[Question #4209] One single herpes lesion on bikini line?

83 months ago

I have a sore on my bikini line area (not my actual inner labia area, but higher, on the fold of my thighs/pubic hair area) that I am concerned may be a herpes lesion.

I had unprotected sex 2x with a new partner a week ago. I am a straight female. Prior to that, I had not had sex in 7 months. I also recently (two weeks prior to that encounter) had a blood test that indicated I didn’t have HSV 1/2 in my blood.

I also get regular Brazilian waxes, and am prone to ingrown hairs (which I pick mercilessly, using a straight sewing needle and tweezers).

About 4 days after the sex, I saw a single bump on my bikini line area, on the crease/thigh fold part. When I investigated, it truly looked like an ingrown hair. It didn’t look like a blister, but when I tried to squeeze it between my nails, it let out a clear liquid before blood came. It was a particularly painful ingrown. I got the needle and tweezers and actually did manage to release the curled hair. It was very painful. I'm not sure if that was just because of the location of it.

On Wednesday, the pain increased. It became red and felt raw. I did pick it again. What worried me most is that it was accompanied with a distinct burning sensation that would not go away. I felt it burning all day long.

My gyno looked at it. She could not determine if it was one single herpe or if it was folliculitis that I made worse/infected with MRSA or staph. She gave me an ointment to put on the area.

Does this sound like herpes to you? The burning sensation concerns me. Would staph/MRSA burn like that?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

83 months ago

Did your doctor do any swab testing of the lesion for herpes or bacteria?

That would be an uncommon location for a herpes lesion though it could show up there. I cannot tell from your description what it might be however. But if you were able to get a hair out of it, it is more likely folliculitis. I think a bacterial infection could burn yes. Have you thought about talking to your partner about your concern? To check on his testing status?

Terri

---

83 months ago

Thank you so much for your reply.

Yes, my doctor took a swab, but couldn’t say definitively what she thought it was. She was leaning more toward folliculitis, due to the location and the fact that there was only one lesion that was questionable. It also never had a blister head to it.

She won’t have the results for a while, since the holiday weekend would delay the lab testing (and she said the lab work for these swabs takes a bit of time, unfortunately).

The sore area has cleared up quite quickly, so I am hoping that is a good sign.

Needless to say, I’m incredibly regretful and have been feeling so much genital discomfort, but I’m not sure how much of it is real and how much of it is genital-focused-anxiety, something I read about on this forum.

If the unprotected sex happened on August 24 and 25, when would I be able to get my blood tested for a reliable result?

And yes... I took your advice and asked my partner to get his blood screened.

Again, thank you so much.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

83 months ago

You should wait 12 weeks for the most reliable result but at 6 weeks out, 70% of those who are going to become positive will be positive, so if you are very worried, you could do a test at 6 weeks and see where you stand and then if negative, be quite reassured and test again at 12 weeks. Let me know the results of the swab when they are back. Good to get your partner tested. You are doing all the right things! Good job.

Terri

---

83 months ago

Thank you for your response.

The results of the swab were negative.

Since then, things have returned to normal... except when I was getting out of the shower tonight, I noticed a small red pimple-like spot on the area where my pubic hair and pink skin connect. It was pretty red (I think from scrubbing down there with exfoliating gloves), but did not hurt at all. It is one single spot I have made raw. I do not think I would have noticed it had I NOT looked.

Now I’m worried this is one herpes lesion.

Would it present this way (as an initial outbreak)?

It doesn’t necessarily hurt at all. I didn’t feel it until I saw it, if that makes sense.

I am 17 days out from the sexual encounter that I am worrying about.

I think a lot of my worry has to do with regret for it being unprotected. I know better!

Even if this person has herpes (his blood test results are pending), would I have a high risk after 2 unprotected encounters?

Again, thanks for everything.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

83 months ago

It might make you feel clearer about this raw area if you had a professional look at it,what do you think? However, it does not sound herpetic to me. I'm not clear about the location of this spot either. Belly, genital area?

It will also be clearer when you get his results back, right? If his results come back today,let's say, and they are negative, you could skip being seen for this raw area. it does seem unlikely to me that you would rub so hard as to break your skin but I'm not looking at it so difficult to say for sure.

Terri

---