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oHSV1+ Virgin with gHSV1??!
I believe I have a unique situation and I'm just looking for more answers and any insight that you may have. So I have been ohsv1+ since I was about 5 or 6 years old. Most likely got it from my mom in the typical close family contact way. I want to note that I typically get cold sores around my nasal/nose area and never on my lips (side-note: could I still shed the virus orally in or around my mouth even if I never have cold sores there?). My mom gets hers on her nose too and I probably got it from her from her many nose to nose kisses as a kid lol. Anyway, I'm saying all this to say that I have had this virus in my body for over 25 years now. I had never gotten an official diagnosis of this as a kid but the appearance of them were pretty unmistakable so I always knew I had it.
So flashback to around 2017. I had noticed that I was experiencing some slight burning, slight itching, areas around my genital area, mainly in the creases. This of course freaked me out a bit. My mind went to HSV but I was thinking it most likely wouldn't be that because, it didn't present the way I was typically used to in the years of dealing with cold sores and I have never had any sexual encounters, of any kind. No vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Nada. Virgin here. So I'm a bit confused as you could imagine. Another abnormality I noticed was that these sores, scrapes, whatever they were, were occurring way too often. Like at least a few times a month, coupled with just overall discomfort, irritation and itching even without any presentation of anything. It's almost as if I never have a moment's peace. I have more days with symptoms than without. This is still the case to this day. Yes it's taken me a while to reach out to the internet from some answers, but here I am. From doing some research, it seems like I'm in a constant state of prodrome. I have tingling feeling in my genital area, sometimes in my leg, especially when I touch a certain area on my genitals. At times I feel internal pain/pinches and just overall seems like nerve discomfort which I know the virus lives in the nerves so that's another reason why I felt this could be HSV. The sores seem to come in relatively the same areas as well. Also, the healing time seems to vary from a couple days to maybe a week or so. I've read that gHSV1 usually tends to reoccur a lot less than gHSV2 so this is another abnormality I've noticed. And I also thought that if you've had the virus in your body for so long that you had a better chance of fighting it off in other areas of your body. Is there any truth to that? How big of an impact could my diet/stress level have on the frequency of this?
So since 2017 even up to this year I have had various tests (maybe 5-6) done on these sores and once did a blood test. The blood test of course came back saying I was HSV1+, but I already knew that. Any of the culture tests I had done always came back negative and I've even had them done at various stages to try to see if something could be caught at different stages of presentation. I know HSV tests are notoriously awful but what's the best test you think I should try in order to really figure out if this is officially HSV? Would a PCR test help in this determination? I've asked a couple doctor's offices about this test and they never seem to offer them. Do you know of any online/at home versions that offer a HSV PCR swab test?
Doctors prescribed a couple things to help me heal and suggested yeast infections once. I even got valacyclovir and acyclovir prescriptions. I mainly took valacyclovir because I read that it tends to work better than acyclovir. But honestly, it didn't seem to help improve anything. I want to say that it did seem to assist with my cold sores some. I even at one point was taking them daily for maybe 3-4 months but it was still the same deal downstairs. How long does it typically take before people start to see real results with this medication if they tend to have frequent outbreaks? I was prescribed 500mg and went up to 1000mg with not much difference. So I've since decided to stop taking them and I sometimes may incorporate it when I feel a cold sore coming on. Are you aware of any alternatives to assisting with HSV healing or lowering the frequency of an outbreak?
Anyway, I'm feeling like I possibly could have spread the virus myself some kind of way but I can't imagine how unless I somehow had the virus on my fingers when I happened to touch my genital area. But this is odd to me being that I've touch my genital area in the past and haven't seemed to have an issue before. Is it possible to have spread the virus this way? One of the doctors I had did say this is a possibility. How would I know if I could possibly have herpetic whitlow? In the past, I have applied creams and medications to my cold sores using my fingers but I always washed my hands before and after. But would this be a way in which the virus could have gotten on my hands and turned to herpetic whitlow? I'm also aware of asymptomatic shedding so could it be possible by touching my face at a time when I was shedding, then if I touched my genital area, that the virus could have been spread that way? At this point I just want to know what I'm working with here so that I can figure out what I need to do to stop the frequency of it and the ongoing symptoms I seem to be having. I'm looking to start a relationship soon and I want to be informed on what's going on with my body before going down any sexual path with them. Kind of hard to explain hey I'm a virgin but also have gHSV1 lol. If this is gHSV1, what's the transmission rate for female to male? Or how likely do you think I would pass this to a future partner, given my specific situation as explained as is? This seems like some knowledge I should have in my arsenal if possible. Any help/insight on this whole matter would be greatly appreciated!
So flashback to around 2017. I had noticed that I was experiencing some slight burning, slight itching, areas around my genital area, mainly in the creases. This of course freaked me out a bit. My mind went to HSV but I was thinking it most likely wouldn't be that because, it didn't present the way I was typically used to in the years of dealing with cold sores and I have never had any sexual encounters, of any kind. No vaginal, oral, or anal sex. Nada. Virgin here. So I'm a bit confused as you could imagine. Another abnormality I noticed was that these sores, scrapes, whatever they were, were occurring way too often. Like at least a few times a month, coupled with just overall discomfort, irritation and itching even without any presentation of anything. It's almost as if I never have a moment's peace. I have more days with symptoms than without. This is still the case to this day. Yes it's taken me a while to reach out to the internet from some answers, but here I am. From doing some research, it seems like I'm in a constant state of prodrome. I have tingling feeling in my genital area, sometimes in my leg, especially when I touch a certain area on my genitals. At times I feel internal pain/pinches and just overall seems like nerve discomfort which I know the virus lives in the nerves so that's another reason why I felt this could be HSV. The sores seem to come in relatively the same areas as well. Also, the healing time seems to vary from a couple days to maybe a week or so. I've read that gHSV1 usually tends to reoccur a lot less than gHSV2 so this is another abnormality I've noticed. And I also thought that if you've had the virus in your body for so long that you had a better chance of fighting it off in other areas of your body. Is there any truth to that? How big of an impact could my diet/stress level have on the frequency of this?
