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Is it possible to contract Herpes while having sex in a pool?

I was at a large event in a pool with hundreds of other people in the pool.  My bf and I who have never had an STD before, had sex in the pool while there were several other people in the pool.  3 days later I got a UTI and noticed some bumps.  I went to the clinic and a doctor diagnosed me with Herpes, just by looking at them.  I went to a testing center and had an IGM test done to see if this was a recent infection.  It came back positive that it was a recent infection.  Is it possible to have gotten Herpes from having sex in the pool?  I need an answer from a doctor please.
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55646 tn?1263660809
The 2.1 is below 3.5 which means it is a low positive and should be confirmed by western blot.  If your partner also tests positive for HSV 1 and your western blot is positive for HSV 1, then you and your partner have no worries, you can't catch again what you already have.  For now, you might want to be a little careful, though if you've been together for a while, transmission may have already happened, either from him to you or you to him, hard to say.  I think you need more information via antibody testing.

Terri
Helpful - 1
55646 tn?1263660809
You can get a western blot through Quest labs, the code is 34534.

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'll have my partner get tested next week with the IgG test. For me, do you recommend another antibody test in about 2 months or sooner? Is a western blot test available at clinics or is that one rare and I would have to order it?

Thanks again Terri for all your help!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
2 days after the breakout I had the IgM done which tested positive...then 2 weeks after the breakout I had the IgG done. The lesions were gone by the time I had the IgG done. (Lesions completely healed in 1 week) The numeric value of the IgG was -0.91 for HSV2 and 2.10 for HSV1.  
I'm still very worried about how I should go about treating this and dealing with my relationship with my partner. We have sex with condoms nowadays. I have given him oral sex since I have been told I was positive on the IgM, so I am concerned if I have passed the infection to him. I have not had any cold soars ever or since I've been infected. I need to know how careful I need to be with my partner. He will be getting the IgG next week.  I started to think back as to where I could have gotten this infection from since I only had 3 partners total. I never had a herpes test in the past, but have been clean whenever tested for clymidiah, gonoreah, and pap smears.  I have noticed that my mother has had cold soars on her lips in the past whenever she had a cold, but the last thing I want to do right now is ask my mother to have a herpes test done and inform her that I have herpes.  LOST!!
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
more than 70% of those infected with HSV 1 are asymptomatic, but most are infected orally.  But it is certainly possible to be infected genitally with HSV 1 as well.  Without any lesions that swab test positive for HSV 1, it is not possible to know where the HSV 1 infection is, only that you are infected.  Since you've had this breakout and were visually diagnosed with herpes, you could certainly have it genitally, and that could come from receiving oral sex from your partner.  I think before anyone jumps to conclusions, it would be very good if you could get a positive swab test from a lesion in the genital area.   Visual exams are not always correct.  

How long after your contact did you have your antibody test? And what the numeric value of your antibody test?

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just got my results back for teh IgG and I was positive for 1 and negative for 2. I don't understand this because the breakout ocurred on my genitals and now I'm positive for HSV 1. I have never had a cold coar on or near my mouth ever. Can you help me understand this?
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
I think getting an IgM test is an error.  This test has many false positive and NO ONE who knows a lot about  herpes recommends doing this test.  You only should have an IgG antibody test.  

No, if others were in the pool having sex, that does not put you at risk, any more than if they were just swimming around.

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Let me correct myself, I will be going to the OBGYN to ask for an IgM test since the lesions are gone. Sorry about that.
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Avatar universal
I know that it is not possible to get herpes from the pool, but my bf and I who both did not have it were having sex in the pool where others were having sex in the pool....could we possibly have contracted it from the others that were in the pool if they had already had herpes?  I will be going to the OBGYN on Tues to have a swab test done because I have not taken any medication and the lesions are gone.  It has been one week exactly since I have seen the blisters and now only tiny red circular areas remain.
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
Are you asking me if it is possible to get herpes from having sex or you asking me if it is possible that you got herpes from the pool?  Its kind of two separate questions.  Yes, you can get herpes from having sex, regardless of where you have sex.  And no, you couldn't get herpes from the swimming pool.

As for your diagnosis:  this was not handled correctly.  A swab test should have been done from the lesions.  If the swab test was positive, it should have been determined if this was HSV 1 or HSV 2.  As it is, you had an IgM test done which is frequently wrong and is not reliable and does not tell you the type of virus that you might have.  If you still have lesions and have not taken medication, you should have the lesions swab tested.  If they are gone, what you need is a type specific IgG antibody test for HSV 1 and HSV 2.  Has you boyfriend been tested?  For his testing, it should be HSV IgG 1 and 2, also.

Terri
Helpful - 0

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