about all this.  As an "old friend", most likely he would tell the truth if he has a past history of herpes, and might be happy to be tested for it himself to see if he could possibly have infected you.

Beyond these things, my best advice is that you follow up with your doc and follow his or her advice.  Ask whether he or she has evaluated you for bacterial vaginosis, if that hasn't come up before now.  You could also discuss possible referral to an ObG who subspecializes in infectious diseases.  Such persons can be found in most major population centers, typically in association with larger medical centers or medical schools.

Finally, a word of reassurance:  You describe nothing that sounds serious.  Almost certainly you have nothing that will ever seriously harm your health or that of a future sex partner.

Regards--  HHH, MD