So since 2017 even up to this year I have had various tests (maybe 5-6) done on these sores and once did a blood test. The blood test of course came back saying I was HSV1+, but I already knew that. Any of the culture tests I had done always came back negative and I've even had them done at various stages to try to see if something could be caught at different stages of presentation. I know HSV tests are notoriously awful but what's the best test you think I should try in order to really figure out if this is officially HSV? Would a PCR test help in this determination? I've asked a couple doctor's offices about this test and they never seem to offer them. Do you know of any online/at home versions that offer a HSV PCR swab test?
Doctors prescribed a couple things to help me heal and suggested yeast infections once. I even got valacyclovir and acyclovir prescriptions. I mainly took valacyclovir because I read that it tends to work better than acyclovir. But honestly, it didn't seem to help improve anything. I want to say that it did seem to assist with my cold sores some. I even at one point was taking them daily for maybe 3-4 months but it was still the same deal downstairs. How long does it typically take before people start to see real results with this medication if they tend to have frequent outbreaks? I was prescribed 500mg and went up to 1000mg with not much difference. So I've since decided to stop taking them and I sometimes may incorporate it when I feel a cold sore coming on. Are you aware of any alternatives to assisting with HSV healing or lowering the frequency of an outbreak?
Anyway, I'm feeling like I possibly could have spread the virus myself some kind of way but I can't imagine how unless I somehow had the virus on my fingers when I happened to touch my genital area. But this is odd to me being that I've touch my genital area in the past and haven't seemed to have an issue before. Is it possible to have spread the virus this way? One of the doctors I had did say this is a possibility. How would I know if I could possibly have herpetic whitlow? In the past, I have applied creams and medications to my cold sores using my fingers but I always washed my hands before and after. But would this be a way in which the virus could have gotten on my hands and turned to herpetic whitlow? I'm also aware of asymptomatic shedding so could it be possible by touching my face at a time when I was shedding, then if I touched my genital area, that the virus could have been spread that way? At this point I just want to know what I'm working with here so that I can figure out what I need to do to stop the frequency of it and the ongoing symptoms I seem to be having. I'm looking to start a relationship soon and I want to be informed on what's going on with my body before going down any sexual path with them. Kind of hard to explain hey I'm a virgin but also have gHSV1 lol. If this is gHSV1, what's the transmission rate for female to male? Or how likely do you think I would pass this to a future partner, given my specific situation as explained as is? This seems like some knowledge I should have in my arsenal if possible. Any help/insight on this whole matter would be greatly appreciated!
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Thanks for responding. I’m not sure if I was tested for yeast. I can remember testing pos for BV before but I want to say that was before I was having these particular issues. I do try different gentler cleansers and haven’t noticed much difference. I do refrain from using any scented products though.
I don’t know, I almost feel like I want to eliminate the possibility of it being herpes and then try discovering what else it possibly could be if it’s not herpes. But I don’t know how likely or feasible that is. Do you think this is a way to go about this? I just am a bit frustrated with all this…Do you think the PCR test will possibly garner more accurate results in my situation?
I don’t know, I almost feel like I want to eliminate the possibility of it being herpes and then try discovering what else it possibly could be if it’s not herpes. But I don’t know how likely or feasible that is. Do you think this is a way to go about this? I just am a bit frustrated with all this…Do you think the PCR test will possibly garner more accurate results in my situation?
The PCR swab is the best test if you have symptoms. It's more sensitive than a regular culture.
Since you have hsv1 orally already, the PCR swab is your best bet.
It's not 100% going to work. You don't have blisters they can get fluid from, but I can't think of anything else that you can try without eliminating things.
Autoinoculation is really unlikely, but if PCR swabbing will help you move on from this, either way, then try it. You could also try taking suppressive meds and seeing if that helps.
Since you have hsv1 orally already, the PCR swab is your best bet.
It's not 100% going to work. You don't have blisters they can get fluid from, but I can't think of anything else that you can try without eliminating things.
Autoinoculation is really unlikely, but if PCR swabbing will help you move on from this, either way, then try it. You could also try taking suppressive meds and seeing if that helps.
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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.
Infecting yourself - called autoinoculation - is possible, but after all these years and having antibodies would make that really unlikely. It would also be really unlikely for you to ever get it from a partner.
When the doctors thought yeast, did they test you? You could have other conditions like bacterial vaginosis.
Have you considered an allergic reaction or a sensitivity? Maybe toilet paper, period products, wipes, soaps, washes, laundry detergents, etc.?
Try eliminating those one at a time, and see if that helps. If you use something to cleanse, use only a very gentle soap or non-soap cleanser. Don't use anything perfumed, scented, with dyes. Don't ever douche unless directed to by a doctor.
Think about everything that comes into contact with the area - if it's scented, etc., replace it. See if that helps.