Was told by partner she has Herpes

[sswafford]

I have just had a completely out of the blue work related sexual encounter.  We did it quickly and we both know we shouldn't have but what can you do. Anyway, that was 3 days ago. She came in today and told me that she has herpes and has had it for 10 years.  She hasn't had an outbreak in more than 2 years and that last night she noticed she suddenly started to break out.
Well, now that she tells me this, I'm not sure what to do other than wait and see. I wanted to ask if she has had it for so long and hasn' thad an outbreak in a couple years, what is my risk? She says that stress brings on her outbreaks and that her not telling me before we had sex weighed on her and that she thinks that is what brought on her outbreak.
Any opinions on what my risk of contracting this is? How long should I wait before I get tested? Any words would help. Thanks.

[scared_half_to_death]

Your cold sores are indicative of HSV1 infection. That is a permanent infection which does not go away. It just goes into latency.

If you really want to be sure. Both of you should go get tested. If you live in the US, request that the Dr. get a HerpesSelect test. Make sure that he or she understands that HerpesSelect is the brand name. Do not get other tests. Get a type specific IGG test. This will tell you whether or not you and your partner have HSV1 (and/or HSV2). If you both have HSV1, you should be okay. It is rare to get another HSV1 infection. However you could avoid contact if either of you has a cold sore.

[sswafford]

even though I had those sores like 10 years ago? She says that her encounter that gave it to her was with a guy who had a big cold sore at the time. I hope that is the case. This has been a huge lesson for me. No more unprotected sex and no more doing it at work lol

[scared_half_to_death]

Most cold sores  are caused by hsv1. It is likely that is what she has. (Verify with testing). If she has HSV1, you should be okay. You already have it (as evidenced by your cold sores).

[sswafford]

I did and she is going to contact them on Tuesday and ask them which it was. She told me she knew exactly when and who she got it from and it was from some guy 10 years ago who had a huge cold sore on his lip. She said that she was with him and about a week later she said she got her first breakout. She didn't know if it was HSV1 ro 2 but she is calling them to ask.

[scared_half_to_death]

You should ask your partner if she has genital HSV1 or HSV2. If it is HSV1, it is very unlikely that you would be reinfected since you already have it as evidenced by your cold sores.

[DidisMirage]

http://www.herpesdiagnosis.com/blood.html

:)

[sswafford]

How accurate is the IgG blood test after 12 weeks from contact?

[DidisMirage]

You already have HSV-1(most likely 1) if you had cold sores and it is thought to offer a little protection but not all. Yeah you'll have to wait unless you blister and get it swabbed but even swabs come back with false negatives. At 12 weeks or after you can request any FDA-approved (such as HerpeSelect) type-specific IgG blood test.

[sswafford]

Thank you. Well I haven't had a cold sore in like 10 years or more. Sounds like I will just have to wait at least 12 weeks, unless any of those physical signs appear like blisters or some discharges, to get the blood test or swab of those areas is this correct?
Also, if I have no signs after 12 weeks is there one specific blood test I can request or more than one that will tell me if I have the antibodies or not for positive infection?

[DidisMirage]

No problem :) I've copied and pasted the answers for you.

The first outbreak...

Symptoms:

usually develop within 2 to 20 days after contact
could continue up to 2 weeks
may be so mild it goes unnoticed
may take longer or be less severe in some people, especially in those with partial immunity to the virus from having facial herpes, e.g. cold sores.
in the first attack sometimes causes visible sores
last between 10 - 21 days
The first episode is the most severe as most people have not been exposed to the virus before and antibodies will not have been produced to trigger the immune response.

When the herpes virus gets into skin cells it reproduces itself and starts to multiply, making the skin red and sensitive. Blisters or bumps may appear on the genital area, the blisters first opening, then healing with the regeneration of new skin tissue.

The infected area:

is usually painful and may itch, burn or tingle, during the outbreak.  
Other symptoms include:

swollen lymph glands  
painful inflamed blisters develop around infected area
headache
muscle ache
fever  
vaginal or penis discharge
infection of the urethra causing a burning sensation during urination
a burning sensation in the genitals
lower back pain
small red bumps may appear in the genital area following earlier symptoms,  later developing  into painful blisters, which crust over, form a scab, and heal.
No Symptoms:

Up to 60% of people who have genital HSV show no signs of the disease and are unaware that they are infected, but are capable of transmitting the virus to others (asymptomatic viral shedding).

[sswafford]

I guess it was a little on the rough side. It's very possible that it's just an abrasion from that. I hope so. So I could start to show signs now then? What would I want to start looking for then as far as physical signs? Btw, thanks a ton for the help.

[DidisMirage]

Yes but that doesn't sound like a symptom at all. :)

[sswafford]

Well I just did a physical exam and I noticed a small patch that looks like I rubbed an area a little raw. I am trying to think that it was because of the rough and quick nature of the incident. Could a physical sign like that show up after just a couple days? This incident happened on Tues. morning.

[DidisMirage]

By 12 weeks, if you've been infected, your IgG antibodies will show up. Any earlier and you risk testing falsely negative. Most people get infected when the person is not having outbreaks. This is called viral shedding and it can happen anytime, especially right before an outbreak. You're probably okay. Don't worry about it until 12 weeks or unless you get symptoms, it won't do you any good to worry yourself sick when you can't find out right now.

[sswafford]

I did not use a condom. Now I am doing the same thing as another forum poster was doing and thinking about it constantly and now every little feeling I get anywhere near my genitals has me worried.
I'm really hoping that because she wasn't in an outbreak and hadn't been for so long, and that it was a quick thing, that maybe I can have a better chance of not catching it but now I'm just wondering what others opinions are of my risk and when I should get tested.
I just hope my mind doesn't make it worse. If I don't have any external signs how long should I wait to get blood test?

[DidisMirage]

Did you use a condom? Protected sex reduces but doesn't eliminate the risk. If you get blisters you can have them cultured, but it's time-limited and I don't remember the time. At 12 weeks post exposure you can get an IgG type-specific blood herpes test.