Is this herpes?!
Question: I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM VAGINAL STREP WHICH CAUSES ME TO HAVE A YELLOW DISCHARGE WHICH HAS NO SMELL ODOR OR ITCH AND MY GYN SAYS IS FINE. SHE HAS CULTURED ME TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS AND BOTH MY URINE N VAGINAL CULTURE CAME BACK WITH STREP. I HAVE A BF WHO I HAVE BEEN HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX WITH FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS AND WAS AFRAID THAT HE GAVE ME SOMETHING SHE TOLD ME MY BODY PRODUCES THIS STREP. I STARTED TO HAVE A HEAVY DISCHARGE, BUT I HAD SEX THAT NIGHT WHICH HELPED THE DISCHARGE DRAMTICALLY. BUT A WEEK LATER I NOTICED A RED BUMP ON MY OUTER VAGINAL LIP AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER I FELT A LUMP ON THE SAME LIP BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIP. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR YESTERDAY TO HAVE MYSELF CHECKED SINCE I COULDNT GET AN APPT WITH MY GYN. HE LOOKED AT THE RED SPOT AND SAID IT COULD BE HERPES SO HES GOIN TO TEST FOR IT, BUT HE NEVA CULTURED IT. I THOUGHT IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS A HAIR BUMP BECAUSE I HAVE SUFFERED FROM THEM BEFORE. HE DREW BLOOD AND SAID HE WILL CALL ME WITH THE RESULTS. THIS MORNING I WOKE UP ONLY TO FIND RED BUMPS ALL OVER THE OUTER AND NOW A FEW ON THE INNER SIDE OF MY VAGINAL LIPS. IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN SOMEONE GETS CHICKEN POXS OR AND ALLERGIC REACTION TO SOMETHING. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HAVE YOU HAD ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS WITH YOUR VAGINAL STREP? I AM WORRIED OUT OF MY MIND ABOUT THIS BEING HERPES, I HAVE BEEN CRYING ALL MORNING BECAUSE I DONT KNOW AND WONT KNOW FOR A COUPLE DAYS. IM A 21 YR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO FEELS LIKE MY LIFE IS OVER IF THIS HERPES. MY DISCHARGE FROM THE STREP HAD BECOME HEAVY AGAIN AND THIS IS WHAT MADE ME THINK IT COULD BE A REACTION. I HAQVE BEEN SCRUBBING MY VAGINAL AREA WHEN I SHOWER AND HAVE BEEN WIPING THE RED SPOTS WITH ALCOHOL AND APPLYING ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT TO IT... IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME WITH SOME ADVICE. IM TRYIN TO GET ALL THE FACTS BEFORE I CONFRONT HIM ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
Answers: I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM VAGINAL STREP WHICH CAUSES ME TO HAVE A YELLOW DISCHARGE WHICH HAS NO SMELL ODOR OR ITCH AND MY GYN SAYS IS FINE. SHE HAS CULTURED ME TWICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS AND BOTH MY URINE N VAGINAL CULTURE CAME BACK WITH STREP. I HAVE A BF WHO I HAVE BEEN HAVING UNPROTECTED SEX WITH FOR THE LAST 9 MONTHS AND WAS AFRAID THAT HE GAVE ME SOMETHING SHE TOLD ME MY BODY PRODUCES THIS STREP. I STARTED TO HAVE A HEAVY DISCHARGE, BUT I HAD SEX THAT NIGHT WHICH HELPED THE DISCHARGE DRAMTICALLY. BUT A WEEK LATER I NOTICED A RED BUMP ON MY OUTER VAGINAL LIP AND THEN A FEW DAYS LATER I FELT A LUMP ON THE SAME LIP BUT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIP. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR YESTERDAY TO HAVE MYSELF CHECKED SINCE I COULDNT GET AN APPT WITH MY GYN. HE LOOKED AT THE RED SPOT AND SAID IT COULD BE HERPES SO HES GOIN TO TEST FOR IT, BUT HE NEVA CULTURED IT. I THOUGHT IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS A HAIR BUMP BECAUSE I HAVE SUFFERED FROM THEM BEFORE. HE DREW BLOOD AND SAID HE WILL CALL ME WITH THE RESULTS. THIS MORNING I WOKE UP ONLY TO FIND RED BUMPS ALL OVER THE OUTER AND NOW A FEW ON THE INNER SIDE OF MY VAGINAL LIPS. IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN SOMEONE GETS CHICKEN POXS OR AND ALLERGIC REACTION TO SOMETHING. MY QUESTION TO YOU IS HAVE YOU HAD ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS WITH YOUR VAGINAL STREP? I AM WORRIED OUT OF MY MIND ABOUT THIS BEING HERPES, I HAVE BEEN CRYING ALL MORNING BECAUSE I DONT KNOW AND WONT KNOW FOR A COUPLE DAYS. IM A 21 YR OLD COLLEGE STUDENT WHO FEELS LIKE MY LIFE IS OVER IF THIS HERPES. MY DISCHARGE FROM THE STREP HAD BECOME HEAVY AGAIN AND THIS IS WHAT MADE ME THINK IT COULD BE A REACTION. I HAQVE BEEN SCRUBBING MY VAGINAL AREA WHEN I SHOWER AND HAVE BEEN WIPING THE RED SPOTS WITH ALCOHOL AND APPLYING ANTIBIOTIC OINTMENT TO IT... IF YOU CAN PLEASE HELP ME WITH SOME ADVICE. IM TRYIN TO GET ALL THE FACTS BEFORE I CONFRONT HIM ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH
By your complaints its likely to be herpes. Herpes genitalis to be more precise it caused by herpes virus 2. But there is no need at all to feel sad /cry about it. The condition is treatable. In a country like india viral infections are usually not diagnosed by cultures (cultures are usually done for bacteria) and antibiotics are for bacteria not viruses so it wont help if its herpes. I suggest no need to panic just do as your gynae/doctor says i think if they are suspecting it herpes they will give you a 5day course of an antiviral drug <aciclovir/ganciclovir> after which you should be all right
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a highly contagious infection usually spread through intercourse with a person with infected sores, but it can be passed through oral or anal sex as well. It may also be spread even when sores are not visible.
