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New Diagnoisis - Need Answers.
Newly Diagnosed....Help!
I went to my doctor last week because I discovered the week before that I had small "pimples" on my vagina. I thought they were bug bites - didn't hurt, had very minor itching, and I only noticed because I felt a bump when showering and attempted to squeeze. When I squeezed most of the bumps they didn't hurt and no liquid came out.
My doctor said that this could be skin irritation and not herpes because it was on both sides of my vagina but wanted to run a test either way. The results came back positive for HSV-1. I'm assuming it's genital since this is the first time I've ever had any kind of vaginal bumps. Or cold sores for that matter.
My doctor wasn't very forthcoming with information and just told me not to worry about it. I am freaking out because I have no idea how/who I got it from or how to deal with it. My current partner does not have it. I have so many questions that maybe you can help me get some clarity on:
1-What are the percentages of female to male transmission of HSV-1 genital if the woman is not on any kind of medication for it?
2- Can I still transmit the virus if I do not have active sores?
3- Since my "outbreak" was not as severe as many others I have researched - does this mean I will have a severe one coming?
4- How frequent will outbreaks be?
5- Is it necessary for me to go on anti-viral medication even if I do not have severe or frequent outbreaks?
6- Does HSV-1 shed as much as HSV-2 genital?
7- How contagious am I? Right now I feel like just touching anything will cause someone to get infected.
8- What is the percentage of transmission risk if I have sex without a condom when I do not have active sores?
9- Should I refrain from receiving oral sex because it will instantly infect the person?
Thank you in advanced for reading and answering this.
Please help!
I went to my doctor last week because I discovered the week before that I had small "pimples" on my vagina. I thought they were bug bites - didn't hurt, had very minor itching, and I only noticed because I felt a bump when showering and attempted to squeeze. When I squeezed most of the bumps they didn't hurt and no liquid came out.
My doctor said that this could be skin irritation and not herpes because it was on both sides of my vagina but wanted to run a test either way. The results came back positive for HSV-1. I'm assuming it's genital since this is the first time I've ever had any kind of vaginal bumps. Or cold sores for that matter.
My doctor wasn't very forthcoming with information and just told me not to worry about it. I am freaking out because I have no idea how/who I got it from or how to deal with it. My current partner does not have it. I have so many questions that maybe you can help me get some clarity on:
1-What are the percentages of female to male transmission of HSV-1 genital if the woman is not on any kind of medication for it?
2- Can I still transmit the virus if I do not have active sores?
3- Since my "outbreak" was not as severe as many others I have researched - does this mean I will have a severe one coming?
4- How frequent will outbreaks be?
5- Is it necessary for me to go on anti-viral medication even if I do not have severe or frequent outbreaks?
6- Does HSV-1 shed as much as HSV-2 genital?
7- How contagious am I? Right now I feel like just touching anything will cause someone to get infected.
8- What is the percentage of transmission risk if I have sex without a condom when I do not have active sores?
9- Should I refrain from receiving oral sex because it will instantly infect the person?
Thank you in advanced for reading and answering this.
Please help!
Over six months is technically 'established' but it does get even more established each passing year.
@gracefromHHP my current partner is assuming he doesn't have it. Working on getting him tested.
When you say well established infection - are we talking about months or even years?
When you say well established infection - are we talking about months or even years?
your symptoms do not sound at all like genital herpes!!! Trust me when I say you wouldn't have squeezed them and not had pain. With herpes, you squeeze it and the neighbors can hear you crying!!
You have hsv1. Most adults do have it. It's incredibly common. No reason to even think that it is genital. Only 20-40% of folks who have hsv1 orally ever get obvious cold sores to know that they are infected unless tested. Even though you can't recall cold sores, your igg result shows a well established infection and odds are it is oral. http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/herpes/oral-herpes/ has terrific info on oral herpes for more reading.
has your current partner been tested to know their herpes status or are they just assuming they don't have herpes?
really no reason for more testing for herpes as long as you are with this partner.
grace
You have hsv1. Most adults do have it. It's incredibly common. No reason to even think that it is genital. Only 20-40% of folks who have hsv1 orally ever get obvious cold sores to know that they are infected unless tested. Even though you can't recall cold sores, your igg result shows a well established infection and odds are it is oral. http://www.ashasexualhealth.org/stdsstis/herpes/oral-herpes/ has terrific info on oral herpes for more reading.
has your current partner been tested to know their herpes status or are they just assuming they don't have herpes?
really no reason for more testing for herpes as long as you are with this partner.
grace
Yes it will, this will progressively happen taking an avergae 4 weeks for a person infected. You will need to wait to test at 12-16 weeks from last exposure to be confident in a negative result.
It is exstremely difficult if possible to spread your own infection to your genitals. There is a negligible chance that for example receiving oral sex could lead to a genital infection despite the established oral infection. Not much is known about this it is so rare.
If this were to happen, it is unlikely that the outbreak would be severe owing to existing antibodies.
If this were to happen, it is unlikely that the outbreak would be severe owing to existing antibodies.
Thanks for your answer.
Is it possible to have an oral infection that somehow spread to a genital one?
Is it possible to have an oral infection that somehow spread to a genital one?
As mentioned, it is not possible to test over 8 on an IgG test if you were infected 2 weeks previously. You hence have an oral infection.
Either this isn't genital herpes (most likely) or it is HSV2. The quickest way to an answer is to have your partner test, same IgG test as you and this will show you if HSV2 is a possibility.
Either this isn't genital herpes (most likely) or it is HSV2. The quickest way to an answer is to have your partner test, same IgG test as you and this will show you if HSV2 is a possibility.
Yes I had an IgG blood test done and it came back abnormal (>8.0) for HSV-1 and normal (<0.2) for HSV-2 to which my doctor said I have HSV-1.
The week leading up to the bumps (to my knowledge) I had sex with my partner twice. I went to the GYN a week after I noticed the bumps and they were gone by that time. She was able to see them because of the pictures I took and decided to order the bliood test.
All she said was that I am HSV-1 positive and it accounts for 40% of gential herpes but if I don't have symptoms I shouldn't worry about it.
The week leading up to the bumps (to my knowledge) I had sex with my partner twice. I went to the GYN a week after I noticed the bumps and they were gone by that time. She was able to see them because of the pictures I took and decided to order the bliood test.
All she said was that I am HSV-1 positive and it accounts for 40% of gential herpes but if I don't have symptoms I shouldn't worry about it.
Slow down here, you're well ahead of yourself.
I assume you had an IgG blood test come back positive for HSV1 with the blood taken within a few days of the bumps appearing.
This virtually proves that you have an oral HSV1 infection. Up to half of people with this infection have no memory of cold sores, yet they have it orally! The reason for this is that if you were just infected, then your blood would NOT have antibodies.
Hence the only realistic possibility is HSV2. If you are concerned then test for that 16 weeks after bumps appearing.
All this assumes you've had sex with a person with HSV2 in the week before the bumps appeared. What was your history in the week leading into the sores?
I assume you had an IgG blood test come back positive for HSV1 with the blood taken within a few days of the bumps appearing.
This virtually proves that you have an oral HSV1 infection. Up to half of people with this infection have no memory of cold sores, yet they have it orally! The reason for this is that if you were just infected, then your blood would NOT have antibodies.
Hence the only realistic possibility is HSV2. If you are concerned then test for that 16 weeks after bumps appearing.
All this assumes you've had sex with a person with HSV2 in the week before the bumps appeared. What was your history in the week leading into the sores?
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
