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Discomfort In Labia Minora, Itchy. Taken Birth Control. HIV Or STD?
Hi, off and on, my inner labia minora , on only ONE side (left side) is stiff as a rock and insanely itchy and irritated; it comes and goes, this is the third time in two months it has become this irritated. It starts off itchy, and its so unbearable that i itch it, than the swelling will begin; It has swollen so much one time, I iced myself down there for about an hour before it went down. I am 17 and have had 7 sex partners, I am currently with a guy faithfully and do not stray, although we have only been seeing each other exclusively for about a month and a half... I was active and knew i needed to take responsibility and contact a gynecologist; that I did. Because I am without insurance she only tested me for chlamydia , gonorrhea , and syphilis . She also prescribed me a birth control at that time, which I started two days ago. I did however, test positive for Chlamydia, she prescribed both my boyfriend and I treatment for that, it has been almost three weeks since that treatment. I was than given the HPV (first string) shot. She will retest me in about 3 more weeks to see if the infection is still there. I am currently on my period (started two days ago.) I do have an appointment to a health care center to be tested for everything else. When my gynecologist checked me out, she noticed NOTHING out of the ordinary; or at least didn t say anything. I have no sores, painful blisters or anything around my vagina, mouth, anus or bodily openings... I am fair skinned although, and have super sensitive skin, and suffer from quite a bit of ingrown hairs a few days after I shave; they get like small little inflamed zits on the surface (just like on the face) and I will pop them to get the hair out. NOTHING That looks like the herpes pictures I have seen. Although I am terrified that I may have that... Just because I know a lot of symptoms can be a bunch of different things - I have researched my butt off and cannot find more information about my symptoms. I am so scared - and went through a time where I was unsafe, uneducated, and careless because of a breakup. NO excuses, but I am scared and freaking out. It s just red, inflamed, itchy, swollen, and SUPER STIFF. Not like a hard lump, but STIFF all together. It s not constant, and not painful...just feels extremely awkward and uncomfortable to walk around while its swollen. After the intense itching and urinating burns a little, like its going over a cut. All the soaps I use are unscented (other than shampoo) which I don t put near my vagina. I honestly just rinse and wash my labia with water ONLY, and a washrag or my hand. I have though, when I shave but a soap bar near it (that soap has changed many times between these occurrences.) I do not use shaving cream, and I buy fairly new razors; if they are dull I replace them and I am careful. I am educated and understand; I want to have a doctors opinion (a few actually would be great) and hopefully no judgement will be made. I am scared and really want some positive things right now; WHAT ON EARTH COULD THIS BE? Could this be HIV or a different STD? Bartholan (unsure of spelling) cyst/gland? Please, please, please, and thanks.
Thu, 3 Oct 2013
Hi,
First, relax. As you have been controlled by a doctor and put under treatment, then, everything is fine. Now, you should wait for the results.
You had a chlamydia infection, which is being treated with antibiotics I suppose. Please bear in mind that you should not have sex during the time of therapy. In addition, such infection can be repeated, so you should follow the treatment scheme as suggested by your doctor.
Apart of Chlamydia, did your doctor mention anything related to candida infection? Sometimes, candida infection can flourish after an antibiotic therapy (as you are currently having). So, it is good to be tested for candida in vagina and get treated orally (fluconazole or itraconazole) and locally (clotrimoxazole cream has shown very effective in my patients).
If you are scared of HIV, then, you can do a test for that. Please understand that although chlamydia infection is often associated with HIV, however, it does not mean that you have HIV.
At the end, I recommend to take right measures when changing partners, use condoms together with birth control pills as they (Birth control pills) alone cannot protect from HIV or STD.
Hope it helped!
First, relax. As you have been controlled by a doctor and put under treatment, then, everything is fine. Now, you should wait for the results.
You had a chlamydia infection, which is being treated with antibiotics I suppose. Please bear in mind that you should not have sex during the time of therapy. In addition, such infection can be repeated, so you should follow the treatment scheme as suggested by your doctor.
Apart of Chlamydia, did your doctor mention anything related to candida infection? Sometimes, candida infection can flourish after an antibiotic therapy (as you are currently having). So, it is good to be tested for candida in vagina and get treated orally (fluconazole or itraconazole) and locally (clotrimoxazole cream has shown very effective in my patients).
If you are scared of HIV, then, you can do a test for that. Please understand that although chlamydia infection is often associated with HIV, however, it does not mean that you have HIV.
At the end, I recommend to take right measures when changing partners, use condoms together with birth control pills as they (Birth control pills) alone cannot protect from HIV or STD.
Hope it helped!
I find this answer helpful
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I am sure you are a lot more informed now than before. Itchiness is usually due to fungal infection, genital warts and dry vaginal mucosa.
If you have been tested by your gynecologist, there is nothing much to worry. Please be careful in your sexual practice as having 7 partners at age 17 years is something that should make you careful given the transmission of sexual diseases in society, however much careful one is.
Your other practices in maintaining personal hygiene are fairly good as mentioned. However sexual diseases can infect anyone, no matter how high standards of personal hygiene are maintained.
In case of fungal or bacterial infections, both you and your partner have to get treated together, at the same time and abstain from sex until you are completely treated, else the infection will recur again after a while.
Hope this helps
Thanks for writing in to us.
I am sure you are a lot more informed now than before. Itchiness is usually due to fungal infection, genital warts and dry vaginal mucosa.
If you have been tested by your gynecologist, there is nothing much to worry. Please be careful in your sexual practice as having 7 partners at age 17 years is something that should make you careful given the transmission of sexual diseases in society, however much careful one is.
Your other practices in maintaining personal hygiene are fairly good as mentioned. However sexual diseases can infect anyone, no matter how high standards of personal hygiene are maintained.
In case of fungal or bacterial infections, both you and your partner have to get treated together, at the same time and abstain from sex until you are completely treated, else the infection will recur again after a while.
Hope this helps
I find this answer helpful
Hello, I would be happy to help you with your question.
This is a long question for the public forum, and is more appropriately directed as a "premium" query, but I will try and help you to some extent. Obviously there is repeated inflammation of the labia on one side. Given that it is more likely on one side than another helps to limit the possibilities, which might include:
1. Herpes recurrences
2. Bartholin gland cyst
3. Yeast infection (though usually on both sides)
4. Lichen sclerosus - a condition of extreme itchiness, not an STD
5. A vulvar abscess or fluid collection
Just to name a few. It is good that you have an appointment.
I hope that this helps!
This is a long question for the public forum, and is more appropriately directed as a "premium" query, but I will try and help you to some extent. Obviously there is repeated inflammation of the labia on one side. Given that it is more likely on one side than another helps to limit the possibilities, which might include:
1. Herpes recurrences
2. Bartholin gland cyst
3. Yeast infection (though usually on both sides)
4. Lichen sclerosus - a condition of extreme itchiness, not an STD
5. A vulvar abscess or fluid collection
Just to name a few. It is good that you have an appointment.
I hope that this helps!
I find this answer helpful
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