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Girlfriend might have herpes
Hello,
I've been in a relationship with my girlfriend for just over a year. Over the summer, (a little over six months ago) she cheated on me, but used protection. I found out about it just recently. We have had sex without a condom a few times (I know that it was extremely risky to do so in the first place). A few days ago she started to complain of some soreness, but nothing out too out of the ordinary, we had sex probably one more time, (I really don't remember if it was with or without a condom). Then eventually she decided to go to the doctors to get the soreness checked out because it had been bothering her for longer than normal. Also she had the flu-like symptoms.
The doctor told her that it was probably herpes and got a culture done. No blood tests though. We are awaiting the results right now. Also there is a good chance she has a UTI as well. I just had a few questions about it.
First off how long do results from cultures usually take to get back?
She is only my second partner, and the first that I have had unprotected with, what are the chances I gave it to her?
On that note, what are the chances I have herpes now, and is there any other way of being tested besides blood testing ? I've heard blood testing isn't always that accurate, and I don't really want to wait and see if I end up with symptoms.
My last question is, I'm on remicade currently - an immune suppressing drug - for my crohn's disease. If I contract herpes, are there any complications with either my compromised immune system or my crohn's?
Thank you so much for any and all help
Pills103
I've been in a relationship with my girlfriend for just over a year. Over the summer, (a little over six months ago) she cheated on me, but used protection. I found out about it just recently. We have had sex without a condom a few times (I know that it was extremely risky to do so in the first place). A few days ago she started to complain of some soreness, but nothing out too out of the ordinary, we had sex probably one more time, (I really don't remember if it was with or without a condom). Then eventually she decided to go to the doctors to get the soreness checked out because it had been bothering her for longer than normal. Also she had the flu-like symptoms.
The doctor told her that it was probably herpes and got a culture done. No blood tests though. We are awaiting the results right now. Also there is a good chance she has a UTI as well. I just had a few questions about it.
First off how long do results from cultures usually take to get back?
She is only my second partner, and the first that I have had unprotected with, what are the chances I gave it to her?
On that note, what are the chances I have herpes now, and is there any other way of being tested besides blood testing ? I've heard blood testing isn't always that accurate, and I don't really want to wait and see if I end up with symptoms.
My last question is, I'm on remicade currently - an immune suppressing drug - for my crohn's disease. If I contract herpes, are there any complications with either my compromised immune system or my crohn's?
Thank you so much for any and all help
Pills103
At this point since they suspect genital herpes - both you and your gf should get yourselves type specific herpes igg blood tests to see what your statuses are. Lesion cultures are falsely negative about 70% of the time so it's well worth the follow up to get better answers.
Being on remicade just means that should you contract genital herpes - you might have more ob's than some folks ( and even that's not a given ). That said you can still take daily suppressive therapy with one of the herpes antivirals and it should keep your herpes down to a dull roar so it won't be much of a bother for you.
grace
Being on remicade just means that should you contract genital herpes - you might have more ob's than some folks ( and even that's not a given ). That said you can still take daily suppressive therapy with one of the herpes antivirals and it should keep your herpes down to a dull roar so it won't be much of a bother for you.
grace
1) Cultures should take 2-5 days.
2) Pretty low, if you were protected before. Though is she used protection the one time she strayed, that's also a low risk event. Are you even sure it's HSV-2? Could very well be HSV-1 genitally. Hopefully the culture, if positive, will be typed.
3) Just a few unprotected exposures, without an obvious outbreak, chances are well on your side that you are not infected (if you weren't the source). Blood testing IS pretty accurate, it just takes 3-4 months to be so. Culture is actually much less accurate, it misses many infections unless it's done right at the begining of the outbreak. PCR is much more reliable to determine if a sore is from herpes, and it's typed.
4) This is a tough question, I wouldn't want to try to guess an answer.
2) Pretty low, if you were protected before. Though is she used protection the one time she strayed, that's also a low risk event. Are you even sure it's HSV-2? Could very well be HSV-1 genitally. Hopefully the culture, if positive, will be typed.
3) Just a few unprotected exposures, without an obvious outbreak, chances are well on your side that you are not infected (if you weren't the source). Blood testing IS pretty accurate, it just takes 3-4 months to be so. Culture is actually much less accurate, it misses many infections unless it's done right at the begining of the outbreak. PCR is much more reliable to determine if a sore is from herpes, and it's typed.
4) This is a tough question, I wouldn't want to try to guess an answer.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
