Herpes Tests Results, Price, Weird Symptoms, Please Help!

So. Here is my herpes story. I could really use some feedback. In July of this year, I started dating my boyfriend. I became concerned that I had contracted oral herpes previously (i.e. had several occurences of small blisters on my lips) and that I would pass it on to him through unprotected oral sex. During this time, I also started having a burning pain (like a chemical burn, and a sort of numbness) on the left side of my vagina that developed several hours, sometimes a day, after sex. Each time it happened, I got examined (once at Planned Parenthood, two or three times at my college health center, and the doctors saw no signs of herpes, and I was diagnosed with a yeast infection (also was suggested that I had a latex allergy, we switched condoms, symptoms much lessened, I think we have just been having too-rough sex, since even after switching condoms the pain was still a little present). I also was tested in the middle of July for the full range of other STDS--trich, HIV, gonorheea, syph, chlamydia--all negative!

On September 4th, we had unprotected sex for the first time, although we had been having unprotected oral sex--I would go down on him. After this I really started freaking out that I had given him, and by extension, myself, HSV I on our genitals. I was still experiencing the burning on my labia, and I also had some very small bumps on my lip (mouth) that went away--I had my school nurse look at them each time, she said she could not disprove that they were herpes, but they weren't the classical ulcers. I also experienced a numbness and tingling in my left buttock. I also went to the doctor for this, she finally recommended that I get the blood test for herpes I and II, both IgM and IgG. On September 23, I was tested for both HSV I and II, the IgG and the IgM. By September 30th, the tests came back, both negative, and the IgG negative for both types.

My questions: My boyfriend has never had unprotected sex before me, and has not been with many people ( I would say no more than 5-6, if you count unprotected oral) I think he should get tested, but at the same time, we have been together for 4 months, and I just had negative test results.  My next question: Should I trust these results? I have the tingling/numbness in my left buttock again, but I talked to the doctor who ordered the tests today and she said that if I had had an outbreak between July and September one or both of the tests would have been positive.

Should I  be tested again in a few months (igG?) Especially considering that this past weekend (Oct 1-3)  I stupidly had unprotected p-in-v sex with the boyfriend again, and we continue to have unprotected oral sex (although only me going down on him, since i have been so anxious about herpes). I am not comfortable with being unprotected vaginally again until he is tested--is this unreasonable? Should I also abstain from giving him oral sex until he agrees to be tested and comes back negative? To be clear,  he has never had an outbreak, or unprotected sex, except with me, and I have had no symptoms besides the ones described, and negative test results, since being with him. What should I do? Also, and this is really important, how expensive are these tests? I had it billed to my parent's insurance, since they are very supportive and know I have been having so much anxiety about this. How much is it? I want to offer to pay for half since he is resisting getting tested due to lack of funds. Help please please please! ( I should also mention that my lips have been tingling almost constantly since July--I think it is the stress of thinking I have herpes all the time!)

[dboid]

wow sorry this is so long! i should add that I am seeing my gyn at my school tomorrow, AGAIN. just to do a visual check.

[dboid]

also, to clarify--i have never had any sort of blisters genitally. i also have a follow-up question--if i do need to get tested again in a few months, should bf and i continue to use condoms? if he gets tested and is negative--should we still use condoms until i get tested again? i am sorry to be so convoluted--so much anxiety about this issue. so appreciative of any help. i know the IgM tests are pretty useless, it seems from reading the boards, but should i be worried regardless of negative igg results?

[gracefromHHP]

Definitely your bf needs tested to see what his own status is.  condoms are not 100% protection plus he needs to know his hsv1 status too in case you really do have hsv1 orally and it's just not being reflected on your igg blood tests.  

I think you need to see a dermatologist at some point and get some allergy testing done - including latex allergy testing.  Perhaps your lip symptoms will be present at that time and they can give you a better idea of what is going on. If you can get a pcr swab of your lip lesions within 48 hours of their appearance the next time that will be better answers potentially than the blood tests. Even the best blood tests we have , still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections.

Have your gyn test your vaginal secretions for yeast and bacterial infections again too. Not a visual exam, make them test your vaginal secretions properly.

grace

[dboid]

ok--thanks so much! three more questions: should I abstain completely until he gets tested or continue to use condoms for protection? do you have any information on the costs of the tests?  when should he get tested--has enough time elapsed for him to build up antibodies? also, why wouldn't my HSV1 be reflected on the tests? ( I did think perhaps it was a new outbreak in July, but I have had pimple/blister things before on my lip in years past, so wouldn't there be enough antibodies?) I know you can't give me a diagnosis, I just am curious. Thank you so so much in advance. i can barely function from worrying about this, and you are so helpful!

[dboid]

sorry, one more, just to get everything out there: should i get tested again, and when,  regardless of boyfriend's test results?

[gracefromHHP]

Get your bf tested to see what his results are for starters.

blood tests vary in cost but typically run about $100 or so depending on how many other costs the clinic tacks on.

At this point I'd abstain from sex until you have a better idea of what's going on down yonder.

grace

[dboid]

thank you so much grace. i talked to my gynecologist today and discussed the whole situation. we agreed that my bf should get tested. although she did advise that complete abstinence, while the only 100% protection, was probably not necessary in this situation as long as I continue to use condoms and do not practice unprotected oral sex. she couldn't really test for yeast or other common bact. infections since i am on my period, but she did a physical exam--and didn't find anything weird--I will definitely get bf tested though, just to see his results. When is a good time for him to get tested---has enough time passed?

[gracefromHHP]

yes you could get him tested now to see what his status is.

are you going back for more testing once your period is over?  did you talk about allergy testing too ?

grace

[dboid]

grace,

if i feel like i am getting that pain again, the burning i refered to,  yes of course i will go back--it's just that i have been at my gyn almost constantly to try and figure it out so she's very familiar with the details of my sexual history, and switching condoms helped so much that the burning/tingling seems more likely to be related to latex than to another infection, since a. treatment for yeast did not help that much, and b.  the burning reoccured each time right after sex (although some of that sex was w/out condoms) and c. the third time i went in for the burning, she looked at the secretions under the microscope and did not detect a large amount of yeast. (that was around sept 13).

I also have been doing something i now realize from reading these threads that is common for anxiety---checking my vagina and lips constantly, driving my friends and family crazy talking about it, convincing myself that there is redness, bumps, etc, and distrusting my test results, and generally just working myself into a state--i have a hunch that that is the reason for my strange numb/tingling sensations in my lips and buttocks. i plan on insisting that my bf get tested, and i will also have him screened for the  full range of other stds--this is just too much to worry about, even with using condoms. the symptoms on my lips were very very small bumps--like whiteheads, that were painless--none, even when i did not use abreva, lasted for longer than a few days---if another one comes up i will get the PCR.

Its so amazing how varied the doctor responses are to this disease---its no wonder people are so concerned, when i have information that my tests could be wrong, and doctors telling me they are probably accurate. you guys are seriously angels for doing this and being such experts. i really can't thank you enough--even if i don't trust the test yet getting my bf tested will be really helpful--although i am terrified he is postive and just doesnt know it, just really hoping he is all negative so i can relax a bit---if he is negative though i think i will get tested again anyways---how long should i wait?

[gracefromHHP]

I don't recommend checking your genital area more than once a day. It just adds to your anxiety when you are constantly getting out the magnifying mirror and professional grade spotlight to look at things and poke and prod them several times a day.  

very, very small bumps doesn't sound like herpes. definitely it sounds like it's time for a dermatology consult!  

grace