Does HSV 1 lay dormant?

I know for HSV 2 it can lay dormant in your body and you can be asymptomatic. But I was wondering if this goes for HSV 1 as well? I just received by blood tests results back and it came back positive for HSV 1. I've never in my life had any kind of cold sore or genital problems. A month ago when I had sex/oral sex with a guy within the same week I had genital sores. I saw my doctor and the swab test came back positive for herpes. This guy has never had any symptoms of genital herpes or oral herpes. He said he has never had a cold sore either. Do you think maybe I've had HSV 1 all my life but just never had any symptoms? And do you think since I got the sores on my genitals that the HSV 2 simply did not show up on my blood tests? I went in for my blood test a few weeks after the symptoms. I'm confused and need answers as soon as possible. Thank you for your time!

[petal130]

Yes to your first question. And, you can have HSV1 genitally, but only a swab/culture of symptoms can confirm that.

[luey941]

I did get a swab/culture of my sores and it came back positive for herpes. But it did not specify which type, which is why my doctor told me I needed to get some blood drawn.

[petal130]

Best to keep your posts all in one thread; you have several now and it's time consuming to have to dig through them to find out your whole story.

How long ago did you test positive via swab/culture? You have to wait 3 months after that to get an IgG type specific blood test.

[luey941]

Oh sorry! I tested positive over a month ago. So is it possible that I also have herpes type 2 as well? Even though it did not show up on my blood test results?

[petal130]

Yes indeed, you could have both. The majority of people who have HSV never have recognizable symptoms to know they have it. With HSV1, about 60% of the adult population has it, many of us getting it in childhood. The unfortunate thing here is the lab should have (based on CDC guidelines), typed your culture. Now you have to wait three months to be certain, as it can take that long for antibodies to form and be detected in the IgG blood test. Could it be HSV1 genitally? Yes. About 1/3 of all new genital herpes cases are HSV1. But it could be you've had HSV1 for who knows how long, and genitally it's HSV2 going on. You must wait for 3 months post encounter to test for HSV2, then you'll have your answer. As well, should you have another outbreak prior to that, be seen within 48 hours for a swab/culture of symptoms, and be sure they type it!

[luey941]

Thank you for your time and help!