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Can I get a culture done without an outbreak?
So I had an IGG test and it came back with a low positive, 1.4 for HSV1. My question is, i've never had an outbreak, I've had severe itching on my genitals before my menstrual cycle every month, but never a sore or bump. Is there anyway I can get a culture test done without an outbreak? Or do I just have to wait for one to happen? I'm freaking out! This cannot be happening to me.
Very true. I guess I really didn't think about how many people actually do have it. I'm more worried about this constant itching though. I thought hsv1 genitally didn't cause symptoms very often. I get this every month before my menstrual cycle and it last about 2 weeks. It's so severe that I barely get any sleep and if I do fall asleep I tear my skin open when I'm sleeping because I scratch it. I'll see a doctor soon once my health insurance takes effect in the next month because I'm almost sure there's no way this is caused from hsv1.
Even if you have it genitally, you shouldn't worry. It's the same virus. Almost every adult alive will eventually get it in their body eventually, if they're lucky to live long enough. If everyone with HSV1 worried about giving it to other people, then no one would even kiss anyone on the cheek, which in France happens about a hundred million times a day.
If you really did acquire HSV1 genitally, here are a few things you might like to know. For one, the chances of have recurrent outbreaks is very low. In fact you may only ever get one or two outbreaks in your life. Because HSV1 is not normally resident in the genital area, it doesn't operate as effectively. If you had the same virus on your mouth, you have a much higher chance of having recurrent cold sores.
Also, HSV1 is not shed very often genitally. It is often shed orally if that is the site of infection though. So the chances of you ever giving someone a "cold sore" from your vagina is minute. There is a much, much higher chance someone will get HSV1 from a peck on the check at a Christmas party.
You might now be immune to HSV1 orally, as you might have sufficient antibodies in your body to prevent an oral re-infection. So you'll never get an ugly cold sore, you lucky girl!
You are not about 40% immune to HSV2 genitally AT LEAST. I say at least, because people with HSV1 have about a 40 % immunity to HSV2...but keep in mind most people acquire HSV1 orally. And studies show that it is even harder to re-infect THE SAME nerve endings with another strain of the HSV virus. So there is a theoretical chance your immunity to HSV2 is even higher than most people.
Basically, there is a good argument to make that you do NOT have herpes if you have HSV1, no matter where it is. At least not as most people think of the term.
If you find you have recurrent HSV1 infections genitally, it might be something to consider re: pregnancy, but for the most part, you have just got the virus everyone else eventually gets but in a place that makes it much less communicable with far fewer symptoms.
If you really did acquire HSV1 genitally, here are a few things you might like to know. For one, the chances of have recurrent outbreaks is very low. In fact you may only ever get one or two outbreaks in your life. Because HSV1 is not normally resident in the genital area, it doesn't operate as effectively. If you had the same virus on your mouth, you have a much higher chance of having recurrent cold sores.
Also, HSV1 is not shed very often genitally. It is often shed orally if that is the site of infection though. So the chances of you ever giving someone a "cold sore" from your vagina is minute. There is a much, much higher chance someone will get HSV1 from a peck on the check at a Christmas party.
You might now be immune to HSV1 orally, as you might have sufficient antibodies in your body to prevent an oral re-infection. So you'll never get an ugly cold sore, you lucky girl!
You are not about 40% immune to HSV2 genitally AT LEAST. I say at least, because people with HSV1 have about a 40 % immunity to HSV2...but keep in mind most people acquire HSV1 orally. And studies show that it is even harder to re-infect THE SAME nerve endings with another strain of the HSV virus. So there is a theoretical chance your immunity to HSV2 is even higher than most people.
Basically, there is a good argument to make that you do NOT have herpes if you have HSV1, no matter where it is. At least not as most people think of the term.
If you find you have recurrent HSV1 infections genitally, it might be something to consider re: pregnancy, but for the most part, you have just got the virus everyone else eventually gets but in a place that makes it much less communicable with far fewer symptoms.
I think I have it genitally. If I had it orally, I honestly wouldn't give a damn. lol.
Most adults eventually get HSV1. Whether by kissing at Christmas parties or sharing a glass with a family member at a picnic. It's just part of life. And most people who have HSV1 never get a noticeable cold sore. Why are you worried about HSV1 at all?
I have also noticed that if I take benadryl to help me sleep and stop the itching, it goes away in a day or 2 as opposed to 2 weeks or so if I don't take anything.
As far as I can remember and I even asked my parents, I've never had a cold sore even as a child :( so now i'm freaking out again.
Thank you so much! This made me feel a lot better. I will definitely go see a doctor as soon as possible.
Welcome to the forum. Sorry you didn't get a reply to your earlier message a few days ago. I have good news for you: I doubt you have genital herpes.
In that message, you were concerned your newly diagnosed HSV1 infection is due to genital herpes. However, the symptoms you described there and in this message are not suggestive of genital herpes. Most positive HSV1 blood tests are because of oral infection, usually acquired in childhood, and not genital herpes. Moreover, even if your infection is genital, it doesn't explain itching without blisters or sores. And most people with genital HSV1 have few recurrent outbreaks, often none at all, and there is no way that genital herpes due to HSV1 would cause symptoms as often as once a month and during every menstrual period. Finally, there is also little asymptomatic viral shedding in genital HSV1, and the infection is rarely transmitted to sex partners. It's very different than HSV2 in these ways.
You should see a doctor about your recurrent genital itching, but you can be confident herpes isn't the cause. In response to your specific quesiton, the answer is that there is little point in doing a swab test for herpes in this situation and most herpes experts would not recommend it. In my opinion, you should go forward with the assumption you do not have genital herpes and need not say anything about it to current or future sex partners.
Best wishes and happy new year!
In that message, you were concerned your newly diagnosed HSV1 infection is due to genital herpes. However, the symptoms you described there and in this message are not suggestive of genital herpes. Most positive HSV1 blood tests are because of oral infection, usually acquired in childhood, and not genital herpes. Moreover, even if your infection is genital, it doesn't explain itching without blisters or sores. And most people with genital HSV1 have few recurrent outbreaks, often none at all, and there is no way that genital herpes due to HSV1 would cause symptoms as often as once a month and during every menstrual period. Finally, there is also little asymptomatic viral shedding in genital HSV1, and the infection is rarely transmitted to sex partners. It's very different than HSV2 in these ways.
You should see a doctor about your recurrent genital itching, but you can be confident herpes isn't the cause. In response to your specific quesiton, the answer is that there is little point in doing a swab test for herpes in this situation and most herpes experts would not recommend it. In my opinion, you should go forward with the assumption you do not have genital herpes and need not say anything about it to current or future sex partners.
Best wishes and happy new year!
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
