Symptoms/Testing Timing

[Questioning57]

Hello there!

I hope this message finds you well after having had COVID. Beginning on 5/19 I noticed a lump under my skin. It was slightly painful to the touch but no membrane over the top. After about a week it grew to be about the size of a large pea but again, no membrane over the top and no draining. After the swelling seemed to lessen under the skin, by week two it looked like almost like a large pimple, but still no drainage. I went to my OB to have and STD screen run as I had protected vaginal intercourse six weeks prior with an HSV positive male (likely HSV2). My OB visually assessed the area (and squeezed pus from the area) and determined it to likely be an abscess, and prescribed doxycycline for seven days. My STD screening came back negative for everything, with my HSV1 and HSV2 levels being <.91. Would my levels have begun to elevate if this is an outbreak by week two? I know I technically tested early, and I will test again at thirteen weeks. It’s now two and a half weeks and the discomfort has been about the same for the past week and I can’t tell if the antibiotics are helping. I haven’t had any other areas pop up either. Any insight as to whether I should still be worried about HSV (for this particular spot) at this point? Thank you so much for your time.

[Questioning57]

I forgot to mention that the lump was found on the upper right part of my labia majora.

[Questioning57]

So sorry, one more thing to note is that as time has gone on, this has remained a lump (if not smaller than original) with a smaller lump next to it (appearing after about a week). I do not have any other symptoms (other than some stinging pain and discomfort with the bumps) and I feel relief from these symptoms after an epsom salt soak in a hot bath. Thank you again, Terri.

[Terri Warren]

Your lump sounds nothing like herpes to me. I think your doctor’s assessment sounds spot on. Herpes lesions are generally water blisters and don’t have pus in them. I hope your doctor ran a bacterial culture on the pus from the lesion and that you’ll find out what bacteria was growing there. Doxy may well be the best antibiotic. I just don’t think this sounds like herpes to me at all.

Terri

[Author]

Posts