An STD Help Community

I have had yeast infections before, but never with red bumps all over my labia like I do now. In the past, Monistat has worked for me pretty quickly. I recently became intimate with a new partner after a long period of no intercourse. I stayed over after we had intercourse, but my underwear was wet and damp. A day or two later I felt itchy and purchased Monistat, which cleared up what I thought was a yeast infection right away.

Since then we've slept together several other times and (my own fault) I did not shower or rinse off immediately following intercourse. I felt as though I was getting another yeast infection but kind of ignored it. I also wore tight pants and drank quite a bit of beer at a ballgame.

The other day my vagina burned so intensely. It was more of a burning than an itch. I purchased Monistat but it didn't work like it has in the past. When I look at my labia, there are red bumps on the lips and even a few on the little piece of skin between the lips (sorry I don't know the exact name). It is incredibly painful when I urinate, so I have not been drinking very much (even though I should probably be flushing out my system).

Yesterday, I started another round of Monistat (the 3 day treatment) and have been trying some home remedies like eating garlic and plain yogurt. The burning sensation is still present but has gotten only MARGINALLY better. Like I said, I've never had these bumps before and in the past my yeast infections have cleared up quickly. So I started doing more research online and now I'm terrified I have herpes. In certain light, they just look like red bumps. In others, they look more clearer and like they could be filled with fluid which seems to be the herpes symptom. I do not have any other symptoms associated with herpes i.e. flu-like symptoms.

I'm HOPING it's a yeast infection based on the fact I recently became sexually active again and didn't rinse properly after intercourse etc. However, I did have a one night stand with someone I don't know very well three weeks ago. So the timing also seems right for a herpes outbreak.

I do not have insurance and, being a long weekend, will not be able to visit a free clinic until everything opens again on Tuesday. I'm going crazy with worry in the meantime, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Well it's hard to say. If using monistat didn't clear up the yeast infection and you have what may look like herpes and have had unprotected intercourse then it's quite possible that it may be herpes. In fact 1 in 5 people have HSV-2 and it's very easy to contract.

Definitely get it looked at incase it's something that may be harmful to your health. But remember that if it is herpes it's not the end of the world. A lot of people do have it and with treatment it's quite manageable.