We are worried

I am currently dating someone.  We have been together for about 1 month now. I had past relationships before but he has only been with two individuals.  This morning he called me and told me that he noticed a rash on his penis.  WE both new of our sexual past and I had have yearly check ups, but none has ever came up positive for herpes. Well I am still worried.  He has not had sexual intercourse in 1 1/2 years until me and I had one partner for the past four years.  If I had contracted herpes shouldnt I have noticed symptoms from either myself or my previous partner??  And being the fact that we had unprotected sex for about a month now, shouldnt he already have had a outbreak?? Right now I am just confused. I had a yeast infection last week, but I am not sure if that caused the rash.  I know that many things can cause rashes, but I just want to be safe.  I called my physician and they said that I have to have an sore in order for them to test it.  I dont know any where that does the blood testing around my area.  So is there any way that I can find listing??

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

It's hard to speculate what your partner might have without knowing more details about his rash.  The timing indeed suggests he acquired it sexually from you (assuming he hasn't had other partners since you've been together), and you are right to be concerned about herpes and yeast as the 2 mostl likely possibilities.  If you really had a yeast infection recently, that's likely the better bet--but be aware that the single disease most often confused with herpes in women is yeast infection.  So unless your yeast infection was diagnosed by a knowledgeable health care provider--and not by yourself based on symptoms alone--I can't be confident that's what you had.  Herpes indeed can be asymptomatic.  At least 25% of the infection has genital HSV-2 infection, and most don't know it.

It is correct that a herpes lesion must be present to test directly for the virus.  But any doctor in the US, including yours, can send blood to a lab for an accurate herpes blood test; see numerous other threads on this forum and the FAQs about herpes testing.

So, bottom line:  I suggest that you and your partner go simultaneously to a provider who is familiar with STDs and genital infections, such as your local health department STD clinic.  That's the best way to know for sure what both of you have and what infection(s) you might be sharing.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[girl_1]

One of the biggest problems of Herpes is that so many people have and dont realise which is why it is so easy to spread.  The symptoms vary greatly and can sometimes go unnoticed.  Even if you have been having regular tests for STDs these do not cover the herpes virus as the only way most places will test for it is if you have the symptoms.  I have had herpes for nearly 2 years now and trust me although it isnt nice, there are far worse things to catch and wont ruin your life and there is no reason it should ruin your relationship.  I dont know how you will find out about getting a blood test but your boyfriend needs to go to see the doctor while he still has the rash so that it can be tested.  Hope this helps! x x x x