new infection

[pumpkinrose]

I am experiencing an awful initial herpes outbreak.  I had a negative blood test for herpes two weeks ago, but then broke out in blisters less than a week later and had a positive culture.  My partner, who has a very active and non-selective sexual history, will have a blood test sometime this week.  I was married for over 20 years and have had a far more limited range of sexual activity than my partner.  He says he has never had any herpes symptoms at all.  I have had sex with him only for the past 8 months.  Before that I had sex with one other man several times.  Otherwise I had been celibate for four years.  I assume that I have contracted this  initial case from the man I am dating.  Is this likely in your opinion?  I never had any herpes symptoms until now; nor did I ever have a positive blood test.  I don't know if my partner ever had a herpes blood test as part of his annual STD screening.  I am worried that somehow his blood test will be negative, he'll say that the infection is purely my own, and will leave me.  Since this is an initial outbreak (severity of symptoms, swollen lymph nodes, only time having such symptoms), I assume I must have gotten it from him even though he says he has always been asymptomatic.

[auntiejessi]

If you had a negative blood test done 2 weeks prior, and then a positive culture, its a new infection for you, meaning you got this from your current partner.

90% of those with genital herpes don't know they have it as they have either very mild symptoms, or they have no symptoms.

Was your culture typed?  What about your blood test - did you have hsv1?  If you didn't, this could be genital herpes type 1 from him performing oral sex on you.

Something to keep in mind - he could have had just a few partners ever and have herpes.  It doesn't matter that he has a different sexual history than you, especially if this is type 1.  He probably got oral type 1 as a child from a family member.

Aj

[unlucky35]

I have read on the internet that a person can go years without ever having a herpes outbreak but still have the disease, some people don't have outbreaks at all, usually a person who has contracted it will develop symptoms within i believe 2-21 days. But being that you had a negative blood test, then two weeks later had a positive culture, mmm something isn't right there. I would get another blood test done, talk to your doctor to see how long after possible exposure should you be tested.