Need advice/help/reassurance!

[jess0520]

First off I'm a HUGE worrier and am concerned currently about genital HSV 2. I know a lot about herpes given that I was diagnosed with genital HSV 1 about a year and a half ago. I got it from my boyfriend who unknowingly passed it on to me during oral sex. So far it seems I have had no other outbreaks since then, although the first was really bad.
Fast forward to about two years with my boyfriend - both being in college we decided to see other people while away at school. I have had sex with 1 guy twice (used condoms) while he has had sex with 2 different girls (using condoms). During breaks we decided to be together and so that led to sex quite a few times (also using condoms *always*).

Almost two weeks after I went back to school (after having sex with my boy from home a handful of times) I noticed what seems to be the beginning of an outbreak genitally. I took a valtrex a few hours ago but am completely freaking out because of how my circumstances have changed...aka I'm terrified I now have HSV1 and HSV2 genitally. I've never had another genital outbreak besides this current one so why now after a year and a half when most with genital HSV1 are in the clear? Is it possible my boyfriend contracted HSV 2 in the past 3 months and then passed it on to me 2 weeks ago? Is it possible I got it from the guy I had sex with at college? Or is it likely that this is just a random HSV 1 outbreak? Should I go get a blood test for HSV2 (I don't think my symptoms are advanced enough to consider a culture)? And lastly, am I just being crazy and psyching myself out with all this? (I am known for that)

I know this is a lot of information! But to re-cap I'd like to know the likelihood of HSV2 happening to me on top of my genital HSV 1/should I be worried...any guidance would be appreciated!!!!

[Fleetwood20]

No, the default is 1 in 2500. If one of condoms or antivirals is used, 1 in 5000 if both used, 1 in 10000.

[jess0520]

With antivirals present your saying..there's no way the risk is that small without them and even a stretch to give that number if antivirals are used (also no one has been using them in my situation)

[Fleetwood20]

Yes, female to male is about 1 in 2500 with no condoms, antivirals (out outbreaks present). Condoms halve the risk and antivirals halve or more again!

[Fleetwood20]

I think you are reading too much into things. Genital herpes is a 1 in thousands chance per episode of infection. Genital HSV2 is also not so common among younger people and protection has been used which really cuts down any chance in a male to female situation.

[jess0520]

What do you mean 1 in a thousand chance? Actually what are the rates of transmission ...do you know?

[jess0520]

I went to the doctor today and she did a herpes culture...should come back in the next few days although she said it didn't quite look classically herpetic. She said it looked more like a friction burn or something? I really have no other reason to believe it's HSV2 rather than my already known HSV1 other than the fact that I have had sex with one other guy and my guy from home had sex with two girls and so one of us could have picked it up. Also the fact that genital HSV1 doesn't reappear very often...am I just being really paranoid? I know people who have casual sex every weekend and don't worry about this stuff..........

[Life360_Dave]

Hi since you have hsv1 there are antibodies what would lesson your risk for hsv2 and since your symptoms are mild that would suggest hsv1 if in fact you are having an outbreak. If your concerned do take the blood test but i would not be overly concerned about hsv2.

[jess0520]

Thank you for answering!!! I responded again below (not sure how this website works yet)