Namechanged and this is likely to be long, sorry!
For the last few weeks I've had spots on my vulva. A couple sore, in that way facial spots get when they're really swollen. I've been popping them (I know, I know) and they're like whiteheads - the smaller ones are white inside, the bigger juicier ones kind of yellow.
I've previously had whiteheads after using sanitary towels and as I finished my period a week ago and had used some sanitary towels, I put it down to this. However, I started to freak out so today went to the local GUM clinic. The nurse listened, took a long and said straight away they don't look at all herpetic. I had been shaving everything off but had stopped in case that was contributing to the irritation. She noted that the spots kind of follow the hair line. I was swabbed for everything so just need to wait for the results. The nurse speculated on bv.
While I was there I had a smear, which was overdue. It was very painful, on entry, and while the speculum was in there. Not unbearable but really painful. Some years ago I was investigated for PCOS (negative, apparently) and had an internal ultrasound which was also really painful. Sex is often uncomfortable.
The nurse noted I had what she likened to a graze on my cervix, which I assume to be cervical erosion? She said this will contribute to the pain and she also said I look 'thrushy', lol, which also won't help. She gave me a capsule to take for the thrush. Thing is, cervical erosion wouldn't explain pain on entry, would it?
Whilst googling pics of genital herpes and stuff over the last few days I came across a picture which looks like me and have self diagnosed a hymenal tag. I wonder if this could explain pain on entry?
Basically, I'm a bag of nerves as to why I have spots, what they are, whether they'll go away and what the pain is. Googling doesn't particularly associate spots with bv/thrush.
Any help super gratefully received.