Newly diagnosed with HSV-2

[Newhere15]

Hi, there- I am newly diagnosed with Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 of the genitals.

I had protected sexual intercourse with someone two weeks ago Tuesday-Sat and began noticing symptoms late Saturday evening. We had unprotected everything else including oral and digital stimulation. I felt like I was getting the flu and had a fever body aches and chills, etc. Then on Sunday of last weekend I started to notice some redness and on Monday I had a few new open sores.

I went in to see my doctor this past Tuesday and she cultured the sores and ran blood tests. She said that a new infection matched the time frame but that the blood work would have to confirm that. My viral culture came back HSV 2 positive and all blood came back negative. My doctor said this indicates a new exposure since my body had no antibodies against the virus. Is this correct?

I ask because the partner I was with will not speak to me and seems to think he is in no way responsible for exposing me to this. He was supposed to go to Planned Parenthood yesterday and I am hoping he did but have not heard anything.

What are the possibilities that it could not be from him? I have not had any other recent sexual partners in the past two months. My doctor seems 99% sure it is from him, but I feel so anxious and concerned because of his reaction. I am sure he is just waiting to get his results for confirmation before saying too much but I feel so alone :(

It would be best for him if he was negative but if he is, then where does that leave me? I know that if he is positive it is from him, but I guess it is just a waiting game now.

[HowardH]

No replies to new questions on other users' threads. Start your own, please.

[hopeitsnotreal]

Are all sores in the mouth Painful? How often do they appear? i now noticed i get one small pimple like on my tounge no where else? ! Im waiting to go bqck for another test .. how likly would it.be false? Your saying symptoms wont start 2-5-16 im just so lost and the deeper i reasersch the more confusee this my fist time actually talking about it

[hopeitsnotreal]

Im just so confused ... ive read day and night since i recived my results and so disapointed in myself to trust someone but regardless im hoping to wake up and accept this .. but now my worst fear appeared to have happend me not knowing i was carrying this virus how likly would i have transferrd it to my 1yr old son would he get symptoms automatic i have takin him to the er with fevers but he isnt in.my care at the moment i just dont know any more

[Newhere15]

Thank you so, so much. I agree, my doctor was amazing. I also work at a women's reproductive healthcare clinic and am somewhat educated on herpes. I know it is more psychologically terrifying than physical, so I am going to just keep educating myself on my new diagnosis. For my partners sake, I hope he gets tested so he knows his own status. It's up to me now to deal with my own.

It is so refreshing to know you can post a question on here and get prompt well thought responses. Thank you for that!

Best to you!

[HowardH]

Your story is a textbook-classical one for primary genital herpes due to HSV2; it could be used to teach medical students. want2know88 is correct: the positive test for the virus, with negative blood test, proves it is a new infection, probably acquired within the previous couple of weeks and for sure within 3 months. And primary herpes symptoms typically begin 3-5 days after exposure -- and your systemic symptoms (fever, body aches, etc) could not be from an infection acquired 2 months earlier.

So your doctor also is correct about the source of your infection: there is little doubt it's from your recent partner. By the way, your doctor obviously is quite knowledgeable about herpes. If you scan this forum, you'll see that's definitely not always the case! Stick with her.

Don't be too hard on your partner. Most initial herpes is acquired from partners who don't know they have it -- either no symptoms at all, or at least no symptoms that were diagnosed as herpes. Regardless of what the PP clinic finds on exam, he should have an HSV blood test and should expect it to be positive for HSV2. But assuming he isn't lying, or hasn't had typical symptoms that he should have recognized as herpes (and probably he did not), none of this marks him as irresponsible or uncaring. You might let him know your have that perspective. I have no idea whether you view (or viewed) this relationship as promising for the long term, but if so, the herpes issue shouldn't be allowed to be a serious impediment.

I hope this has helped. Best wishes.

[want2know88]

I am no expert but here is what I think.

I think technically you could have been exposed two months ago and still not have antibodies. Two months is 8 weeks and not everyone will seroconvert in 8 weeks. So technically it could be from your previous sexual partner and you are just having symptoms now without antibodies. So it is not conclusive that it is your new partner based on that reasoning.

I am not sure on the exact numbers but most people seroconvert (develop antibodies) within 16 weeks. That is why most experts will recommend that you wait 16 weeks until you get the antibody tests after an encounter. But low and behold since you are positive without antibodies this is a recent infection and would be from someone that you were sexually active with in the last 16 weeks.