Herpes VS BV

[gemini845]

Hello, I am positive for HSV1 and have been experiencing cold sore outbreaks for 20 years. I am in a monogamous relationship for one year. My partner also gets cold sores. My understanding is the antibodies from HSV 1 would probably protect me from getting HSV 1 on my genitals. I also have been battling chronic BV. My inner thighs are sensitive, some body aches and I have some itching and tiny tiny bumps that look like chicken skin but a little red. Is it possible my boyfriend gave me HSV on my genitals? Can I give him HSV 1 on his gentiles through oral sex?

[Gemini847]

BTW My HSV1 IGG is 5.17, Hsv2 is negative as of November 2011.

[Gemini847]

bumo

[Gemini847]

Hi Grace,

It had been a few months since my last post. I want to re-address my questions about BV and Herpes. I am currently having a BV flair up.
My symptoms are odor, milky grey discharge, redness, irritation, and discomfort. The flair up started 6 days ago with the odor and discharge. Since there was a lot of discharge I wore a tampon to manage it. I then became red,
inflamed and irritated. I also have an achey feeling in my body.
After two days the redness and inflamation subsided but I still have the achey feeling and the discharge.

I am in a relationship with the same man now for over a year. The BV problems started after this relationship started. I have been to my gynecologist several times about this issue. I was sexually inactive for a long time before this relationship. My Dr. attributes the BV to the new relationship and sexual frequency.

I also have HSV1 for over 20 years. My blood work comes back showing HSV1 with a high Igg level. I have been getting cold sores for all of these years.

Every time I get the BV symptoms I go to my gynecologist. I have asked her if this could be herpes, she says it doesn't look like herpes (the red imflamation) and she says she can't do a culture because i don't have lesions.

My boyfriend also get cold sores.

I am worried now that maybe I have HSV1 on my genitals. I thought the HSV1 antibodies would protect me from getting genital HSV1 but maybe not? Now I am worried I have given it to my boyfriend.

#1 Is he immune because he has cold sores
#2 Is it possible that this is just BV ?
#3 Is there a way to get a proper diagnosis without a swab test?
#4 Can the Dr. do a swab test without lesions?
#5 I thought I would be immune to genital HSV 1 if I have the antibodies

[gracefromHHP]

the irritation of bv can cause all sorts of symptoms.  

[gemini845]

Hi Grace, Thank you for responding. In your experience does BV cause mild body aches, tenderness on inner thighs etc? This BV is extremely annoying, Ive taken all the prescribed drugs that gives me a temporary break but the BV always comes back. I will try the Rephresh and fem dophilis.

Thanks again!

[gracefromHHP]

that chicken skin look usually is normal. it can look more pronounced with irritation.  

just don't perform oral when an active cold sore is present just to err on the side of caution. not likely hsv1 would be transmitted to the genital area but you don't want to prolong healing of the cold sore or transmit bacteria from the genital area into the cold sore.

bv is a nuisance!!  If you are getting it frequently, many things you can try. sometimes the ph of a partners ejaculate can alter your ph to allow bacteria to over grow so using condoms can help. You can try using metrogel vaginally regularly for a few weeks/months to help keep the bv under control. sometimes using oral and vaginal flagyl at the same time can knock it out for a few months.  you can also try otc things like rephresh gel ( be aware you will get white chunky discharge from this - it's not infection, it's dead bacteria  - it also can happen from using metrogel too ).  also fem dophilis by jarrow is a probiotic that has been proven to colonize the urogenital tract in females to help ward off vaginitis too.

best of luck! I had bv issues myself for far too many years and it annoyed me far more than my herpes ever could :(

grace