Hello all,

Quick update - still do not have results back, however I was at my Dr.'s office yesterday seeing the Dr. who is covering for her right now (my Dr. is on holidays - can't see her until the 20th of Sept). So this Dr. has now examined me and my current symptoms and she believes what's happening right now does sound and look like an initial herpes outbreak - not that I was surprised. She said the culture may come back negative still but she's going to monitor the situation with bloodwork. I had blood drawn today and she will test again in 6 weeks and again in 6 weeks.

My question is this to the women, what is best to use during your period - tampons or pads? Being that this is all completely new to me, I am soon to start my period and I'm not sure of what to expect to happen during my first period while experiencing an outbreak?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

If you aren't sore up inside of you, I wouldn't see why you wouldn't be able to use tampons...my first OB, I was sore and didn't use them but I normally use pads but if need be I can use tampons. I find that tampons cause me to cramp more even without the herpes problem...that's the only reason I choose pads over tampons.

I use pads, too. You have to work at keeping clean a bit more, though.

I also used pads, but only my whole *area* was so sore and achy. I think either is fine, but like another poster said, just make sure to keep clean. I think you are also supposed to keep sores dry, but in my case, I never really had to since I only get miniscule hard red or white bumps that don't break open or scab over.

~Katalina

My outbreaks seem to go in a cycle where it gets better a few days before my period and then a few days after my period they come back. I use both.

I have had H for almost 4 years. The second year my OB were brought on by my cycle too. (The first year they weren't because I was pregnant!). Now I don't get out breaks with sores anymore. Yippee. I was okay to use tampons except my first OB. I may have been able to use them then but didn't want to touch that area any more then I had too.