Aa
Is this HSV-2 or another skin condition?
So, I have been celibate for 3, almost 4 years. I have only had sex for two years from 2010-2012 and had 4 sexual partners. Unfortunately, I was reckless in the past, and the majority of my sexual encounters were unprotected. The last time I was tested for herpes was in 2011 - I had an equivocal result for HSV-2 then retested a month later and had a negative result. I am now about to do blood tests for several STDs, including herpes and I'm becoming worried.
I am worried because I have always had on and off itchiness on my mons pubis and in my vulva area, nothing too severe or serious, and I normally just attributed it to having dry skin and eczema. I would occasionally have these bumps that were darker than my skin color and were always in areas where my pubic hair was (mons pubis and labia majora), they would sometimes be painful and/or itch, and sometimes I would accidentally scratch one and would cause it to bleed, and I can't remember if there ever was any pus. I always thought these were ingrown hair bumps - I have course/curly hair, so I figured that's what they were.
Currently, I am experiencing slight itching, pain and irritation (that feels like a burning sensation) on my vulva area and it does burn when I pee. I have noticed some lower abdominal pressure/pain as well. I have checked my vulva area and have never found any sores, blisters, bumps, warts or anything except for the occasional bumps I get on the areas with pubic hair. I did find 3 bumps on my mons pubis...they are darker colored, relatively small, painless and have a white center. They look like they may have hairs coming out of them as well, but I'm not sure.
Does any of this sound like HSV-2? If it's not, what other skin conditions could cause the occasional bumps? Does the burning and irritation sound like a UTI or am I having my first outbreak after years of being infected? Is is possible that all of my herpes sores are inside my vagina, and that's why I can't see them?
I am worried because I have always had on and off itchiness on my mons pubis and in my vulva area, nothing too severe or serious, and I normally just attributed it to having dry skin and eczema. I would occasionally have these bumps that were darker than my skin color and were always in areas where my pubic hair was (mons pubis and labia majora), they would sometimes be painful and/or itch, and sometimes I would accidentally scratch one and would cause it to bleed, and I can't remember if there ever was any pus. I always thought these were ingrown hair bumps - I have course/curly hair, so I figured that's what they were.
Currently, I am experiencing slight itching, pain and irritation (that feels like a burning sensation) on my vulva area and it does burn when I pee. I have noticed some lower abdominal pressure/pain as well. I have checked my vulva area and have never found any sores, blisters, bumps, warts or anything except for the occasional bumps I get on the areas with pubic hair. I did find 3 bumps on my mons pubis...they are darker colored, relatively small, painless and have a white center. They look like they may have hairs coming out of them as well, but I'm not sure.
Does any of this sound like HSV-2? If it's not, what other skin conditions could cause the occasional bumps? Does the burning and irritation sound like a UTI or am I having my first outbreak after years of being infected? Is is possible that all of my herpes sores are inside my vagina, and that's why I can't see them?
Good morning! I just wanted to give ya'll an update. I received my test results today and I was negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2! I'm going to try to move on from this now and practice safe sex in the future, as well as discuss status with my future partners. Thank you!
I'm still continuing to experience the slight pain and irritation...except now the sensation is in my rectal/anal area. I'm so confused and scared. The pain in my vulva area appears to be leaving and comes and goes. I don't know what to think and waiting for these results is driving me crazy.
1 Comments
I wish you luck. I still believe what you are experiencing is not herpes related. Try and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Have some wine!!
You can't say it's hsv when no lesions or papercut type lesions are present. Read the resent thread about being sure it's hsv
1 Comments
Okay, will do! I just don't know what to think at this point.
It is always possible to test equivocal or low positive. I had one like so many others. After all this time if you were positive for herpes a new test would have a higher value then a low false positive or equivocal.
2 Comments
Okay. Well, I went to urgent care and tested negative for a UTI. The doctor did another pap and I came up negative again for bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection. He checked me for sores and lesions and did not find anything. I'm really scared and confused - right now it seems like HSV-2 is the only culprit for my symptoms. I don't know what else to think. My blood work was done today as well, and I will meet with my doctor to go over my labs on next Thursday.
The urgent care doctor is going to send the urine and swab samples to a lab for more in-depth testing, but I'm not sure it even matters at this point.
Hsv2 tests are very sensitive and equivocal and low false positives are common. The fact you retested and it was negative is all the proof you need. False negatives are not an issue with hsv2 igg tests.
1 Comments
Thank you again. I accept the 2011 result...but does it mean it's possible for me to test in the equivocal range again or get a low false positive?
I'm going to urgent care today to test for a UTI but the burning sensation is now gone and I'm afraid it wasn't a uti but an outbreak that has now ended. I also asked them to examine me for any physical symptoms of herpes.
I'm going to urgent care today to test for a UTI but the burning sensation is now gone and I'm afraid it wasn't a uti but an outbreak that has now ended. I also asked them to examine me for any physical symptoms of herpes.
None of what you describe suggests hsv at all. I wouldn't worry about your tests being positive. As far as other conditions, it's very difficult to pin down on an online forum. Most if not all of this sounds like normal genital conditions. Bumps are common so is itching in that area. Dry skin, moist skin...etc will all lead to itchiness.
1 Comments
Thank you. I've just become very paranoid because of the equivocal I had in 2011 and because I've heard that one of my former sexual partners has herpes. I'm just so scared.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
