Symptoms with negative results. Please Help!

[LostnScared123]

Early Jan. I had sex with my ex-boyfriend(Onlypartner in about a year).Brief oral by him and we began to have vaginal sex. First few minutes without a condom and the rest was with.A few days later I noticed two tiny red pimple-like bumps on the upper right side of my inner labia(about an inch apart). I wasn't sure what they were.thought maybe ingrown hairs from shaving. went tanning and afterwards I noticed the red pimple-like bumps were now bleedin sores.
(ex CLAIMS only other encounter was a one time oral sex after we split)

I went to the gyn as soon as they could fit me in a few days after the sores were present. They were starting to heal and the doctor thought they looked to be ingrown hairs from shaving and pointed out the hair follicles in each "sore".few days after they went away I had another sore on the upper left of my labia. almost exactly across from the top one that was on the right side.. Called the ob gyn back and they told me they couldn't take me for a few days.3 days later, Sore was almost healed. Diferent dr. told me possibly could be herpes and just told me to come back if the symptoms progressed.

In mid March, I noticed a pinching feeling on my perineum took a mirror and saw a little red scratch on the left side.Went back to the ob gyn said it didnt look like herpes.sent me to get blood work done at 10 weeks from possible exposure. The scratch became a sore and I got another across from it. Test came back negative for both types of HSV1 &2.

Recently had a stinging around my anus. New gyn swabbed for possible Stds. All were negative. He said it didnt sound like herpes. Took an Igg test after 16 weeks. waiting on results.

1.Do these sypmtoms sound typical for herpes?
2.HerpeSelect blood test at 10 weeks with possible symptoms would it be fair to say not enough time?
3.I aparently haven't been exposed to either type prior to this, would my primary outbreak be more symptomatic if that was indeed a herpes outbreak?
Thoughts? Thanks

[LostnScared123]

I got my results.They were negative just as you said they would be! I can leave all of this behind me and move on now! Thank you very much Doctor Hook!!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I predict your result will again be negative at 16 weeks.  At that time, in your situation with never having had HSV-1 or HSV-2, your results will be reliable and do not warrant repeating.  EWH

[LostnScared123]

Dr. I would first like to thank you for your response. I trust that you're right. It's a big relief to hear this. I would just like to add as of right now I do not have health insurance. I have spent hundreds of dollars these past 4 months just trying to find out what this could be. Spending almost 100 dollars each Dr. visit for them to just tell me they weren't really sure and to come back...I was so upset and stressed. I actually also missed my period the past two months(not pregnant tested already twice) and I believe it was also due to this.

I think you're reply will help calm me until I get my results(that alone I owe you a great deal of thanks!)

One further question, however. I know you said I can rely on my 16 week result, would you recommend re-testing at the 6 month mark for complete closure? Or do you feel there's almost no chance that I'll become positive then?

Many thanks to you and Dr. Handsfield for your knowledgeable and very informative forum.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The combination of having been examined by an experienced clinician who gave you a reasonable alternate explanation and a negative herpes test at 10 weeks makes it very unlikely that the symptoms you are experiencing are due to herpes.  Over half of blood tests are positive within 2 weeks of symptoms and the rest accrue steadily over time up to three or four months.  Thus a negative test at 10 weeks is strong but not absolute evidence that you do not have HSV.  If your 16 week test is negative as I suspect it is, you can be sure that this was not HSV.

In answer to your specific questions:
1.  Your symptoms are really not classical for HSV.  If this was a first episode of HSV (and it would have been since your blood test results were negative), I would expect additional symptoms and for them to last longer than the week or so that your initial lesions were present.
2.  See above. Strong evidence that you do not have HSV but not perfect.  On the other hand, your 16 week results should be taken as evidence that your symptoms were not due to HSV.
3.  See above- yes.  I would expect more prominent and prolonged symptoms.

As far as what this might be- tough to say.  Folliculitis (hair bumps) are certainly a reasonable explanation. They can recur may appear at opposing surfaces.  If the lesions recur again, I would suggest you work with your GYB to get HSV culture or PCR (these are swab, not blood tests)

Hope this helps.  EWH