Question:
I was wondering if someone could help me out. I don't know if i have have GH or not. I have bumps in my vaginal area and they sometimes get really huge and release a fluid and are at times very, very painful. I have never been to the doctor to be diagnosed due to the fact that I am way too scared/embarassed. I don't really have anyone to talk to that I can trust and no one really knows about my situation ( and I would like to keep it that way). I really can't remember how long I've had them but it has been quite some time.I am so scared and confused I really wish I had some one that I could trust. I just feel so nasty and digusting ,m and I am so clean; some say I am over compulsive. I really don't know where I could have got this from. I haven't had many sex partners at all , very few as a matter of fact. I am pretty sure that my past partners don't have anything, is it possible I could have gotten this from a toilet seat or something? Ihave so many questions bottled up inside, I have never really opened up like this at all since this has occured. I can't really seem to understand why this has happened to me, I always had safe sex-- the few times I did have it. I feel as if I am being punished for something I have done. If only there was an explaination or a sense of knowing where I contracted this from. If there is anyone out there that can relate please, please, please, please, please, please, please help me I am BEGGING. :( :? :cry: :oops: :x

Answer:
Hi SoAlone,
welcome to the forum. You sound really scared and it's understandable... the best bet is always to go to the doctor, of course, so that would be my first advice. I know it's scary and you don't want to go, but the only real way to know is to get tested. Plus you can get some meds which can help.
The toilet seat theory is highly unlikely. If that were possible, EVERYONE would have Herpes! I know it doesn't seem fair, especially if you haven't had many partners, but 1 in 4 people have this... and condoms don't necessarily protect you from it as it's passed from infected skin to open skin... so any infected skin not covered by a condom can infect someone, making it more likely in the case of male to female transmission.
I too felt as if I was being punished for something at first, but then I started to think about it like this: Herpes is a disease. Disease is part of nature. Herpes is just trying to live just like I am trying to live, it doesn't mean that I'm being punished or that God chose me to get Herpes... it's all just part of nature. that line of thinking helped me anyway, I know it sounds a little crazy, but hey :roll:

Don't be embarrassed to go to the doctor, health professionals see this all the time. Once you know for sure what it is, read up on it and educate yourself as much as possible, as this will help you manage it. Know that we are here for you, any time you need support there is a ton of it here, so please utilize it! good luck and take care of yourself.