Genital herpes can also be transmitted (spread) to a newborn during birth if the mother has an active infection.
What Causes Genital Herpes?
Usually, this infection is caused by the herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) although herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), the virus responsible for cold sores, may occasionally cause this disease. It can be spread by an infected partner who does not have any sores and may not even know they have the disease.
How Common Is Genital Herpes?
At least 45 million American adults and adolescents have genital herpes -- that's 1 out of every 4 to 5 people, making it one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Since the late 1970s, the number of Americans with genital herpes infection has increased 30%, mostly in teens and young adults.
Genital herpes is more common in women than in men.
How Do I Know If I Have Genital Herpes?
Most people infected with genital herpes have very minimal or no signs or symptoms of their disease. The first attack of herpes usually follows this course:
Skin on or near the sex organ becomes inflamed. Skin may burn, itch or be painful.
Blister-like sores appear on or near the sex organs.
Sores open, scab over, and then heal.
Symptoms that may also be present when the virus first appears include:
Swollen glands
Fever
Headache
Burning when passing urine
Muscle aches
The first outbreak of herpes can last for several weeks. After the outbreak, the virus retreats to the nervous system, where it remains inactive until something triggers it to become active again.
Typically, another outbreak can appear weeks or months after the first, but it almost always is less severe and shorter than the first episode. Although the infection can stay in the body indefinitely, the number of outbreaks tends to decrease over a period of years.
How Often Do Outbreaks Happen?
How often outbreaks occur depends on the person. On average, people with herpes experience about four outbreaks a year. The first outbreak usually is the most painful and takes the longest to heal. The pain and recovery time often decrease with each outbreak.
What Triggers an Outbreak?
It depends on the person. Some commonly reported triggers include:
Stress
Illness
Surgery
Vigorous sex
Diet
Monthly period
How Are Genital Herpes Diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose genital herpes by visual inspection if the outbreak is typical, and by taking a sample from the sore(s). But, HSV infections can be difficult to diagnose between outbreaks. Your doctor may check for ulcers internally -- on the cervix in women and the urethra in men. Blood tests that detect HSV-1 or HSV-2 infection may be helpful, although the results are not always easy to interpret.
How Is Genital Herpes Treated?
There is no cure for genital herpes, but your doctor can prescribe anti-virus medicines, in pill or ointment form, that may help the sores heal faster.
Over-the-counter painkillers may help with the discomfort.
If recurrences of your genital herpes are frequent, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication (Famvir, Valtrex and Zovirax) to take on a regular basis to help suppress the outbreaks.
How Does Genital Herpes Affect a Pregnant Woman and Her Baby?
Outbreaks of genital herpes during pregnancy have been associated with miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity, and herpes infection causing severe brain injury and possible blindness in the baby. Still, women with herpes can give birth to healthy babies. If you have herpes and plan to have children, discuss your illness with your doctor.
How Can I Protect Myself From Herpes?
Do not have sex with someone who has an open sore on his or her sex organs.
Always use a latex condom during sex.
Limit your number of sex partners.
Taking antiviral medications (like Valtrex) can reduce the risk of a person with genital herpes from spreading the disease, but that doesn't eliminate the risk. Be sure to practice the measures listed above to decrease risk.
Can Herpes Be Cured?
There is no cure for herpes. Once a person has the virus, it remains in the body. The virus lies inactive in the nerve cells until something triggers it to become active again. These herpes "outbreaks," which can include the painful herpes sores, can be controlled with medication.
What Can I Do If I Have Herpes?
Many people who find out that they have herpes feel depressed knowing that they will always have the virus and can give it to others. But you are not alone. If you have herpes, you should learn all that you can about herpes. Information will help you to manage your disease and feel better about yourself. It also helps to talk about your illness with a trusted friend.
If you have herpes, you can still have sex, if you use a condom (and/or have your partner use a condom), and you tell your partner about your illness. You also can still have children.
For More Information
Contact the CDC National STD Hotline: 1 (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636)
National Herpes Hotline: 1 (919) 361-8488
What you have to do now is calm down and be strong no matter what happends you are not alone and there are millions who don't die from this and there is treatment.If I can be anymore help.Feel free to contact me.
M.D.Happy