Herpes

[janedoe61]

Do I have herpes?

I have been with my boyfriend for 2 years.

I have not been with any other person besides him. We have not used protected sex since we are only seeing each other.

My boy friend had a burning sensation (when urinating) and 2 small clear bubbles on the side of his penis. He is tired all the time. This happened about 1 year ago. Well, it has re-occured again about 9 months later.   I have not had any of his symptoms.

He will not go to the doctor.  

I went to the doctor and had a full check up a year ago.  I was told that all was normal.
I now have a small path of redness on my inner right thigh.  It does not itch. I noticed it when I was clipping my pubic hair.

I know that he has had many girlfriends in the past(before me).

How long does it take for herpes to show after the first intercourse?  

He is saying that I gave him a STD.
I am 100% sure that I did not give him any STD.  

Do I have herpes?
Could someone be a carrier and never have a breakout?

Thank you for your responds.

Jane

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

First of all, I can't tell from your description whether he has herpes.  Herpes can cause blisters, so I can't rule it out.

Second, even if he does, it doesn't mean he got it from you.

Third, there is no way for either of you to know what is going on unless he sees a doctor.  A herpes blood test should tell the story.

It is not fair to you, in my opinion, for him to refuse to find out what's going on--and then to blame you for something he may not even have.

If it will help, you can quote me.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

PS:  Herpes can be latent and hidden for a long time.  But why speculate?  Find out for sure.

[Alchemist42]

Im not a doctor... but have researched alot about herpes...

Herpes is transmitted skin to skin either touching a herpes sore or when the virus is sheading...  sheading is when the virus is on the skin but their are no symptoms.  

Its possible to get herpes and never have an outbreak or have one so mild that you miss it... but genital herpes is usually more painful in women.

In your situation the best way to know for sure is for him to see a doctor and have the blisters cultured.   You can get tested via a blood test but its not as good for the following reasons.

See... there are two types of herpes HSV1 and HSV2... HSV1 is typically oral (cold sores) and HSV2 is typically genital but both types can live both places.  So getting a blood test and testing positive only tells you that you have it but not where.

3/4 of the population has HSV1 orally (kids get it from relatives kissing them, etc. as they grow up)... most never have symptoms...  and if you have it orally its less likely you will get it genitally but not impossible.   HSV1 orally isnt considered an STD in the typical sense since its so wide spread.

Yearly checkups dont check for Stds typically, and STD screens dont usually check for herpes unless their are symptoms or if you ask.  So you might want to get tested yourself just to see where you stand.

Assuming that neither of you had anything at the beginning of your relationship, neither of you have strayed, and now he has genital herpes... all assumptions which could be wrong.  Its possible that he got genital herpes HSV1 from you via oral sex.

Again, the only way to be sure is to be tested... blisters on the genitalia usually should be checked out IMO unless you have been rolling naked in poison ivy or something, and the fact that its recurring sounds like herpes.

If it is herpes the best time to test is when there are blisters to culture.  If he wont goto the doctor, and says you gave him an STD... you could get tested yourself and if clear at least you know where you stand and can tell him he needs to get check out.

Sorry for the novel.   I thought at one point a problem I was having might be herpes and I read alot... probably too much. lol.

[janedoe61]

Thank you for your input.

I got my results... I have herpes.
My break out is very minimal... this time.
the doctor has narrowed it down on when I recieved the virus.
There are letters... I don't remember the 3 letters but one set states that you have new antibodies for herpes.
The other number 3 letters states that you have already had the virus.  So bottom line my boyfriend gave me herpes.
I'm still in shock.
I did a full screen test from a-z test just so that I do not have anymore surprises.

Thanks again for you input.

Janedoe