Info for those of you who have used birth control pills:
wow, so glad to have found this thread. Experiencing every single thing described here, and YES it's so understudied! No obgyn Ive discussed it with is familiar or believes that it is connected to HSV or has any answers/ideas.
I'm in my 30s and never ever taken birth control of any kind, never had a single tear before my HSV 2 diagnosis and first outbreak this summer.
I read in the thread about the BC pills topic being debated online and maybe the tears are happening because the skin is drier weaker from pills-- but Id like to throw out there that my story might be evidence that suggests it truly has nothing to do with your birth control--so maybe dont experiment with going off BC or switching brands?
My OB prescribed 'Estradiol' which provides some temporary topical relief but new tears still happen almost every time I have sex.
Does anyone have updates on their story that may be helpful?
Hey there! Thanks so much for posting this. I'm one of the ones who has experimented with going off of birth control to try and fix this issue, but 8 months later it doesn't seem to have made any difference, even with the estrogen cream and dilator therapy.
Anyway, I think I will go back on and continue trying to find treatment for this as a problem that was directly caused by the HSV, which it seems it is!
thanks again, and good luck to you!
Hi all,
I too have type one and two but often get tears before I even get a chance to have sex.
Today I have a tiny tear inside another area at the top near my clit and have the opportunity with a new partner but have cancelled going over. It doesn’t hurt and I had to really search hard, in fact I filmed it with my phone to be able to see the tear as I couldn’t feel it was located where it was. I thought I might have a tear somewhere else. So it’s so tiny and feels so insignificant but I really don’t wanna change his life in this way as I’ve been diagnosed almost 15 years now so outbrakes are minor, if at all.
I’m really concerned that I am contagious with a tiny tear. Has anyone been able to test the broken skin in time to see if it’s an outbreak/contagious? Is anybody with a partner that isn’t positive and heard any updates of sex during an open tear.
I’ve also got chronic Bv as of the last five years and take U.K. version of femdopolis, which if too many of these probiotic pills are taken can result in an acidic environment which I had presumed was the reason for tears previously. I have been taking extra doses recently to speed up the balancing act but now I found this thread I’m starting to theorise in a different way and hopefully be safer.
What’s everybody’s thoughts on the tears being a contagious thing?
Hello everyone and i want to say what a godsend this forum has been.
My story: i got the flu back in July of 2021 and i guess that woke up dormant hsv2 i must of had, it was also my first outbreak. It didnt look like clusters, it looked like a streak tear. But i did test positive for the hsv2.
I started dating my now boyfriend at the end of July and decided to go back on the depo shot. My vagina started off being really tight and painful during sex and then back in sept or October i started getting the vaginal tears just like the main post says. my vagina has also been very very dry and i blame the birth control for that. I get tears every time i have sex no matter if i let it heal or not just like some other ladies mentioned in their posts. the tears look just like my first outbreak of hsv2 but the tears are longer and theres more of them, and if i have sex more than one day in a row i get more tears on the lower part of my vagina opening just above the perineum area between vagina and anus. It is Soooo painful i don't even want to have sex anymore. I just wanted to share my story and im so happy to know that im not alone in this because i was thinking the worst, like lichen sclerosis or vagina atrophy or cancer. I saw someone post about estrogen cream to strengthen the soft skin and ill have go get an apt and see what my doctor says.
i tested positive for hsv2 in 2021 and only had a breakout because i had the flu and i guess low immune system breaks you out. my bf is negative for hsv1 and 2 and we have sex while i have tears and he hasnt contracted the virus so far. we have been dating for 7 months since i tested positive but we first had sex 2 years ago. i know that there is a higher to contract the virus while you have open wounds and im sure you know that too but idk if these tears are actual herpes and we are shedding the virus while we have them or of theyre just a side effect we get from having sex because we have herpes. but i think its better to be safe and not have sex with anyone if you have tears just in case, unless you both consent.
