Spreading Herpes within dermatome region

[proactiveaboutspreading]

Question 1 - Although the active outbreak is in the s2/s3 region and located on my buttocks, can herpes be spread through intercourse since the vagina on a dermatome map also falls under s2/s3?  All previous outbreaks have always been located only in the buttocks area (in s1/s2 but latest outbreak appears to be more in the s2/s3 region).  A large bandaid over the actual blister is worn during intercourse.

Question 2 - Having never slept (or have been intimate) with another person and having a spouse "without" any signs of ever having herpes, how did I contract herpes as the initial spot of outbreak was on my s1 or s2 lower buttocks?  The only out of routine thing I did approximately 7-10 days before the 1st outbreak was try on multiple bathing suits.  Since it has been about 3 years, I'm over the initial shock but was curious if anyone has any insight.  

Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

It wouldn't be unusual for your hubby to be infected before he met you and never knew it and it not be transmitted to you until many years into your relationship with him.  The military doesn't test fo rherpes in its routine yearly testing. odds are that neither of you have ever been tested for it before. He even could've transmitted it to you long ago and it wasn't until you started having ob's in more obvious places that you realized you had something going on. You'll probably never figure that part out. What you need to do now is for both of you to see who has what and go from there though it sounds like you both probably have it since he's been your only partner ever so it probably came from him.

You are correct in your research - you got this thru sex, not thru touching a bathroom door or using a toilet.

grace

[proactiveaboutspreading]

Thanks for your post!  I have only had os/sex/etc. with my husband (been married for 15  years and we dated a few years up to being married when we were teenagers).  He is in the military so they test annually for STDs as part of his annual exam.  However, we will look to see if they have tested him for herpes.  He was sexually active prior to meeting me so I keep thinking that perhaps he had it before and for some reason it only showed up on me in our 13th year of marriage but I realize that sounds like a long shot!  If it is hsv1, then perhaps he contracted it "not through him having an affair" (this would be shocking as he isn't the type but I realize people are "shocked" all the time so why would I be exempt) during our marriage and spread it to me through os.  We will both get tested over the next couple of weeks and I will post it on here.  If he doesn't have it, then I'm really at a loss for understanding this.  My dermatologist said that perhaps I touched an infected bathroom door handle and then touched my butt when using the restroom but all my research shows that the transmission is very unlikely that way.        

[crossing_the_bridge]

it's quite possible you're never going to learn how you contracted herpes.

here are a few thoughts:
- you have positive cultures that localize herpes to your buttocks.  this means you have genital herpes.
- genital herpes can be either type 1 or type 2.
- if you have type 1, you could have gotten it from oral sex.  have you had oral sex with your husband or others?  (different folk do have different definitions of "intimate"...)  or, your husband could have genital hsv1 from having received oral sex in the past (again, goes to definitions of "intimate") and passed that to you, genitally.
- or, you have hsv2.  sorry, but the vast majority have this genitally, so you would have contracted it through having sex, or possibly through friction due to frottage (rubbing genitals together, without penetration), or through intimate contact with your husband, after he engaged in this activity.
- keep in mind - many who get hsv don't realize it, and that's how it gets passed along.
- sorry, but the cynic in me has to say:  anything that doesn't meet standards of common sense may be untrue. many in your situation might suspect infidelity.

[proactiveaboutspreading]

I'm sorry as I just now read more on this site and have answered my question on the blood test that I need which is the type specific IgG herpes blood test (my husband and I will both be tested).  I also have read more on your site relating to transmission but am still at a loss for how to answer my question.  The first area of ob was about 3 years ago and it was on my lower/side buttock almost close to my hip in the s1/s2 dermatome region.    

Thanks so much!

[proactiveaboutspreading]

Thanks for the information!  I've been only to primary care physician which wasn't helpful and never wanted to formally test me.  However, my dermatologist tested me by submitting two cultures for two different ob's which came back positive.  However, she didn't type it as she said she doesn't bother doing that anymore since both types seem to be located in different areas of the body.  She mentioned a blood test that I can have done but that she wasn't very familiar with it and couldn't order it.  Do you know the name of the blood test (or any other tests I can have done as well as my spouse) I should have done?  

As an aside, my spouse and I have been together for almost 20 years and he has never had any signs of it.  As mentioned above, I've never been intimate with anyone else (my husband states the same comment and has no signs in 20 years of having this virus anywhere in his body) so both of us are still confused as to how I've contracted this virus.  I do have digestive issues (possible crohn's or ulcerative colitis) so around the time I contracted it I unfortunately utilized public restrooms more than desired yet all my research shows that transmission of the virus that way is unlikely.  If you have any thoughts on this too, I'd be glad to hear them as it still bothers me not knowing how this was possible given my history.

Thanks!    

[gracefromHHP]

when you have ob's on the buttocks, you are also usually actively shedding the virus from the entire anogenital area. If your partner isn't infected , you should be completely avoiding sex when you have ob's. Just covering them with a bandaid isn't protection.  You also shed the virus from the anogenital area periodically in between ob's.  

How were you diagnosed as having genital herpes? do you have hsv1 or hsv2? How was your partner tested for herpes?

grace