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Testing and transmittal questions
I had a bout of bronchitis and pneumonia during late February and March with several courses of antibiotics. I also took prednisone. I get bikini waxes and engage in oral genital sex with my longtime partner. He occasionally has cold sores. A few weeks ago in early April just after he was getting over a cold sore and just after I had a waxing he gave me oral sex. Within a week I felt a lump I went to a dermatologist and was told I had a cyst. They drained it, but I was tested for STDs out of an abundance of caution. (I had NO IDEA I could get herpes from cold sores....until I started trying to figure out the lump on my vagina...).The very next day I noticed blistering and began having pain and tingling. When I got my blood test results they were negative for herpes 1 and 2 but positive for chlamydia? the results were 1.12 Is it possible that the blood tests picked up on the pneumonia?
Since my new physical symptoms (blistering etc) we did additional testing (cultures) to determine if I have herpes 1 or 2 and a urine sample for chlamydia. ( results in 5 days)
How long can chlamydia lay dormant in the system?
Additionally, Why would I just get herpes 1 now after 18 years? The perfect storm of low immune system/ bikini wax( likely fissures) and cold sore?
Future: assuming I have herpes 1- how can I transmit it in the future? can I give it to someone if I perform oral sex or only by genital contact?
Appreciate any help. I have had no other sexual partners in 18 years. I also believe he has not either.
Obviously if i do have herpes 1 he and I would have no issues at this point since we both have it (assuming my cultures come back positive)
Since my new physical symptoms (blistering etc) we did additional testing (cultures) to determine if I have herpes 1 or 2 and a urine sample for chlamydia. ( results in 5 days)
How long can chlamydia lay dormant in the system?
Additionally, Why would I just get herpes 1 now after 18 years? The perfect storm of low immune system/ bikini wax( likely fissures) and cold sore?
Future: assuming I have herpes 1- how can I transmit it in the future? can I give it to someone if I perform oral sex or only by genital contact?
Appreciate any help. I have had no other sexual partners in 18 years. I also believe he has not either.
Obviously if i do have herpes 1 he and I would have no issues at this point since we both have it (assuming my cultures come back positive)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
There's nothing to do and no way to prevent new lesions. Just hang in with the treatment.
This thread has gone about as far as it can. An online forum is not designed for direct medical care and not a substitute for it. Additional questions are best handled by her doctor. Best of luck to both of you.
This thread has gone about as far as it can. An online forum is not designed for direct medical care and not a substitute for it. Additional questions are best handled by her doctor. Best of luck to both of you.
Thank you. I hope so too. I am still confused. How can I keep it from spreading? I have more blisters today. Is the seepage from previous blisters causing new blisters? Or are there going to be as many blisters as there are going to be and there is nothing you can do to reduce the number I'm thus initial outbreak beside beginning valacyclovir ? Can I spread this to myself and get it orally as well since I don't have immunity ? (eyes/mouth)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're on the right drug at the correct dose. You should start to see improvement in symptoms in the next day or two.
1g valacyclovir Started wed am. Twice daily.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
New lesions often continue to appear for several days. However, new lesions usually stop within a couple days of starting treatment. Are you now on valacyclovir or other treatment?
FYI, the dose of anti-HSV drugs is higher for HSV-1 than HSV-2. If you have been started on treatment, tell me the dose.
FYI, the dose of anti-HSV drugs is higher for HSV-1 than HSV-2. If you have been started on treatment, tell me the dose.
Are you able to answer the question above from yesterday?
I am conscious it us a holiday weekend and see that you are on currently. Wondering if you are able to answer my last question above around spreading of blisters.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Update: Chlamydia swab test and urine test negative
Subsequent Hsv-1 and 2 blood tests negative and all other STD tests negative at GYN
Just waiting for HSV-1 culture. This means recent exposure. Correct?
Also, just to clarify, I am being very careful from a cleanliness standpoint. Hand washing and washing vaginal area several times a day. How can I keep it from spreading? I have more blisters today. Is the seepage from previous blisters causing new blisters? Or are there going to be as many blisters as there are going to be and there is nothing you can do? I have begin the valacyclovir (on my 4th 1 g dose)
Think you again for your help.
Subsequent Hsv-1 and 2 blood tests negative and all other STD tests negative at GYN
Just waiting for HSV-1 culture. This means recent exposure. Correct?
