Should i get tested for herpes?

[jangtse231]

More than one year ago I was in a longer relationship. The girl never had any kind of sex before me, and i never had unprotected sex without anyone but her. When I say unprotected, I also mean oral sex. We only had oral sex (performed on me, on her it was more times) twice without protection and it was short, I don't know if the duration matters though. One day i was shaving myself and i cut myself above my upper lip. It was a tiny cut, but soon it became pulsating and itchy, maybe because I spent a lot of time in the sea. We immediately stopped any kind of oral sex and didn't have any kind of sex in more than a week. In the meantime I developed a big scab (much bigger, but on the same place as the cut) and it fell off. On one occasion i went inside of her without a condom (vaginal), but also for a short time, and we continued with condom every other time.
She claimed never having a cold sore, and I believe her but her best friend had one not that long ago, when we met). I never had it till then either ( if it even was a cold sore). I'm entering a serious relationship now, and i wonder if there was a chance of catching it on genitals back then, because it might have been my first time infection.So I know if i should est myself, so I don't hurt my girl.

[auntiejessi]

If you get a blood test, and you test positive for type 1, it will only tell you that you have it, not where it's located. You should assume that it's oral unless you've had an outbreak genitally.

I think it's always a good idea to test before a new relationship, and your new partner should also test. Since it's been over a year, ask for the IgG type specific test, and your results will be reliable. Don't take the IgM test - it's supposed to detect new infections, but it's terribly unreliable and shouldn't be done on adults.

Best of luck.

[peterpeight]

if you want to test for sure, it's better to get blood test after 3 months of exposure. IgG and IgM blood tests may help

[jangtse231]

One more thing, sometimes I get the feeling to scratch my penis, but it's really rare, and i think it's normal, like e.g. scratching my leg. Scratch, and it's over. I don't think i ever had an outbreak on my lip since the situation I previously described. Happy holidays