Herpes or not? freaking out

[confused1]

I haven’t had sex since last exposure in June 29, 14. On June 29, 14 i had unprotected sex with a male of unknown std status. On 8/7/14 I began feeling a burning sensation on the outer part of my vagina. It was mild but uncomfortable. I went to my doctor and she did a visual inspection and saw no blisters. I have a white tongue and a pimple like rash on my chest and torso too. Tested me for std’s, BV, and hiv except herpes since its not recommended. All std testing came back negative. Burning sensation went away for a little while, mostly when on my period. I wasn’t really monitoring it since I didn’t know what could be the cause. I had been through a lot of stress and anxiety and blamed the changes in my body to that. In the first week of September, a couple days after my period again the burning sensation came back. I again went to see a gyn on 9/12/14 and she did a visual check and requested the same tests. HIV, STD’s, and she did an ultrasound. During the ultrasound she mentioned that an ovary didn’t look smooth but it wasn’t a big deal. She also did not see anything that indicated herpes. Still no answers to what was causing the burning sensation. However, I did convince her for a herpes blood test. All test came back negative except for the herpes test positive hsv1. The following week i went to Planned Parenthood and the NP mentioned my cervix looked irritated. She did std testing and again came back negative. She instructed me to come back for a pap in 2 weeks to make sure my cervix was clear. Went back had a pap smear with HPV test and that came pack normal. Now comes October and again after my period burning sensation comes back but this time I also had a yellow green booger type discharge for a couple days with no smell. I didn’t go to the doctor in October, basically losing all hope. October 29, 14 was the last day of my period and on Dec 3 the same burning sensation came back. I saw a gyn on 12/3/14. This time she mentioned I had cervicitis with a little discharge. She looked at my cervix and could see a lesion. She cultured it for herpes and it came back negative. She prescribed acyclovir 400mg 3x a day for 7 days. Aside from the burning sensation I also now felt a pressure in my abdomen with frequency in urinating for a few days. The burning sensation went away 12/10/14 but still felt the abdominal discomfort. The frequency feeling of urinating also has gone away. I don’t feel myself. All test so far have been negative for HIV, STI’s, BV, PAP SMEAR, HPV. Last HIV and HEP a,b,c test were taken 11/27/14 and came back negative. Male also tested neg for HIV. I have since asked him to test for HSV but hasn’t responded. I talked to the gyn over the phone and said it couldn’t be anything else but herpes since I tested positive for HSV1 and negative for everything else. So my questions are as follows:

1. Is it genital herpes symptoms every month after period causing cervicitis and should I be concerned?
2. 10.5 weeks post sexual encounter Herpes test reliable?
3. I have a white tongue and rash on my torso and chest that appeared a moth after as well that doesn’t go away and was wondering if its related?

I am really scared that if it is herpes causing my cervicitis what will happened to me. Will I have an outbreak every month?

[Terri Warren]

Have you ever in your life had a cold sore on your lip or in your nose? If yes, then that’s why you have HSV 1 antibody. Most people who are HSV 1 positive are infected orally but it is also possible, as you know, to be infected genitally. That most frequently occurs by receiving oral sex from someone who has oral infection. Were you the receiver of oral sex from this person in June? Also, the time from your having sex and the beginning of your symptoms is very long for new infection – normally signs of new infection appear within 2-10 days. HSV 1 genitally recurs quite infrequently , certainly not several times per year. It also does not cause a greenish yellow discharge. And it does not cause abdominal pain either. Herpes discharge, when it happens which is not often, presents as a clear watery discharge. I think it is very unlikely that HSV 1 is the cause of your symptoms. I am assuming that you have not experienced any specific lesions? Just the burning?

The best time for the most accurate herpes antibody test for HSV 2 (since you already know you have HSV 1) would be 16 weeks after the encounter.

The white tongue and torso rash are not symptoms of hopes.

I would not assume since the only test was that was positive was HSV 1 that that is the cause of your symptoms

Terri

[confused1]

Hello Terri~

I don’t recall ever getting a cold sore. I did receive oral sex on that day. I have also had the clear watery discharge for a day or two when the burning is going away. I was told the green yellow discharge was because of the cervicitis which Im having because of the herpes outbreaks.

What else could be causing my cervicitis? If it is herpes causing the cervicitis, how would I know when the outbreaks are over? Will I suffer any other problems on my cervix because of the monthly cervicitis? What else can I do to get a definite answer? Im tired of wasting money and seeing different doctors. Its been 5 months with no answers.

[Terri Warren]

Herpes does NOT cause a green discharge. Period.
Many things could be causing cervicitis. There are other sexually transmitted bacteria that have been identified in recent years that we cannot easily test for or test at all. Have you been treated with any antibiotics yet?

Terri

[confused1]

No lesions. Just the burning sensation. If I touch or press it doesn’t hurt at all.

[confused1]

I was given Metronidazole 500 MG 2x a day for 7 days. I have 2 more days to go. I believe since taking these I am feeling better. It hard to know for sure though because I am also taking the Acyclovir.

[Terri Warren]

The antibiotics that might be used to treat cervicitis would include doxycycline or azithromycin. Metronidzaole would be an additional antibiotic to treat bacterial vaginosis or trich, in the STD realm.

Terri

[confused1]

Hell~

In September the NP did give me a dose of azithromycin assuming I was positive for Chlamydia. I took the pill and went back in two weeks for the pap smear and she said my cervicitis cleared. So that is why is so confusing to me. The cervicitis or inflammation on my cervix has come back. This is why the last GYN said it had to be herpes outbreaks on my cervix because all else had come back negative. She also saw one lesion that she cultured but came back negative. She also said it could have been a Nabothian cyst on my cervix. What is left for me to do now? Accept the unsure diagnosis? Im desperate for an answer.

Thank you Terri!

[Terri Warren]

Our questions have run out here. If you have more questions, you can renew your subscription for two or three more questions. I’ll be happy to help you again if needed.

Terri

[confused1]

Hello Terri~

I payed for three more questions.

[Terri Warren]

OK, good

I think if the antibiotic cleared up the cervicitis, then we can assume it was bacterial. You may need a different antibiotic like doxy for a longer time period. Didn’t you tell me the swab test from the cervix was negative for HSV?

Terri

[confused1]

Hello~

Yes, cervix culture came back negative. But why would the burning symptom come every month after my period is over? Why would the cervicitis clear and come back. I haven’t had sex since June 29, 2014. If it isn’t herpes irritating my cervix than what else could it be? What else can I do or ask my Gyn to test me for? Last GYN said it had to be hsv causing it, there was nothing else to be tested for. Thank you Terri for your time.

[Terri Warren]

I don’t really know what might be going on here, but I suppose you could have some resistant bacterial infection of the cervix. Some things we cannot test for routinely yet that are bacterial. Have you had pap smears of the cervix to know if it could be HPV infection? If your HSV PCR was negative, then I”m not thinking it is herpes, I wonder why she thinks that, because there is no other obvious explanation? I’m guessing you are not FEELING the cervix irritation as most people cannot really feel things going on on the cervix – they might notice discharge or lower abdominal pain but feeling something on the cervix itself is not common. Are you certain the burning is not due to yeast?

Terri

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