Also, just to clarify, I am being very careful from a cleanliness standpoint. Hand washing and washing vaginal area several times a day. How can I keep it from spreading? I have more blisters today. Is the seepage from previous blisters causing new blisters? Or are there going to be as many blisters as there are going to be and there is nothing you can do? I have begin the valacyclovir (on my 4th 1 g dose)
Think you again for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Eventually this won't be a problem, but caution is advised for a few months. People with longstanding HSV infections are immune, or at least highly resistant, to new infections with the same virus type, anywhere on the body. Therefore, couples don't "ping pong" their mutual HSV infections back and forth. However, it takes 3 months -- maybe even 6 months -- for immunity to build up. During that time, your partner shouldn't kiss or perform oral sex on you if and when he's having a cold sore outbreak. After that it won't matter.
Since he has a longstanding infection, you don't need to worry at all about exposing him to your infection, e.g. if you have a recurrent genital outbreak. But anyway, that may never happen. Recurrent outbreaks are uncommon with genital HSV-1; almost half of all infected persons never have any recurrences at all. (Very much unlike genital HSV-2, which typically has 4-8 outbreaks a year.)
Since he has a longstanding infection, you don't need to worry at all about exposing him to your infection, e.g. if you have a recurrent genital outbreak. But anyway, that may never happen. Recurrent outbreaks are uncommon with genital HSV-1; almost half of all infected persons never have any recurrences at all. (Very much unlike genital HSV-2, which typically has 4-8 outbreaks a year.)
One additional question. If my sex partner has oral herpes- Hsv1 (has never has genital) and I now have genital Hsv1 can I give him genital HSV1 or is he unable to contract genital hsv1 because he has the oral variety.
Thank you for your help.
Thank you for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your dermatologist may be using older terminology, i.e. equating genital herpes with HSV-2. But I'm betting on HSV-1. They do indeed "look the same": symptoms and appearance on examination are absolutely identical with either virus.
GYN is tomorrow.
Dermatologist said blisters were hsv2 instead of 1. But blood tests were negative (too soon). Culture will tell
Don't they "look" the same?
More later this week when tests are back.
Dermatologist said blisters were hsv2 instead of 1. But blood tests were negative (too soon). Culture will tell
Don't they "look" the same?
More later this week when tests are back.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm glad to hear a blister lesion has been properly tested. Good for you for insisting on proper testing!
I think it's OK for you to hold off on chlamydia treatment -- no need for it if your urine test is negative.
However, you should start valacyclovir without delay. It's true that the initial HSV infection is usually the worst, but that doesn't mean that not treating you will protect you from future outbreaks. It doesn't work that way. And there's no need to delay until seeing your gynecologist. HSV treatment should always be started ASAP; in my clinic, we never wait until the diagnosis is confirmed. The drug is harmless, and the sooner it is begun, the more effective it is. You should take your first dose tonight.
You must have misunderstood your gynecologist about "chlamydia looks likes hsv 2". No ObG believes or would tell a patient that.
You're probably right that your partner does not have genital herpes. The most likely scenario is that you caught his oral herpes through oral sex, and your infection is due to HSV-1, not HSV-2.
I think it's OK for you to hold off on chlamydia treatment -- no need for it if your urine test is negative.
However, you should start valacyclovir without delay. It's true that the initial HSV infection is usually the worst, but that doesn't mean that not treating you will protect you from future outbreaks. It doesn't work that way. And there's no need to delay until seeing your gynecologist. HSV treatment should always be started ASAP; in my clinic, we never wait until the diagnosis is confirmed. The drug is harmless, and the sooner it is begun, the more effective it is. You should take your first dose tonight.
You must have misunderstood your gynecologist about "chlamydia looks likes hsv 2". No ObG believes or would tell a patient that.
You're probably right that your partner does not have genital herpes. The most likely scenario is that you caught his oral herpes through oral sex, and your infection is due to HSV-1, not HSV-2.
To clarify got results of Fridays blood tests today and insisted on further ruin/ cultures above.
Have two prescriptions. Have not begun antibiotics or anti herpes drugs ore above. Appreciates additional advice.
Have two prescriptions. Have not begun antibiotics or anti herpes drugs ore above. Appreciates additional advice.
Got blood tests today but insisted on swab and urine test for chlamydia. Had them break a blister to do a definitive culture to determine h1 versus h2
They gave me antibiotics for chlamydia - haven't started - since I am not sure I have it.
Got valacyclovir but am not taking til after I see my GYN tomorrow.
All this was done at a dermatologist.
I am not taking valacyclovir because I understand that if you let the first outbreak run it's course it will likely be the worst one you will ever get. So I am trying to just let it do it's thing and not suppress it this go around. Do you recommend I fill and take that prescription. Or wait for confirmation by either GYN or culture?
