I was visually diagnosed with genital herpes back in 1993. It was one heck of a primary infection - if that's for SURE what it was. I've never had a "classic" OB since then.. only irritation and a bit of itchiness. Never any blisters or cut looking things, sores, etc.

I had a blood test done a few years back BEFORE I started getting oral OBs and the doc told me that I did test positive for herpes, but didn't tell me the type - not sure if it even WAS typed or not. I KNOW that I have oral HSV, I've known that for a while now - classic OB, I get it in my nose of all places - please note that I DON'T pick my darn nose lol .. but the stuff below the belt, well that was one of those unsure type things since it was only visually diagnosed.

ANYhoo, I found out yesterday exactly what it is that I have. HSV1 only.

Some blood tests were done - can't remember what type though. She did two of them.. I tested positive for HSV1 antibodies only, no HSV2 at all. That surprised me, I honestly thought I had both. So I know for sure that what I get in my nose is HSV. Only one problem now.. a culture was done the other day (same day as the blood test), about 2-3 days after I started having symptoms below, and it came back negative for both types. I did test positive for yeast, so my gyno is pretty sure that what I'm having now is only a bad yeast infection, and not an OB since more than a week has passed and no blisters, cuts, lines, nothing.. just irritation and still a bit of redness.

Now, since I was only visually diagnosed back in 1993 with genital herpes, we still don't know for sure if I have it down below or not yet!! Soooo, gahhhhhhh I have to wait until I have an actual cut looking thing or a blister looking thing and have it cultured. So, still a waiting game on that one.

Good news is that since I only have HSV1, she says that this is the reason that I'm rarely, IF EVER, having OBs below the belt. WOOOHOOOO?!?

So here's my question..

Since the redness/irritation is ALL that I ever get, will a culture EVER come back accurate? Will I EVER know for sure? I mean, I'm down there with a flashlight, a mirror, and surgical gloves every time I get the slightest bit of irritation until it subsides completely because I want and NEED to know what's going on. There's never anything like blisters or cut looking things or anything like that. I'd really hate to have to go to the gyno every single time I get irritation down there. I'm VERY prone to yeast infections - I swear to God every woman in my family gets them all the time.

I feel that I need to know for sure for my husband's sake - I'm sure you can understand that. We've been together for 4 years now, married less than 1 years. So far, he's never had any signs or symptoms of oral or genital.

Since I was told that I had it back in '93, I've always taken every precaution with it. I don't have any type of sexual relations when even the slightest bit of itchiness is present - lol whether it's just due to tight pants or not. And I'll continue to do so. But damn that makes for a weak sex life and I'm a newlywed dangit!!

Even though my dear sweet hubby swears up and down that he doesn't CARE if he gets it, I'd still much rather spare him if at all possible.


Sooo, since I only have HSV1 and assume I have it below as well, would that explain why I wouldn't get the typical OB down there? I mean, since it's out of it usual area? THAT'S the confusing part.. how in the heck AM I supposed to know if there's nothing there to culture?

Can't help you on the culture question, but you might try eliminating the yeast if possible--that should give you a better sex life. I used to have yeast infections a lot 20 years ago. I haven't had one since. Here are some suggestions: 1. Cut out the tight pants. That's a major culprit. Let air get to the area. 2. I assume you know to wear cotton panties, not polyester. 3. After sex, douche gently with warm water mixed with a little salt. This has been what has helped me the most (it also helps me avoid a sex-related herpes ob.) Do not use other douches, esp scented ones. 4. Use a pH-balanced cleansing bar down there instead of soap, like Neutrogena. 5. Try to avoid doing anything that drastically changes the pH of your crotch area, such as staying in the pool for long periods of time. 6. Go to your health food store and buy some powdered (refrigerated) probiotics. This is the good bacteria that your body needs to balance out the yeast, like acidophilus, bulgaricus, and bifidus. You put just a tiny bit (like 1/8 t, whatever it says on the bottle) into some water--it tastes very mild, a little chalky--and drink it a few times a day. I have the Solaray brand, called Multidophilus Powder. 7. Don't take antibiotics if you can ever avoid it. They kill this good bacteria. 20 years ago I started experimenting with herbal remedies and have found that only emergencies call for antibiotics, but drs will prescribe them whether you need them or not. 7. Perhaps you have a systemic yeast infection, like, in your intestines and other parts of your body, and it just keeps appearing in your vaginal area. There is a product for helping restore the natural balance in your body between yeast and good bacteria. I can't remember the name now, but will ask my friend who has used it and post again later today or this weekend. It's something like "Candisa."

If it's yeast, these measures might solve your problem. If it's partly yeast, getting it under control will minimize the number of h outbreaks. If it's only h, these measures will still help control your ob's, because they are good for your body. Take care. I'll post again soon.

i have a cut on my penis. the doctors say they can't culture it because there is no fluid. i also have a rash that's been on my penis for about two and a half months. i was thinking a yeast infection because of the cut and rash. the doctors don't care. not sure what it is. what did your doctor say?

