What are the odds of contracting herpes without having intercourse?

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi, I'm hoping someone can shed some light on my situation.  About 4 weeks ago I fooled around with a guy who has GH. He told me a week later.  We didn't have sex, but he did rub my vaginal area with his penis. He was not having symptoms at the time, and when he does have an outbreak it is on the shaft. So in other words, I did not come in contact with the infected area (is my understanding).  I talked to my gyno about my risks and she was not very helpful.  Can someone let me know how likely it is that I would have contracted the virus?  

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi Grace,

I was wondering what your thoughts are on my testing. I was working with Terri but I think I have reached my max on answers because I can no longer post a follow up.

My tests for HSV 1 are as follows:

08/2011 - negative
11/8/12 - negative - less than .91
12/20/12 - positive - 1.12
12/26/12 - negative - less than .91
3/2/13 - negative - less than .91

Last sexual contact was 14 weeks prior to last test.  I know the ELISA isn't perfect but would it consistently miss an infection or is it more likely that I'm truly negative? Would the WB be of any help? Thank you.

[gracefromHHP]

if it really matters to you, seek out a herpes WB blood test to see if that picks up a hsv1 infection better.  

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi Grace, (or anyone else who may be able to answer)

I would like to know if you think the recent positive HSV I result of 1.12 is likely a false positive considering I've never tested positive before and it's very low.  I have been dating someone new but we've only seen each other 4 times so I guess there's a possibility this is a new infection, but I've never noticed anything on him so I think that it's unlikely that I would have acquired HSV I from him on the four days we've seen each other.  

I would just like to know if I have it because I plan on asking him to get tested before we have sex and I would like to know what precautions we should take.  From what I've been reading everything is generally fine so long as the person with HSV I isn't having an outbreak, but then it seems like there is a large majority of persons getting HSV I genitally from oral sex when someone doesn't have any symptoms.  

Does HSV I prefer to infect the lips like HSV II prefers to infect the genitals?  

Just looking for a little insight.  Do you think I should retest?

Thanks again for your help.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi Grace,

I just coudn't let this go so I tested again at 17 weeks through Quest labs with the HerpeSelect.  My HSV I is now positive at 1.12 and my HSV II is still negative at .04.  I'm just confused because my HSV I has never been positive before.  I honestly always expected it to be positive because I had what I believed was a cold sore when I was 20 but it was only once and I never went to the doctor for it. In 11 years I've never had another one.

I don't know what the values were from my test in November of this year through Labcorp, they only said <0.90 for both.  And my August 2011 test showed .42 for HSV I and .07 for HSV II.  

Do you think I need to contact the guy I was dating and find out if he has HSV I or II?  

I believe he has HSV II because he has had a few outbreaks already this year and was only recently diagnosed.  (Again, there was no intercourse, just a little bit of rubbing).  

I never had any blisters or itching and the irritation that I was experiencing was from using RePhresh.  I stopped using it and the irritation stopped.  Also, the cut I thought I had last month was only dried blood from my period (I know, gross ... I have stopped looking down there).  

Do you think this is an old infection and just now showing up in my blood after all these years?  

I know that the test misses 1 in 10 HSV I infections, but would it consistently miss them or could it pick it up later on?  I honestly believe this is an old infection, just trying to figure out why it wouldn't have shown up until now.  

Do you think I need to follow up with confirmatory testing?  I'm just not sure what to think at this point.

Thanks for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

testing when you did was fine. if you continue to get any genital symptoms, be seen again by your gyn for further evaluation.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi, just curious.  I'm on my period and I noticed a small cut at the opening of my vagina. Very likely that I cut it putting a tampon in (I don't use applicators).

My question is, do you think I should test again at the four month mark to rule out herpes or was the test at the three month mark conclusive?  (Test was Capita, not HerpeSelect).

I'm just concerned because I'm dating someone now and I would hate to give him something.  

[gracefromHHP]

yes you should move forward since you never needed testing from this encounter anyways.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Just to give an update.  Tested at 81 days (just shy of 12 weeks) with Herpeselect and came back negative for 1 and 2.  I assume I can rest assured that I don't have HSV at this point right?  