I have searched and searched for info regarding these tears in relation to HSV but there's really nothing on it on the internet. Then I came across this thread and I was so happy! I have had HSV for 19 years. I started having these small hairlike tears in the clitoris hood and between my labia majora and minora several yrs ago. I finally got fed up with them stinging, being so uncomfortable and the somewhat itchy feeling and went to my gyno. I really got no answer but she never mentioned any possible relation to HSV. Now here I am in the same boat. I had the flu 2 months ago. My area downtown hasnt been right since. Went bk to the gyno for the tears again but saw a diff provider. She immediately told me she only sees these tears in women with HSV. She did a culture but it came bk inconclusive. I was rx'd Valtrex as well as an Acyclovir topical cream and Lidocaine to numb the area. I have been using all 3 of these for almost 2 weeks with minor relief in my labia area but no relief in the hood of my clitoris. I dont want to hv sex bc it seems to only make it worse. I seem to think that it may of possibly been getting better and then I had sex and it possibly tore that cut bk open where it had started healing. I messaged my provider and was told to continue the creams and increase the lidocaine to numb the area. I dont want to just numb it- I WANT TO FIND A SOLUTION TO IT HEALING!!!! It's 2022 and there should be way more info and studies done to help us out. It's bad enough that we carry this life long sentence of having HSV but to know that we can't get help when we need it is awful.
Estrogen cream, steroid cream, breaks from sex. None of these have worked for me and the tearing has gotten deeper, happens more quickly and takes longer to heal. It now makes sex painful during, instead of just after.
I'm talking to a new OBGYN about a potential perineorrhaphy. Has anyone been recommended this or tried it yet?
Hey there, have you had any luck? I am currently experiencing the same thing.
So sorry to hear this. I know how frustrating this is. Have you found any solutions since then?
has anything really helped? I've been dealing with the same issues since 2020. always getting tears right at the opening and at the same spots after sex. I have seen different doctors and they all day Lube should help but no matter how much lube we use I still end up with pain, tearing and sometimes discharge for about 3-4 days after. it's extremely frustrating and ruining our sex life. I just saw a doctor today who prescribed Estrogen cream so will try that. bless her heart cos I definitely cried when she said there is nothing else she can do to help me. I was feeling pretty lost after that appointment but glad I found this forum, at least it validates my feelings and that I'm not crazy for thinking the it has something to do with my HSV which all the doctors said it's unlikely.
This thread made me feel better too!
I have all of the same problems. My gynaec sent me to a dermatologist who recommended 20g collagen intake every day to help improve skin and scar healing. She also recommended I use A-Derma Epitheliale A.H Duo Cream on the outer vulva regions to help improve the elasticity of the skin. I am also going to start pelvic floor therapy soon so that I can find the positions suitable for my skin. Will update on the progress in a month.
If none of this works, then a perionerraphy is suggested. would love to hear feedback if anyone has tried this route.
hey, any updates here? i’ve been suffering from the exact same thing. was diagnosed with herpes type 2 2 years ago and ever since every time I have sex, I get a tear and then go to get tested and it shows negative for herpes but that’s where I had my first outbreak to begin with. I went to many different urgent cares and docs to give me some sort of solution they gave me some steroid cream, and then estrogen cream but nothing helps. I even waited a whole month before I had sex went to the doctor. Ask if I was fine. If there’s any tears they told me that no everything is fine and then I had sex right after I got a tear. so basically it’s a never ending cycle and every time I’m scared that it’s an outbreak without really knowing if it is. but the doctors keep telling me you can’t get outbreaks every time I have sex. so im still looking to find a doctor who can help. Im very frustrated.
hey all
feeling so reassured having found this thread. i found out i had HSV2 in feb of this year. its been very difficult to come to terms with. i am on valacyclovir because i thought every time i had sex i had an outbreak which didnt seem right, as for most people they have an outbreak for a short period then it clears up with a short course of medication. i have opted to be on suppressive therapy, 2x valacyclovir every day and STILL i was having what i thought were 'outbreaks' every time i had sex , until i came across this thread. i searched for answers as they are little tears rather than ulcers ... and it happens on my perineum / opening of my vagina in the same place every time.. sometimes tears on my clitoris area and they sting when i pee. i am left fearing that i have passed on the HSV every time i have sex with my partner, but before we have sex i am absolutely fine, then the next day - or sometimes even hours after- i get these small painful tears. i dont know what to do！
hi,
i just got diagnosed 4 weeks ago and experienced a vaginal tear that hasnt healed since. my bf and i have tried to be intimate since, but we stop bc of my discomfort. have any of you been taking l lysine supplements for hsv and still been having vaginal tearing?