Backpacker, thank you so much for all of your suggestions!! I rarely wear tight pants, maybe once a month at most - hate that confined feeling.. ugh. I do wear cotton panties at ALL times. I've definately learned my lesson with that. I have ONE nylon pair, and if I wear them for even half a day, I start to get itchy down there.. then BAM I have a yeast infection the next day. Like I said, totally prone to them, so it doesn't take much at all.


RockandRoller, as far as the rash goes.. it should definately be cultured. Even if herpes isn't suspected at all, they should find out what it is. It could be something as simple as "jock itch", and the cut could be from scratching it. My husband had a slight rash at one time, it was just slight redness, but it spead around that entire area down there.. so he ended up in alot of pain. When he did go to the doc, he mentioned to them that I had herpes and he wanted it cultured. They cultured it for herpes, and it came back negative, he only had a bad case of jock itch.

So yes, even in HIS case, AND mine, if there's redness or any type of rash going on, it can be cultured. It doesn't have to be a blister or anything "oozing" fluid. Some doctors are such idiots these days.

If your doc doesn't want to help you, maybe you should get a new one. Sometimes they just don't realize how uncomfortable things can get down there! Basically TELL them you want to know what the heck is wrong with you down there.

BTW, do you have a reason to suspect herpes? Have you ever had any type of rash like this before?

i'm in the same boat as u Dee74.

i tested negative for HSV-2. no surprise there since i never had unprotected sex. i got several unprotected orals. and i highly suspect i have HSV-1. the doc. told me its useless to do a HSV-1 blood test since 80% of the ppl have it anyways, just don't know if its in the genitals or lips.

anyway, i'm suspecting i might not even have HSV-1 or that i might have smthg in addition to HSV-1. u said u had one heck of a primary OB. can u describe it? was it the classic blister and pain?

to tell u, mine were quite mild. just redness, tender skin and a little soreness. but what's weird is this has been going on for almost a month! i don't know if i'm having continuous outbreaks or what. also, my whole penis gets quite red when i masterbate. is herpes suppose to be localised in only the affected area, or does it affect the whole penis? i got no itching, so i don't think its a jock itch. but i'm guessing its some kind of infection like balantis since it spreads like the plague throughout my penis when i masterbate.

and no, my penis never flushed red before this incident. it was always neutrally purplish/brown/normal colored.

any suggestions?

206GTI Unfortunately, since I don't "own" a penis (sorry trying to inject SOME humor to a serious subject lol), I don't know how it really works when it comes to masturbation - like how red it's supposed to get, if at all. Sorry I can't help you there :(

My primary OB.. IF that's what it was.. was a BUNCH of blisters. I mean, all over the place inside. But I had also just had a yeast infection and was put on a new cream I hadn't tried before. Within an HOUR after using it, is when I broke out horribly. They knew for sure it was a yeast infection prior to that because it was cultured for yeast right there in the office.. when the blisters broke out, I went back to the doc, and he said.. "Oh well that's herpes, girl" and sent me home with Zovirax. He also proceeded to lie to me saying things such as "you know you'll never be able to have sex again without a condom", "you'll never be able to have another baby unless YOU manually insert the sperm itself". Blah BLAH.. he was an *******!!!!!

I've never had a blister since then.. only redness at times. So I have no clue what's goin on.. grrrrr

Did your doc try to culture what you have goin on down there? Does he say anything at all?

dee74, thanx for the reply. i never had a rash on my penis before. i do have a reason to worry because i had tongue to testicle contact with a girl. this is when this started happening. the all this happened a week after my encounter. about 3 weeks later i had some stuff going on in my mouth. like white stuff on the insides of my cheeks. then my cold sores got reactivated after none for about 2 years. i am going to a different doctor. i've been to three and they are young, but behind the times. they just write me off and say i have nothing to swab and that it's not herpes. i had a prior post with a quote from a doctor saying if i already had type one in my body, that i couldn't get it genitally. i just want this cleared up. i was thinking a fungus from her skin or bedsheets. who knows. on to another doctor.

hey, thanks dee. i'm getting my penis checked out today. i'm quite sure i have balanitis. the texture of my skin on the glans have turned quite dry and scaley. and when it gets all erected, it gets shiney. i remember reading it somewhere with these symptoms. i did a search and found balanitis. i really think its that cause my whole penis gets red after some friction and clothes rubbing irritation.

i still think i have HSV-1 although i don't have a single blister. i've been getting that burning pins and needles and nerve pain feet thing. unless its stress induced, i don't recall myself having it for such a prolong period (happened for 5 hours straight!). but then, i might not have it. i like to look at things in the worst case scenerio cause not much good comes to my life, honestly.

i'm going to the derm today to get some anti-fungal/infection cream and antibiotics. i hope i'll be fine.

Good luck, 206! I think dermatologists are often the best choice of drs, and often overlooked for sex clinic drs.