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Herpes Symptoms
Hi Doctor, so I have been worried sick about some strange symptoms I have been having, I will also tell you that I worry more than anyone about stds so all of my attention is on my genitals a lot of the time and I am wondering if maybe it's just paranoia. I am 21 yrs old and female, and I have had 8 sexual partners, 3 of which were long relationships and we did not use condoms. For the past 3 and a half months, every single day, I have been having mild irritation and itching around my vagina( mostly outer), this is on and off all day, but it has been every day.. sometimes in this one certain spot, and sometimes everywhere. For these 3 or so months I have also been having sort of a dull ache feeling .. sometimes on my vagina lips, sometimes it feels like the bone under my buttocks, and sometimes just random little aches near that area. Also sharp little itches once in a while randomly around that area. I have had absolutely no blisters, cuts,bumps, or redness. I treated myself with Canesten oral because I thought maybe it was a yeast infection since for about a week of these three months I had a cottage cheese like discharge. It helped with the discharge and a bit of itching but nothing else. I have heard that herpes can be completely asymptomatic or be confused with a yeast infection? I was just examined by a doctor about a week ago and she said she did not see anything unusual, but she did not do a blood test for herpes. I don't really want to go for a blood test simply because i am scared it will come back positive.. I know it seems weird but if these aren't symptoms of herpes, I would rather just not know if i have asymptomatic hsv 2 because i know most people dont know that they have it, I know that you will most likely recommend a blood test though. I hope you can ease my mind a little bit, Thanks so much
~C
~C
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
A couple of brief follow-up questions are fine. For an entirely new problem, we ask users to start a new thread.
Truly asymptomatic infection, and symptomatic with mild symptoms, probably are about equally common. But your symptoms really don't suggest herpes. Among other things, herpes outbreaks always last at least a week to 10 days; never recur more often than every 4-6 weeks; and between those outbreaks, there are absolutely no symptoms at all. Also, the outbreak symptoms are usually in pretty much the same spot every time, and are limited in extent -- e.g. a patch on the labia, or elsewhere.
My guess is you'll agree that what I just wrote does not describe your symptoms. General genital itching or irritation is not a herpes symptom.
Please return with a final comment to let me know the result of your blood test. Let's hold off further discussion until then. But in the meantime, try not to worry about all this. I expect your HSV-2 test result to be negative. (Of course you could have a positive HSV-1 test, since 50% of all people in the US have HSV-1 -- usually oral, not genital.)
Truly asymptomatic infection, and symptomatic with mild symptoms, probably are about equally common. But your symptoms really don't suggest herpes. Among other things, herpes outbreaks always last at least a week to 10 days; never recur more often than every 4-6 weeks; and between those outbreaks, there are absolutely no symptoms at all. Also, the outbreak symptoms are usually in pretty much the same spot every time, and are limited in extent -- e.g. a patch on the labia, or elsewhere.
My guess is you'll agree that what I just wrote does not describe your symptoms. General genital itching or irritation is not a herpes symptom.
Please return with a final comment to let me know the result of your blood test. Let's hold off further discussion until then. But in the meantime, try not to worry about all this. I expect your HSV-2 test result to be negative. (Of course you could have a positive HSV-1 test, since 50% of all people in the US have HSV-1 -- usually oral, not genital.)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Your high anxiety about herpes indeed is showing. You have posted a couple of accurate comments, and I would say very helpful ones, in response to other persons' herpes concerns on the herpes community forum. Those comments show that intellectually, you know what symptoms of herpes typically are like. It seems you have a bit of a disconnect, i.e. difficulty transferring your intellectual knowledge about herpes to self-assurance that you probably don't have it.
But perhaps you are unaware that "atypical" genital herpes is something of a myth. Not totally an urban legend; truly atypical cases occur. But the large majority of the time, herpes symptoms are entirely typical. They may be mild and therefore not appreciated for what they mean -- but they are typical. Your description on one of the community forum threads, of typical herpes outbreaks, was excellent. (Well, except for back pain -- which is rarely a herpes symptom).
In any case, your symptoms really don't suggest genital herpes. I'm pretty sure that if HSV blood tests were done on 1000 persons with your symptoms and another 1000 without them, the proportion of positive results would be identical in the two groups.
But given your concerns, I have to ask a question back to you: Why in heaven's name haven't you had a blood test? Your prediction of my recommendation is right on the money: just do it. Most likely the results will be negative, and you'll know for sure you don't have it. If positive, especially for HSV-2, you can then be on the lookout for real symptoms -- which right now you seem not to have. In other words, if positive, most likely it would not explain the problems you have noticed. It would mean you have asymptomatic infection, plus some other explanation for the intermittent genital irritation.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Your high anxiety about herpes indeed is showing. You have posted a couple of accurate comments, and I would say very helpful ones, in response to other persons' herpes concerns on the herpes community forum. Those comments show that intellectually, you know what symptoms of herpes typically are like. It seems you have a bit of a disconnect, i.e. difficulty transferring your intellectual knowledge about herpes to self-assurance that you probably don't have it.
