HSV-1 infection of genitals - symptoms

i am a 25 year old female and i believe i have a HSV-1 genital herpes. i'm undiagnosed at present and i'm looking for some help with symptoms/diagnosis. i will describe my 2 year history with the potential infection:

i've had 3 sexual partners in my life... one of which i painfully (and angrily) discovered, was a high STD risk as he was very promiscuous before, during and after our relationship. we always used condoms and i know they do not give full protection from things such as an HSV infection. he also performed oral sex on me. i believe i contracted HSV-1 from him either through oral-genital or genital-genital contact. i was sexually active with him between march - may 2008 after 6 months of dating.

i estimate that i first started experiencing symptoms in april 2008. tingling, itching on the skin/labia on the left side of my vaginal entrance, but no sores or visible symptoms. it was in july 2008 that i had experienced my first 'classic' herpes symptoms. i suffered a period of exhaustion and terrible headaches. i also had shooting pains in my thighs and buttocks. i was completely knocked out by the symptoms!! i noticed pain and tingling in that same spot... only this time there was a bump. this bump then became red, sore and ulcer like. it took around 3 weeks to completely heal. there were a number of reasons why i didn't seek medical help at this time. one of them was that i assumed genital herpes caused a vast amount of blisters.

i have since experienced about 2 outbreaks since the initial outbreak. 2nd recurrence was in january 2009 and the current outbreak now, june 2010. the recurrences have been less severe than the initial and i have experienced headaches and exhaustion before developing a sore. the sore is always in the same place. i haven't experienced sores anywhere else. they have cleared up within a week. life can go on as normal, it's painful but not unbearable.

does this sound like a case of HSV-1 genital herpes? is it common for there to be just be one recurrent sore? i have been with my 3rd and current partner since september 2009 and he doesn't know that i suffered from the 2 outbreaks in june 2008 and january 2009 and hasn't experienced any symptoms. once i have this diagnosed properly, i will have to tell him. please help.......

[petal130]

Plain and simple, you can't possibly self-diagnosis.

HSV1 and HSV2 symptoms present exactly the same genitally. The difference between the two comes in to play in regards to frequency of outbreaks and shedding. But only testing can determine if it's HSV1 or HSV2 going on.

Most people who have herpes in fact don't know it - so sexually promiscuity or not means nothing.

The only way to know what's going on genitally for you is by a swab/culture of symptoms. Beyond that, you can get an IgG type specific blood test, but even if positive, doesn't necessarily tell you your symptoms are herpes. For instance, if positive for HSV1, you could have it orally and not genitally. That being said, if you were positive for HSV2 via a blood test, it most certainly would mean genital herpes, as HSV2 is rare orally (only about 3% of all oral herpes cases).

So get tested - don't assume anything.

[nalaniellen]

thanks for the reply. i am aware i cannot self-diagnose, i guess i just wanted to share the experience and see if anyone had suffered anything similar?

does anyone else have just one recurring sore?

[gracefromHHP]

one reoccuring lesion is the norm, not multiple reoccuring lesions.

I totally agree with Petal, you need to go and be seen and get a proper work up done. get tested for std's, including herpes. If you are only hsv1+, the only way to know if your hsv1 is oral or genital is if when you have a  recurrence of symptoms, you are seen within 48 hours of their appearance for a lesion culture and typing.

Do you know if your current partner has had std testing, including herpes testing?

grace

[nalaniellen]

hi

i'm going to go and have this checked out tomorrow. i've been tested for other std's previously but never herpes as i didn't have any symptoms. current partner was std tested after his last partner, but i don't know if he was tested for herpes.

off topic... but he's been away for 3 weeks with work.. current recurrence is still healing and he is back tomorrow and staying with me. i'm going to have to tell him...

[gracefromHHP]

this is certainly something you should both be discussing and dealing with .  He's your partner and your source of support when you are going through troublesome times like this :)

grace

[nalaniellen]

wish me luck :( incredibly nervous, especially as i'm only just getting official confirmation myself.

[gracefromHHP]

how did your appointment go?

grace

[nalaniellen]

Hey grace, in the waiting room now. Pretty nervous! I'm not going to feel like it's the end of the world if I have it, it's unfortunate but common and no different to suffering orally. I just don't like the prospect of explaining this to my partner. Its such a bad time! He's so excited about being reunited and about our relationship and I'm gonna land this on him :(

[nalaniellen]

Just finished. Examination - not typical lesions (more than one in same area) but all other symptoms classic. Advised to treat as herpes. Taken a swab for testing and on a course of anti virals.

Will let you know results of test. Now, how do I break this to my partner?

[gracefromHHP]

did they by chance also do a herpes igg blood test on you? this would be a recurrence so a lesion culture has a high chance of being negative.

Just be honest with your partner - you've had some iffy symptoms and finally followed up on them and are awaiting test results.  Let them know that they too will need type specific herpes igg blood testing to know their own status so that together you can make educated decisions about what precautions to take together.

grace

[nalaniellen]

Sorry to keep posting! I received the best reaction possible from my boyfriend. If anything it's brought us closer together. He's taken the 'well I catch itn we both have it!' And says nothing would make him leave me (I was worried this might put him off) he's v supportive :) just got to get these sores to clear up. Does bathing with salt water speed up healing?

[nalaniellen]

Boyfriend reacted perfectly! He was v supportive and if anything it's brought us a degree closer :) he's taken the stance of 'well if get it then we'll suffer together!' I can't believe I was so nervous about telling him.

Does anyone know any ways to speed up healing?

[nalaniellen]

Oops posted twice as didn't think itd worked!

[nalaniellen]

Grace - no blood test. She said if negative then it can be the nxt step. She also said he doesn't need to be tested. I thought that was bad advice.

[gracefromHHP]

yes indeed he needs tested to see what his status is.  You can't make educated decisions about precautions until you know who has what. assume nothing is my motto.

yes, epsom salts in the tubby can be helpful with speeding healing of lesions as well as making you feel more comfortable.

grace

[nalaniellen]

I agree with you grace! All cleared up now but started to feel sore again? No lesions but sore skin :(

[gracefromHHP]

if no obvious lesions by monday or not better by monday, follow up with your provider to make sure that you don't have a vaginitis on top of all of this.  sometimes it just sucks being female :(

grace