Auto-inoculation of HSV-1 from anal to vaginal?

[audrey83]

Is it possible that I auto-inoculated myself? I was diagnosed with HSV-1 on my buttocks 11 years ago. I had 2  minor flare ups over the course of the past 11 years... and then last week.. I had another flare up. Just when I thought it was going away... I noticed a few bumps on either side of my labia majora. I went to see 1 doctor, and he glanced at it, saying it is molluscum contagiosum. I saw another doctor today who said it was, in fact hsv. She swabbed it and now I am impatiently waiting. How could I have this outbreak on my labia if I had it all along on my buttocks as the 'host site'? Could it be that I contracted it via receiving oral sex at some point, and that it's hsv 2? Or did I auto-inoculate myself?

Please, shed some light on this... It's stressing me out quite a bit. Not to mention that I someday wish and hope to have children..and of course start a new relationship with someone I'm scared of what effect this may have on all of that..

Thank you, hope to hear back from you soon.

[audrey83]

Hi, I was definitely initially diagnosed via swab, 11 years ago... Can't remember if it was done via blood, as well, but I remember the doctors telling me that it was type 1 that I got in that 'region', which was 'rare' because normally it manifests itself orally (ie in the mouth).

I had no idea that this "internal spreading along the nerve region" was actually possible. Anything that can cause or trigger this? Lowered immune system.... stress?

I have been careful and safe when it comes to intercourse... I'm not promiscuous... and I do have my partner use a condom. However, I have received oral sex without any protection from a couple of partners in the last 24 months.

Ok so you're saying that once I am infected with HSV1 in that 'sacral' region.. it is next to impossible to be infected with HSV2 in that region, as well...

And you think it's unlikely that I auto-inoculated myself? I was thinking that maybe from wearing underwear, since the 2 'areas' are so close to each other.... or perhaps using the same razor for both 'areas'...

I guess I'll just have to wait for the results to come back. I've been feeling really under the weather, flu like symptoms and feverish, run down... it really sucks to have those symptoms when dealing with the physical and emotional toll that an HSV outbreak, especially in a new area (2 areas at the same time) has on one...

Any words of wisdom or sympathy are welcome! thanks.

[Fleetwood20]

How were you initially diagnosed? Swab or blood, both?

Once a nerve region, in this case the sacral nerve system, is infected, then it is assumed that the entire region is infected. This means the virus has access to any nerve ending for the system, in your case this is approximated as the boxer short region. Now if you are now having an outbreak at a different location, it is far more likely it arose from an internal spreading of the virus along the nerve system rather than 'over land'.

Once you have one type of HSV1 or HSV2 in a region, it is exceptionally difficult but not impossible to become infected with the other in the same region.

For this reason, the internal movement of the virus down nerves to your frontal area is by far the most likely explanation.