But perhaps you are unaware that "atypical" genital herpes is something of a myth. Not totally an urban legend; truly atypical cases occur. But the large majority of the time, herpes symptoms are entirely typical. They may be mild and therefore not appreciated for what they mean -- but they are typical. Your description on one of the community forum threads, of typical herpes outbreaks, was excellent. (Well, except for back pain -- which is rarely a herpes symptom).
In any case, your symptoms really don't suggest genital herpes. I'm pretty sure that if HSV blood tests were done on 1000 persons with your symptoms and another 1000 without them, the proportion of positive results would be identical in the two groups.
But given your concerns, I have to ask a question back to you: Why in heaven's name haven't you had a blood test? Your prediction of my recommendation is right on the money: just do it. Most likely the results will be negative, and you'll know for sure you don't have it. If positive, especially for HSV-2, you can then be on the lookout for real symptoms -- which right now you seem not to have. In other words, if positive, most likely it would not explain the problems you have noticed. It would mean you have asymptomatic infection, plus some other explanation for the intermittent genital irritation.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
A related discussion, Concerned and Confused about HSV 1 was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Obviously you have a paternalistic physician. There are providers in London who would agree that HSV blood testing is a reasonable option for you. Any of several NHS GUM clinics would be an option; or you could contact Freedom Health, a private London sexual health clinic. (MedHelp's international STD/HIV forums are moderated by FH physicians.) Probably there are other private care options as well.
That's not to say there are no problems with interpretation of HSV blood test results, and it is true that the test itself does not give information about anatomic location of an infection, if the result is positive. However, that's really only an issue for HSV-1, which is mostly oral but often genital. Virtually all positive HSV-2 results indicate genital infection.
That's not to say there are no problems with interpretation of HSV blood test results, and it is true that the test itself does not give information about anatomic location of an infection, if the result is positive. However, that's really only an issue for HSV-1, which is mostly oral but often genital. Virtually all positive HSV-2 results indicate genital infection.
no luck with this.. they tested me for everything but wouldn't do the blood test for herpes, i suggested the igg type specific and they still said they wouldn't do it because it doesnt tell them where the herpes is on the body.. I thought it was kind of dumb, the doctor told me that I most likely don't have it since I am so obsessive and would have had an outbreak by now.. I am going to try to move on and not worry, I posted in a separate question about something else, Thanks so much Doctor!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
emmajk: Asymptomatic infection is not a myth. See my comment Feb 21: "Truly asymptomatic infection, and symptomatic with mild symptoms, probably are about equally common."
I don't see any significant conflict between the advice on this forum and that from Grace' and others on the herpes community forum. Truly asymptomatic HSV-2 infection occurs -- but does it really matter whether that amounts to 20%, 40%, or 60% of infections? And how do you factor in that it might be only 20% in the first year after acquistion but perhaps 80% 5 years later? And how to you factor in those who believe their symptoms are herpes, but in fact are not?
One thing I believe to be true -- personal opinion, no studies available -- is that many (most? nearly all?) hyper-nervous or frightened people, concerned about catching herpes from a particular exposure, would notice symptoms. But the large majority of sexually active people aren't so freaked out, aren't paying attention to genital symptoms minute by minute, and therefore might not notice symptoms that to a frightened person would be obvious. Therefore, I often counsel frightened people that absence of symptoms probably is pretty good evidence they weren't infected -- even though in many people over half of all new infections might be "asymptomatic".
I don't see any significant conflict between the advice on this forum and that from Grace' and others on the herpes community forum. Truly asymptomatic HSV-2 infection occurs -- but does it really matter whether that amounts to 20%, 40%, or 60% of infections? And how do you factor in that it might be only 20% in the first year after acquistion but perhaps 80% 5 years later? And how to you factor in those who believe their symptoms are herpes, but in fact are not?
One thing I believe to be true -- personal opinion, no studies available -- is that many (most? nearly all?) hyper-nervous or frightened people, concerned about catching herpes from a particular exposure, would notice symptoms. But the large majority of sexually active people aren't so freaked out, aren't paying attention to genital symptoms minute by minute, and therefore might not notice symptoms that to a frightened person would be obvious. Therefore, I often counsel frightened people that absence of symptoms probably is pretty good evidence they weren't infected -- even though in many people over half of all new infections might be "asymptomatic".
I'm pretty confused myself. I keep reading from Grace that only 20% of those infected are TRULY asymptomatic & the rest just don't know what to look for. Therefore, how are the ones that are truly asymptomatic and the ones who are symptomatic with mild symptoms equally common? That's a huge difference, if the 20% is correct, that is...... Thank you in advance, Dr. HHH, for providing clarification.
Im sorry Doctor, but I have one more tiny question before my blood test (March 9th), I will be happy to pay again for you to answer this one too- is it somewhat of a myth that most people don't show any symptoms and don't know? or are these just people who are naive about their symptoms? It just freaks me out that I could be one of those asymptomatic people.. I have never had a cold sore either..
Thank you so much for your insight, it was very helpful, I am not sure about the rules of asking another question but I will ask anyways : Is it more common for someone to have genital herpes and not show any signs? or more likely for people to show signs (whether they realize or not)? Just curious about that too, but I am going to get a blood test so that I can stop being so paranoid and move on. Thanks again!
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
