Resolved question:
Hi doctor, I am a 23 years old female. I am sexually active and used to have sex with my boyfriend till recently. Now, I am experiencing a tingling sensation in my labia majora (I mean outer labia). Moreover, there was some sort of soreness there which lasted for about two or three days. But there are no sores or reddening in that area. But now I am a little bit afraid as I think it is due to genital herpes. I think so because, when I search the word ‘tingling’ in internet, it shows herpes in results. I had sexual contact about 2 months before and haven’t got ant specific herpes related symptoms yet. Should I be concerned about this situation? Please help me with this at the earliest.
Submitted:
4 Days
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Community
Thanks for your question and concern. From your question, it is evident that you haven’t had sex for the last 2 months. However, it is seen usually that signs of herpes are seen to be developed within a week from getting infected. Infection is almost sure if you have unprotected sex with a person who is already infected with herpes virus. Moreover there need not be an outbreak in that person, to transmit the virus. Herpes symptoms are like blisters or ulcers with rounded broken skin on genitals. Size will be of a few millimeters and may have pops I the skin. They are seen in groups as like crops. They are seen as blisters first and then turn to open ulcers. Mostly, herpes wounds are painless or sometimes a slight tenderness is felt. In some people, blister can be swelling and cause pain also. Skin tenderness is also felt as a symptom of herpes, in some people. Herpes is generally of two types. They are the type 1 HSV and Type 2 HSV. Of these, HSV type 1 is the virus which causes cold sores. It causes Oro-facial diseases which cover mouth and facial sores. HSV type 2 is the virus which cause genital herpes, which are seen as sores in genital areas. However, both of them can co-exist and cold sores caused by type 1 HSV can be seen in genitals, if oral sex is performed. Kissing is the main cause of transmission of Herpes Type 1. Herpes virus can even infect through mucus surfaces and through small cracks in skin. In HSV type 2, recurrence is significantly greater than that of type 1. Recurrence means symptoms of herpes tend to re-appear once in every year of more or less frequently. Viral shedding is also seen in infected people. Treatment of Herpes of both type is done through antiviral medicines. However, a complete cure cannot be achieved. By antiviral treatments, symptoms can be suppressed to a great extent. Risk of transmission can be reduced through antiviral treatments. But duration of administration of medicine cannot be predicted. TO prevent infection, the only way is to abstain from sexual contact with infected people. Barrier methods like condoms provide maximum protection, but safety cannot be ensured. This is because the virus spreads through skin to skin contact also. If your last sexual contact has past 2 months, you can go for a blood test or pap smear test to find out infection. Presence of HSV antibodies marks that virus is present. Hope my answer helps. Take care.