Question:
Ok, on saturday I experienced itching on my vagina... serious, annoying itching. So I scratched.. And in the process of me stratcing I cut myself with my finger nails.... my vagina began to burn, everytime I urinated, it burned some more. My vagina got swollen and very irritated I figured I had a yeast infection because in the past, I've been diagnosed with a yeast infection and the itching seemed familiar. So I bought a box of Monistat 1-day treatment. On sunday night I used it and I used the cream that came in the box and applied it to the vulvar (lips of my vaginga). Monday, my symptoms were the same, itching and a burning sensation. I continued to use the cream. Today, tuesday (August 21, 2007) I was awoken 3am by a even more burning pain. I looked at my vagina with a mirror and it looked absolutely raw. Like the cream was too strong and it burned the top layer of my vagina. It was even more painful to pee.... I immediately got online and found my local health department. I went in to see if I could get something to reduce the inflammation and burning sensation in my vagina, much to my surprise, when my doctor looked her first comment was 'Oh my God, this looks like herpes' I said 'WHAT!!!' It doesn't make sense to me because my boyfriend and I have oral sex as well, and we're always kissing.... If this was herpes wouldn't I experience sores in my mouth as well??? The clinic ran out of herpes culture test so she wasn't able to test me for herpes, but she said by the way it looks she feels it can be herpes... and gave me a prescription for it but I still think it's the monistat that burned the top layer of my vagina, mainly because, as I said before- I have NO sores in my mouth as much as we perform oral sex I would think it would have caused sores on my lips, or on my tongue or something! Please help me. I'm really really scared.

Answer:
Don't worry about your mouth. Your immediate attention ought to be down below.

To lessen the pain, you may want to pee into a wet towelette. Be patient and take all medications prescribed. Try to remain calm also and keep below dry (except for the cream) if possible.

Perhaps you will reconsider not having oral sex at all. No sense in panicking every time you have it. the symptoms are now below and not in your mouth, so no sense in panicking about your mouth!

Take deep breaths and try to clear your mind after you attend to remedy. Try to think of other things to prevent worrying. Herbal teas or Bachs rescue remedy flower essence will help.

This is all I can think of right now, but there is plenty more...read the posts and you will have information overload of remedies and ideas.

Answer:
Right... thank you. But my concern is perhaps I don't have herpes. I looked in the mirror and it does look very very raw... but I think it's all because of the monistat. My actual question is, 'If I have herpes... then wouldn't I get sores in my mouth as well since my boyfriend and I have oral sex A LOT'?

Answer:
Hi, I had oral sex the first time with the person i got it from too. but did not get oral herpes. Is your partner experiencing any symptoms?

Answer:
I've never used monostat, but the initial itching you describe is common in a herpes ob. First the itching, then the pain. I kind of doubt that an OTC medicine burned your skin off. One of the biggest pains (literally) about the virus (if that's what it is) is trying to pee when those sores are raw. Big ouch. MAJOR ouch! Been there myself, and I feel for you.

As for why you don't have sores in your mouth, well, can't really say. If your bf has been giving you oral sex, could be he'll end up with one sooner or later. Does he have any symptoms at all... genital or oral? Some people never actually have symptoms or an ob, which is why so many people have it and don't know it. He really should be tested, and if you could get a culture test done while you still have the symptoms, that would be best. I realize this doesn't really give you the answers you're seeking, but I'm not a doctor, and the only way to tell for sure is to be tested. My bf has oral herpes, and I got it from him through oral sex, so I have genital, but I have never gotten oral herpes. Go figure. There's just no difinitive answer.

Don't panic. But until you find out for certain what you're dealing with, best to assume it's herpes and take the neccessary precautions. I hope it's not, but it's better to err on the side of safety, right? Good luck to you.

Answer:
you can get it below and not orally... how and why? no one knows but it happens.

and, you can get it whether your partner is showing symptoms or not:(

anyway, not saying you aren't having a allergic reaction to the monistat, but you can't rule out H just cause you don't have it in your mouth.

Answer:
Ok... I checked myself in the hospital today, and received the confirmartion that it is indeed herpes! Ok now I haven't quite accepted yet.. I'm a newbie to all this, so this will be my new home... my favorite site. Now, I'm very grateful I don't have oral herpes... my pride wouldn't let me step outside. So now that I know... I have tons of questions. Let's begin with... how should I tell my bf? What if I gave it to him? How do I apologize? What about my future? How do I fall in love again if I'm scared of my own self? In my past, I've suffered from severe depression... and all those bad, cowardly thoughts were coming back- has anyone thought of suicide or attempted? I've thought of suicide, but dismissed it quickly, not to say I won't think of it again. Is there a chance that I have it and I didn't give it him? What's the longest one can go having herpes and not know?

Answer:
I was diagnosed with genital herpes over 20yrs ago, didnt have an outbreak again till now. Never passed it to my husband in all that time. Had a normal life. In fact my husband never knew. were divorced now have a new partner, thats maybe why ive had an outbreak.

Answer:
Wow.. That sounds beautiful... 20 years before another outbreak... did u like eat healthy, hit the gym all the time, and do things that increased your health? Or was is it a natural thing? I would do ANYTHING to never have another outbreak.. Even if it did mean waking up 5 in the morning, eating raw carrots and doing 20 laps around the park.