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HSV 2 found in urethra, but NEGATIVE in genitals, am I contagious or not?
Hello all, Thankyou for taking the time to look at post :)
So I don't want to ramble on too much, but basically I was found to have the hsv 2 strain in my urethra a few months back, after a couple of agonizing weeks of difficulty urinating. No one seemed to know what I had, the symptoms and the pain developed while I was on antibiotics for a UTI, so maybe my immune system was compromised in hindsight. But anyway, my last pelvic exam was the week before and my doctor took some swabs to test for herpes but only around my vagina, as he noticed something he thought could potentially be a sore (all swabs he did that day came back negative for herpes). It was only when I was still having my urination problems that I went to a different doctor and he took some swabs again but this time in my urethra, which did come back showing hsv2. I was given Valacyclovir and my symptoms finally and quickly went away.
I broke the news to my boyfriend and he eventually broke up with me when he tested negative (we were having unprotected sex for 7 months). I am obviously heartbroken but more so I now feel like this is the end of any future for me. I feel like I have the plague, how can I ever be with anyone? It's basically asking someone to agree to me giving them herpes, because in a long term relationship it's of course going to happen statistically, even with condom use I'm surely going to pass it on through oral sex or kissing no?
I also thought about if I were to try to have children then that means not using any barrier contraception, possibly for a long period of them until I fall pregnant. So it's inevitable I am going to give the person I am with the virus.
I just want to know, is there any chance I could get the virus to a low enough point in my point to not be contagious any more?
I am also very confused because me and me ex had a lot of sex, and he tested Negative after 7 months with me. So does this mean that I'm not as contagious? I had tested negative for herpes from the swabs around my vagina, only weeks later did a different doctor think to test in my urethra and then I get told that actually in fact I DO have herpes :( You can imagine my shock and upset.
Another question I have, if it is/was isolated to my urethra during my (to my knowledge first ever) symptoms then perhaps I'm not a high risk to give it to someone? I did after all test NEGATIVE for the virus in the swabs done around my genitals.
I do not have the information about what count of the virus I carry, do I need to get a blood test for this? And also if my count is below a certain number does it technically count as being negative? Therefore not required to tell a partner?
Thankyou for taking the time to read this, as you can probably tell I am rather uninformed, and in addition my heartbreak that someone I loved was scared off by me doing the right thing has crushed me. I feel like it's a death sentence for my love life, I've found it hard to find people interested in a relationship with me as it is, as my lifestyle involves me moving from place to place. Now I may as well just give up entirely, how can you ever feel comfortable in the bedroom when you have the constant worry of spreading something? If I don't say anything and a partner develops symptoms I would never be able to lie to their face and pretend I didn't know I had it. And it's a miracle if anyone actually want to start anything with me in the first place, can you imagine dropping that bomb the first date? I literally feel sick with this news and if there's no future of a happy ending for me then I can't even see the point in going on with my life :(
So I don't want to ramble on too much, but basically I was found to have the hsv 2 strain in my urethra a few months back, after a couple of agonizing weeks of difficulty urinating. No one seemed to know what I had, the symptoms and the pain developed while I was on antibiotics for a UTI, so maybe my immune system was compromised in hindsight. But anyway, my last pelvic exam was the week before and my doctor took some swabs to test for herpes but only around my vagina, as he noticed something he thought could potentially be a sore (all swabs he did that day came back negative for herpes). It was only when I was still having my urination problems that I went to a different doctor and he took some swabs again but this time in my urethra, which did come back showing hsv2. I was given Valacyclovir and my symptoms finally and quickly went away.
I broke the news to my boyfriend and he eventually broke up with me when he tested negative (we were having unprotected sex for 7 months). I am obviously heartbroken but more so I now feel like this is the end of any future for me. I feel like I have the plague, how can I ever be with anyone? It's basically asking someone to agree to me giving them herpes, because in a long term relationship it's of course going to happen statistically, even with condom use I'm surely going to pass it on through oral sex or kissing no?
I also thought about if I were to try to have children then that means not using any barrier contraception, possibly for a long period of them until I fall pregnant. So it's inevitable I am going to give the person I am with the virus.
I just want to know, is there any chance I could get the virus to a low enough point in my point to not be contagious any more?
I am also very confused because me and me ex had a lot of sex, and he tested Negative after 7 months with me. So does this mean that I'm not as contagious? I had tested negative for herpes from the swabs around my vagina, only weeks later did a different doctor think to test in my urethra and then I get told that actually in fact I DO have herpes :( You can imagine my shock and upset.
Another question I have, if it is/was isolated to my urethra during my (to my knowledge first ever) symptoms then perhaps I'm not a high risk to give it to someone? I did after all test NEGATIVE for the virus in the swabs done around my genitals.
I do not have the information about what count of the virus I carry, do I need to get a blood test for this? And also if my count is below a certain number does it technically count as being negative? Therefore not required to tell a partner?
Thankyou for taking the time to read this, as you can probably tell I am rather uninformed, and in addition my heartbreak that someone I loved was scared off by me doing the right thing has crushed me. I feel like it's a death sentence for my love life, I've found it hard to find people interested in a relationship with me as it is, as my lifestyle involves me moving from place to place. Now I may as well just give up entirely, how can you ever feel comfortable in the bedroom when you have the constant worry of spreading something? If I don't say anything and a partner develops symptoms I would never be able to lie to their face and pretend I didn't know I had it. And it's a miracle if anyone actually want to start anything with me in the first place, can you imagine dropping that bomb the first date? I literally feel sick with this news and if there's no future of a happy ending for me then I can't even see the point in going on with my life :(
First off, I am sorry you lost someone you care about over this. Hsv2 is common and not something that will destroy your life. I know it feels like that but in time you will realize it will stop you from nothing that you want out of life. This includes children and a loving husband.