The dermatologist said Friday I had a cyst and don't test for stds......today they said chlamydia and looks likes hsv 2 so I am not quite sure what to believe.
My partner does not have genital herpes. Only occasional cold sores.
Thanks again for your response to this . Greatly appreciated.
They gave me antibiotics for chlamydia - haven't started - since I am not sure I have it.
Got valacyclovir but am not taking til after I see my GYN tomorrow.
All this was done at a dermatologist.
I am not taking valacyclovir because I understand that if you let the first outbreak run it's course it will likely be the worst one you will ever get. So I am trying to just let it do it's thing and not suppress it this go around. Do you recommend I fill and take that prescription. Or wait for confirmation by either GYN or culture?
The dermatologist said Friday I had a cyst and don't test for stds......today they said chlamydia and looks likes hsv 2 so I am not quite sure what to believe.
My partner does not have genital herpes. Only occasional cold sores.
Thanks again for your response to this . Greatly appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
Chlamydia: If I correctly understand, you had a blood test for chlamydia, right? Such tests are useless to diagnose the chlamydia STD, i.e. a genital infection. Your weakly positive result could be due to distant past infection or to bronchitis or pneumonia caused by chlamydia-like bacteria. I have no way of knowing whether your recent pneumonia is the reason for your positive test -- but for genital chlamydia, you can rely on the urine test, whatever the result may be. (Based on your sexual history, though, chlamydia is unlikely.)
Genital chlamydia can persist for several months, and rarely a couple of years. Eighteen years is unheard of.
Herpes: You probably have two separate genital problems. Herpes doesn't cause a cysts or "lump". However, herpes is the most common cause of blister-like lesions in the genital area. It takes several weeks for an HSV blood test to become positive. I hope your doctor or clinic took a swab test from one of the blisters to check for the virus. If that was not done, return to the clinic and insist on it. That's the best way to diagnose new herpes infections. When they do that test, tell them that if the test is positive for HSV, you need the lab the lab to check for HSV-1 versus HSV-2. If for some reason they can't do the direct test for HSV, then have another blood test in a few weeks to see if the negative result has turned positive.
Even if one partner is infected with HSV, it is often many years before transmission occurs. Often it never is, and 18 years isn't unusual -- it just took that long before you were unlucky. Your bikini wax or "low immune system" have nothing to do with it. Your partner should have a blood test for HSV; probably it will confirm he has HSV-1, the usual cause of cold sores.
I'll be interested to hear more as your test results become available. In the meantime, I hope treatment has been started. Even when genital herpes is only suspected, it should be treated. The anti-herpes drugs (e.g., valacyclovir) will speed healing and prevent progression to serioous pain.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Chlamydia: If I correctly understand, you had a blood test for chlamydia, right? Such tests are useless to diagnose the chlamydia STD, i.e. a genital infection. Your weakly positive result could be due to distant past infection or to bronchitis or pneumonia caused by chlamydia-like bacteria. I have no way of knowing whether your recent pneumonia is the reason for your positive test -- but for genital chlamydia, you can rely on the urine test, whatever the result may be. (Based on your sexual history, though, chlamydia is unlikely.)
Genital chlamydia can persist for several months, and rarely a couple of years. Eighteen years is unheard of.
Herpes: You probably have two separate genital problems. Herpes doesn't cause a cysts or "lump". However, herpes is the most common cause of blister-like lesions in the genital area. It takes several weeks for an HSV blood test to become positive. I hope your doctor or clinic took a swab test from one of the blisters to check for the virus. If that was not done, return to the clinic and insist on it. That's the best way to diagnose new herpes infections. When they do that test, tell them that if the test is positive for HSV, you need the lab the lab to check for HSV-1 versus HSV-2. If for some reason they can't do the direct test for HSV, then have another blood test in a few weeks to see if the negative result has turned positive.
Even if one partner is infected with HSV, it is often many years before transmission occurs. Often it never is, and 18 years isn't unusual -- it just took that long before you were unlucky. Your bikini wax or "low immune system" have nothing to do with it. Your partner should have a blood test for HSV; probably it will confirm he has HSV-1, the usual cause of cold sores.
I'll be interested to hear more as your test results become available. In the meantime, I hope treatment has been started. Even when genital herpes is only suspected, it should be treated. The anti-herpes drugs (e.g., valacyclovir) will speed healing and prevent progression to serioous pain.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