Thanks again for all your help.  This site was a God send for my peace of mind.  All your insight was greatly appreciated.  

[gracefromHHP]

no it will not.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi Grace,

This is probably a stupid question but I'm curious.  I'm going to get tested on Wednesday, but I have a little bit of a sore throat.  If I have a cold will it effect my IgG results?  

Thanks again for all your help.

[gracefromHHP]

bumps under the skin aren't due to herpes. usually they are normal.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi Grace, I have a tiny little bump under my skin in the outter labia, nothing visual and it dosen't hurt unless I squeeze it.  Any other time I would think nothing of this, probably wouldn't have even noticed it.

I just want to put this whole thing behind me.  This is why I don't have sex, but I had no idea you could get an STD without having intercourse.

Is just over 10 weeks too early to test using the igg Herpesselect?  Or is that sufficient time for an accurate result?  

Thanks again for your help.

[gracefromHHP]

odds are this isn't herpes going on. continuing to follow up with your gyn is the best thing to do at this point.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Hi Grace, I just can't seem to let this go for some reason.  I've decided to get tested at my 12 week mark (4 weeks away).  I did find out that my doctor had previously done an IgG test and both hsv1 (0.42) and hsv2 (0.07) were negative.  So if I did get herpes this is my primary outbreak.

I am still experiencing an aching feeling in my labia majora which has persisted for almost 7 weeks straight.  It seems to get worse at night, I don't know if it's because during the day I keep my mind off things, or if it is because it actually gets worse at night.  I have had no other symptoms, no blisters, bumps, sores, legions, cuts, discharge, itching, burning, tingling, etc.  Just this persistent mild achy feeling.  

It's not really sore to the touch so I'm guessing that most likely it's due to anxiety/stress and is just all in my head.  I haven't had time to go back to my doctor, and I'm hesitant to since there is nothing visually going on and the pain insn't coming from inside the vagina.  

I know my risk was very low but my question is wether a primary herpes outbreak would present this way, just a mild pain/aching feeling for 7 weeks without causing blisters?  

[NeedMoreInfo80]

Yes, I went to see my gyno because I had a yeast infection from antibiotics (always been very susceptible to yeast and BV). I had self treated but didn't finish the full course because I thought I was having an allergic reaction.  I've had trouble with monistat in the past so this time I tried gyne-lotrimin and felt like I was having a similar reaction.  Since I've had yeast infections before (diagnosed at her office) she didn't do a culture and wrote a script for diflucan. I've been on that for two days, feeling a little better.  I'll take another one tomorrow.  I have to f/u with her if it doesn't feel better in a week from tomorrow and she'll do a culture.  She thinks the irritation is probably from the area being moist from the anti fungal creams.

Thanks so much for your help. I think I'll skip the test for now.  

[gracefromHHP]

really no reason to test from this encounter. did your provider do any testing for vaginal yeast or bv infections as a cause of your irritation?

about 2/3's of folks will test accurately by 2 months post encounter. we recommend waiting longer to test because then you don't have to test as often to be sure of your status.

[NeedMoreInfo80]

I have question about testing as well.  My gyno said testing is accurate, but if that's the case, how come every other time I've been tested for STD's they never test for herpes?  She also said it would only take 8 weeks to show antibodies, but from what I've read it's more like 12 weeks to be sure.  I hope you don't mind answering all this.  I've tried to find the answers online but can't.  I also tried asking my doctor and she just seemed annoyed.  

[NeedMoreInfo80]

I spelled your name wrong in my response, not sure if that makes a difference.  Thanks :)

[NeedMoreInfo80]

No, he was recently diagnosed and is having a really hard time with it.  At the time we're just going to remain friends.  I'm just trying to be there for him.  He feels like his life is over :(

I think I might get an IgG test just to clarify. I have had vaginal irritation for the last three weeks but it started right after he told me.  I believe it's all in my head.  

[gracefromHHP]

I removed your other post since it was the same.please read our read before posting post for the guidelines of posting here - thanks!

this was really low risk. we don't reccommend any testing from this sort of encounter.

do you plan on continuing to be involved with this partner?

grace