Hsv is not super contagious and the fact you had unprotected sex for seven months and your partner tested negative is proof. Some couples where one has hsv2 and the other doesn't, never spread the virus to their partner. There was a study done on 20 couples where one has hsv2 the other does not. They averaged sex three times a week (unprotected) and no antivirals. The only form of protection was not having sex during an outbreak. In one year, only one couple passed the virus to there partner.
Daily suppressive meds such as valtrex effectively cut the shedding in about half. Shedding is when the virus is present at the surface when no symptoms are present. This is said to happen 15-30% of days. Condoms also offer further protection.
You had lesions in your urethra but the virus will she'd in the genitals as well.
The blood tests just look for antibodies you produce to keep the virus in check. So your numeric value of a blood test is just a confidence number that the test saw the correct antibodies.
As far as your last paragraph is concerned. I understand your anxiety and frustration. That being said I want to commend you for your up front and forthright honesty!! You are a very good person and caring for others above yourself is rare. There a plenty of people who are not going to turn you down. There are also men in the same situation as you. Men who would love to be in a relationship with an honest and honorable woman. DO NOT sell yourself short or sell your lifestyle short. Good things will happen for you and your mild skin condition (because that's all it really is) is not going to stop you. Only if you let it.
There was a lot of info in your post. Let me know if anything isn't clear. You can ask as much as you need to.
Hsv is not super contagious and the fact you had unprotected sex for seven months and your partner tested negative is proof. Some couples where one has hsv2 and the other doesn't, never spread the virus to their partner. There was a study done on 20 couples where one has hsv2 the other does not. They averaged sex three times a week (unprotected) and no antivirals. The only form of protection was not having sex during an outbreak. In one year, only one couple passed the virus to there partner.
Daily suppressive meds such as valtrex effectively cut the shedding in about half. Shedding is when the virus is present at the surface when no symptoms are present. This is said to happen 15-30% of days. Condoms also offer further protection.
You had lesions in your urethra but the virus will she'd in the genitals as well.
The blood tests just look for antibodies you produce to keep the virus in check. So your numeric value of a blood test is just a confidence number that the test saw the correct antibodies.
As far as your last paragraph is concerned. I understand your anxiety and frustration. That being said I want to commend you for your up front and forthright honesty!! You are a very good person and caring for others above yourself is rare. There a plenty of people who are not going to turn you down. There are also men in the same situation as you. Men who would love to be in a relationship with an honest and honorable woman. DO NOT sell yourself short or sell your lifestyle short. Good things will happen for you and your mild skin condition (because that's all it really is) is not going to stop you. Only if you let it.
There was a lot of info in your post. Let me know if anything isn't clear. You can ask as much as you need to.
First confirm with a blood test hsv2. Yes antibodies are a reaction and the only meaning of low levels is if they fall 3.5 or below as would indicate a false postive. Again i find this very strange. most often with an hsv2 genital infection first time outbreaks appear at point of contact, like your outside vagina area accompanied with flu like symptoms and are very painful pblisters.
Having an outbreak inside the urethra means a recurrent outbreak and that yove had one before. Yes a recurrent outbreak could occur inside the urethra but odds are it would appear where it showed the first time.
Having an outbreak inside the urethra means a recurrent outbreak and that yove had one before. Yes a recurrent outbreak could occur inside the urethra but odds are it would appear where it showed the first time.
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That's very interesting Thankyou! I was actually able to speak with the place that gave me my test today and they said if I wanted a blood test I could but there's no doubt I have it, as the swab tested positive for HSV 2 DNA. If what you say is true though then it'd bizarre to me because to my knowledge I have never had any prior outbreak that you describe, I've had my immune system compromised before and also uti's but it never resulted in this. I definitely want to get a blood test to confirm
Thankyou both for your replies, you have made me feel a little better already :)
Yes I would like to get a blood test for sure to test for definite my level of antibodies. From what I understand, the antibodies in your blood are just a reaction to the virus and not the virus itself? And so would a low level of antobodies indicate a low risk for infecting someone else? Basically I'm just desperately searching for any light at the end of the tunnel that I may not need to worry or divulge to a partner that I am a risk to them
Thankyou again both of you for your replies it really does mean a lot to me :)
Yes I would like to get a blood test for sure to test for definite my level of antibodies. From what I understand, the antibodies in your blood are just a reaction to the virus and not the virus itself? And so would a low level of antobodies indicate a low risk for infecting someone else? Basically I'm just desperately searching for any light at the end of the tunnel that I may not need to worry or divulge to a partner that I am a risk to them
Thankyou again both of you for your replies it really does mean a lot to me :)
Hi also, i would suggest a blood test to the support the swab finding as urethra herpes is quite rare. Since hsv2 outbreaks can occur quite often through the course of a year, compared to hsv1 and youve never had any outbreaks before, i find this very suspicious.
I read your post and I will get back to you. There is a lot to your post and I will be happy to help you in any way I can. I am pressed for time but I will be back to you shortly
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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.
