What Type of Herpes do i have?

Okay so 3 years ago i had a pretty bad outbreak and went to a local planned parenthood to get tested.  1 week later and i was told i was positive for HSV.  They had taken samples from my sores and that was how i was tested....that being said.  I had automatically thought i had HSV2.  I was in a long term relationship at the time and the person was my first at actual intercourse.  I didn't do to much reading on herpes until i currently got out of my relationship.  Reading around i thought that it seemed odd that i had only had one outbreak and never again had any sign of one since.  I called planned parenthood today to have them pull my chart and read off the diagnosis again.  Turns out that they never even tested for HSV2! At least according to their records.  They only tested my sores for HSV1 and that is what came up positive.  Does this mean that i actually have genital HSV1 and do not have HSV2?  I am so confused right now and i have tried calling a couple places to see if they test for HSV1 and HSV2 by blood and they all say no that they can only do it if i have some sort of outbreak.  I am currently talking to someone new and i really need to have all my facts straight.  Is it true that it is very uncommon for HSV1 to be transmitted genitally to another person if I have it genitally?  Please Help....Thank you so much

[billyBoBo]

I got tested by tSTD.org (www.tstd.org) -- Herpes test costed $99.00. They will send you to a local lab that will collect your blood and run a HSV 1 and HSV 2 Type specific IgG blood test.

[bk811]

Is the test accurate....i do not want to have to find out in 3 more years that what i origionally thought was possibly inaccurate.  Also, if i were to come up positive for only HSV1 does this mean that i have genital and oral HSV1? Thanks

[daisy315]

I'm pretty sure cultures test for both HSV1 and HSV2  due to the location I cannot see any point in only testing for HSV1.
It could be that they only kept a record of what you tested positive on and disregarded the negative one....can't think of any other reason for this.
I think it would be wise to have a blood test taken to clarify things a bit better for you,however regardless of whether it is HSV1 or HSV2 genitally you tested positive for you are still at risk of transmitting it via unprotected vaginal or oral sex.  

Daisy

[bk811]

Do you know if HSV1 is less likely to be passed gential (genital) to genital sex than HSV2?

[billyBoBo]

From what I have read, the IgG tests are supposed to be 95-98% accurate.

From what I have read, HSV1 is less likely to be passed genitally than HSV2.

If you want actual specifics, read all of this online book:

http://www.westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/downloadthehandbook/updatedherpeshandbookenglishedition-1.attachment/attachment2/herpes_handbook_TW_7-22-07.pdf

[gracefromHHP]

You had a + lesion culture for hsv1. No reason for a blood test at this point unless you suspect you've contracted hsv2 from a partner in the last couple of years.  Save your money!!!

Since you have hsv1 genitally, you should be asking new partners to get tested to see what their status is.  If they also have hsv1 then they aren't likely to contract hsv1 from you genitally ( always avoid sex during obvious genital lesions though ).  If they have hsv2, you can still contract that from them so you need to be aware of that and take full precautions.

grace

[bk811]

I shouldn't have anything new i was with the same partner this whole time.  My problem is why in the world would Planned Parenthood not test for HSV2?  This  is what makes me a little leary on the type i have.  If they only took a culture test from my genitals does this mean that it showed up positive for HSV1 not 2?  Also does this mean that i would have automatic oral HSV1?  I went ahead and took a blood test today just in case because now i don't trust Planned Parenthood.  All they told me when i origionally had the test done was that i was HSV positive.  I was very naiive to everything at the time. So i have been assuming for 3 years that what i have is HSV2.  I guess the blood test is a better piece of mind for me, as i would NEVER want to pass something on to someone that had no choice in the matter.  Also do you happen to know the likeliness in passing HSV1 genitally to another person if they do not have HSV1 or 2?  And one more question...does me having HSV1 happen to explain why i have not had another noticable outbreak since the initial one 3 years ago?  Thank you!

[daisy315]

HSV1 is no less likely to be passed genital to genital than HSV2 it's all about the skin to skin contact aspect of things and how infectious you are at the time,which is something no one really knows for sure since people have contracted both HSV1 and 2  when no visible outbreaks are present,it has to also be remembered that your partner can also contract HSV1 orally via oral sex,whilst it is less likely to contract HSV2 orally I have no clue why this is,as I said before Herpes is such a variable condition and  causes much confusion because of this.

Daisy

[gracefromHHP]

it's not that they only tested your lesions for hsv1, it's that they only came up + for hsv1 and not hsv2.

if you need help with your blood test results post them here in this same post.

grace

[bk811]

I am still waiting on the blood test to come back and i will post those.  I was curious as to other things i can do intimately with someone without passing this on other than oral sex or actual intercourse.  I was wondering if him touching me would pose a risk and also can you pass herpes by taking a shower with someone?

[gracefromHHP]

No, showering with someone is not a risk unless you are having sex in the shower with them.

Grace

[bk811]

Got my test results back.  You were right completely positive for HSV 1 was a 5.0 and tested negative for HSV 2 was a .90 ...just curious at what # does it make you positive.  Also the woman that i was speaking with said that it would be low risk of spreading since i have had no signs of an outbreak in three years and that it would be an extremely low risk to almost impossible if they had HSV 1 orally.  Is this true?  Either way i will def. tell someone before we sleep together.  Thank you!  

[gracefromHHP]

If someone has hsv1 orally then they have significant protection against contracting hsv1 genitally. Just avoid sex whenever you have obvious genital symptoms.

Hsv1 genitally doesn't shed very often but it still can be transmitted to a partner. The herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com has more info on hsv1 genitally for more reading.

grace