posted
Let me preface this by saying that I'm on winter break from college right now and can't go get tested (without my parents finding out about it at least) until I get back, but that'll be first on my list when I do go back since I know that's the only way you can know anything for sure. But in the meantime...
I started having sex with my current partner in October or so. He had gotten a full STD screening a few months prior (with no partners in the meantime) and had checked out clean. But we still used condoms for everything you can use condoms for, though no barriers for cunnilingus. In late November I had flu-like symptoms. I know those can often be the sign of a first outbreak of herpes, but it is also flu season and there's h1n1 and i live in a dorm, so I'm not sure if that was anything to worry about, STD-wise.
Since December I have had redness, tightness, and itch, off and on but no bumps/blisters/sores breaking open and crusting and scabs falling off. Does herpes always have blisters/bumps? I don't know because I have read that the first outbreak of herpes is usually the worst and that they tend to decrease over time, it seems like it's gotten worse as the month has progressed. There will be a few days of it being bad, a few barely noticeable, repeat. I have gotten persistent yeast infections in the past but normally with a lot more/different discharge than this. That's why I think it's herpes - I know what my yeast-infected body is like, and it's normally different than this. But still, the symptoms of the two do overlap some.
Oh yeah, as I said my partner did test clean but he said it had been less than three months since his last partner (about two months) so it's possible that he had herpes and gave it to me and it just hadn't shown up on his test yet. He got tested again in mid-December but I don't know the results yet since we both like for these conversations to be in person and he's in my college town.
So, until I can get tested/hear my partner's results my two questions are does herpes always have blisters and is it possible for yeast infections to vary in symptoms, even in the same person? Thank you!
Posts: 13 | From: USA | Registered: Jul 2008
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posted
Usually, with a new case of herpes, the first (and only) symptom will be a sore somewhere. However, sometimes one doesn't notice, or that sore happens in a spot where it isn't easy to see or easily goes hidden.
However, the other symptoms you're describing sound more like some kind of yeast or fungal infection. And yes: all yeast infections are not always the same, even in one person.
What I'd suggest though, is not treating for yeast yourself, but instead, just getting in to see your healthcare provider as soon as you can for a checkup and your own STI screenings.
And just so you know for future reference, if you really want to reduce these risks as best you can, you want to use latex barriers for ALL oral, anal and/or vaginal sex for at least six months, no matter when someone was last tested. Then, at the end of that period, if both of you test and are negative ("clean" is rotten terminology: it suggests an ill person is dirty) and you've been sexually exclusive and are staying exclusive, you can ditch barriers for any of those things with a highly reduced risk of STIs.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me • Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63426 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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Thank you Heather! And thank you too for the point about "clean" - I'd never thought about it.
Posts: 13 | From: USA | Registered: Jul 2008
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