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Is A Pimple In The Pelvic Area Suggestive Of Herpes Infection?
Question: My wife and I are older, and neither of us have engaged in high risk sex. We have been together for 3 years and completely monogamous. She went to the doctor as she had concerns regarding a pimple in the above her pelvic region and was told she had herpes. It is not internal. I am planning to be tested next week. What does this really mean to us?
Brief Answer:
retesting
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
If she has not had painful outbreaks with blisters then I question the diagnosis of herpes. This is especially true if she was told this based upon exam only and not upon testing.
If it was based upon fluid from the pimple for a specific herpes test then that would be more accurate.
There are both blood and lesion tests for herpes and I suggest that both of you have the blood tests to be sure.
Also you need to know if it is HSV 1 or 2. HSV 1 is the herpes that causes cold sores and is not likely recurrent in the genital area. HSV 2 is genital herpes.
If she had this in the distant past it could have been dormant for years and is just now surfacing.
If she does in fact have herpes then you should use condoms, since herpes can be transmitted even when there is no outbreak.
In summary, first get the diagnosis confirmed with testing. If you are negative and she is positive then use condoms to decrease the risk of infection.
I wish you the best,
Dr. Robinson
retesting
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thank you for your question.
If she has not had painful outbreaks with blisters then I question the diagnosis of herpes. This is especially true if she was told this based upon exam only and not upon testing.
If it was based upon fluid from the pimple for a specific herpes test then that would be more accurate.
There are both blood and lesion tests for herpes and I suggest that both of you have the blood tests to be sure.
Also you need to know if it is HSV 1 or 2. HSV 1 is the herpes that causes cold sores and is not likely recurrent in the genital area. HSV 2 is genital herpes.
If she had this in the distant past it could have been dormant for years and is just now surfacing.
If she does in fact have herpes then you should use condoms, since herpes can be transmitted even when there is no outbreak.
In summary, first get the diagnosis confirmed with testing. If you are negative and she is positive then use condoms to decrease the risk of infection.
I wish you the best,
Dr. Robinson
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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