I used acyclovir on the stupid thing and it seems to be going away but that was happening before I used that cream. It started as what looks and felt like a large spider bite, or a boil-like disgusting thing, with a visible dot in the center. it came out of nowhere. i've read that Herpes has syptoms of onset before developing into full blown rash. I had no symptoms. The acyclovir is now irritating it and making it itch. The thing appears to be going away by itself so at this point I'm just leaving it alone. It's hard to believe that no one who's lived with this stinking condition can't answer this question. You think this is bad, try the Facebook groups. I guess the only way to know for sure is to see a gynecologist during an "outbreak" which I've never had anything like this before and it's now Tuesday, the thing is going away, I don't think she'd really be able to tell even if I could get an appointment with such short notice. We like to think modern "medicine" knows so much but I have to tell you it's my observation that they really don't know very much at all.