Is it herpes? What can I do to make it stop?

[lilmay]

So about 2 months ago, I started having unprotected and protected sex with a new person. During this time, I was experiencing a lot of itchiness and some burning. When realizing this, I decided to go to my gynecologist who tested me for all vaginal bacterial infections and all stds. The results came out negative even though I have been having this constant itching and burning on my labia. I have also learned that when I have sex, the itching and burning gets more intense and sometimes my whole vulva would be inflamed for a day or two. My sexual partner also got tested for stds and he was negative as well. I don't know what to do to make this itching and burning stop. I stopped having sex for more than a month now and the problem still hasn't gone away. I keep thinking its herpes even though I got a blood test and never had any kind of sores and my partner has never experienced any kind of symptoms for it. What can I do?

[moo196]

May I ask how old you are?

[lilmay in reply to moo196]

i’m 19

[HitMan21]

It may just be bacterial vaginosis. If you aren't experiencing other symptoms, your vagina could just be reacting to a bacterial infection. Your doctor can give you flagyl (I believe is how you spell it), a type of antibiotics to help your body fight off the infection. It is a good idea to get your partner a prescription as well. It's a good possibility you are transferring it to one another and you are becoming more inflamed during sex because the infection hasn't been taken care of. Please go see your gynecologist.

[lilmay in reply to HitMan21]

That’s what I was thinking but my gynecologist tested me for BV but it came out negative.

[HitMan21 in reply to lilmay]

You can have BV with a negative test result. Been there done that. Just tell your doc you want the meds, take it and see if it helps. It could also be your diet and your bf could also be the BV host, he needs to take meds as well.

[Galen70 in reply to HitMan21]

there is no evidence treating the male partners of women with BV makes any difference , and there is no evidence diet does either . There is no such thing as a "BV host "

[lilmay in reply to HitMan21]

I went to a women’s health clinic this morning and got a vaginal smear for a yeast infection and it came out positive even though when i went to my gynecologist a month ago, it was negative.

[HitMan21 in reply to lilmay]

I'm glad you got to the root. Despite my name I am a woman so I know about this first hand. Go figure. Lol

[HitMan21 in reply to lilmay]

Actually my gyno (I'm a lady) explained bacterial infections can be prevented with a better diet. Specifically one that includes yogurt. Secondly, males can be treated for bacterial infections as well because they can contract the infection and although the woman takes the meds, he can reinfect her. Males that are not fully circumcised or men who do not wash well can actually cause a woman's PH balance to be off which in most cases causes a bacterial infection. Other things can cause a BI as well but that's just one of them. So both from a medical and personal standpoint, I rest my case. Thank you. Lol

[moo196]

Ok, if all tests on you and yr partner are negative, perhaps it could be an allergy to something? Changed yr washing powder? Shower gel? Shampoo? Condoms? Toilet paper?

I was thinking a possible skin condition like lichen sclerosus.... Bit like eczema otherwise. What do the doctors think?

[lilmay in reply to moo196]

I don’t believe that I changed anything to my washing routine. After going to the doctor and getting tested, they just said that it was irritated and they never gave me a solution to my problem when my tests came out negative (I think the reason why they never told me what I can do to stop it is because I was freaking out about the symptoms and they got annoyed with me). Although, I did make an appointment to a different doctor tomorrow and making sure that I get a prescription or some product that can make these symptoms go away.

[lilmay in reply to lilmay]

Also, my doctor did believe that it could be a bacterial infection such as BV or a yeast infection. But when the results came back, it was all negative for those.

[Quietmouse]

sounds like you've got bv/thrush or maybe even both? (you can have both at the same time.) I think you should go see your GP and tell him/her you've got bv and u want antibiotics. You'll most likely get thrush after taking the antibiotics so i recommend getting a fluconazole single dose tablet for the thrush all at once for that as well & take it about 2 days after treatment for the BV. Your symptoms sound very familiar to mine when i got BV when i first started dating my boyfriend. Also a tip: you should get him treated as well and you shouldn't have unprotected sex all time switch it up a bit with condoms ☺ xx

[lilmay in reply to Quietmouse]

I just went to the womens health clinic at my college and they did a vaginal smear for thrush and it turns out that I do have thrush. Although I do think it’s weird how when I was at my gynecologist a month ago and was tested for thrush/BV, it came out negative :/

[Galen70]

What country are you in ? Sexual health clinic testing with microscopy is more sensitive than swabs from the GP or gynae, if you are in the UK. I agree with some posters here that these symptoms could be related to a genital skin condition, but also would consider vulvodynia ( female genital pain syndrome ) if all testing and examination was negative. I do not believe this is herpes simplex - not sure what the blood test you got done was - if this was herpes simplex serology .

[lilmay in reply to Galen70]

I am in the United States and My blood test was an Igg test but I took it too early for it to be accurate.

[Galen70 in reply to lilmay]

I see above that you have posted that you had a swab that grew candida today ( a smear is a test for cancer - pap smear - a swab is a test to grow bacteria ) . So perhaps this is the source of your symptoms - you can either take a single fluconazole tablet 150mgs or a clotrimazole 500mgs pessary, with clotrimazole 1% cream for 1-2 weeks. remember 1 in 5 women have yeasts living normally in the vagina, so it may be red herring also

[lilmay in reply to Galen70]

Well, I now just learned the difference between a pap smear and a swab test, thanks for that! I just think it’s really weird how my gynecologist didn’t detect the candida but my colleges clinic did. I think what I am going to do is tale the medicine for this yeast infection and if my symptoms don’t go away at all, I’m gonna get a blood test for herpes in August.

[lilmay in reply to lilmay]

Is it possible that there can be a false negative yeast infection from my gynae? The feeling of getting a swab test at my gynae was completely different from getting at the women’s health clinic.

[Galen70 in reply to lilmay]

they should be the same kind of test

[Galen70 in reply to lilmay]

Its good that it was negative - almost surprising as by the age of 50, 50% of the population have been exposed and the vast majority are asymptomatic. I would not have felt your symptoms were herpes related in any case.

[Monique1649]

Vaginal yeast infection not always apparent to a doctor? It is treated with over the counter Canesten suppositories. Perhaps allergic to latex condoms? You can also have an allergy to your partner, or his ejaculation is to acidic? If you use lubricant it may be an allergy to that? Urinate and wash immediately after sex and see if that helps.