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Do I have hsv 1 genital
20 years ago I had gone to the doctors because I had become sexually active. When she examined me she had seen a cut at the bottom of vaginal opening and she had cultured it. She thought that it had looked like herpes. I had blood work too. I have gotton cold sores since I was 10 years old if not earlier. The spot that she cultured is a spot that I always have to this day(I am now 37). I get a tear after sex all the time. I remember going back to doctors and she said I tested positive for herpes in the blood test, but don't recall the test from the swab. I know I was young and scared and unfortunatly had a mom that didn't care to much. I was alone. I have never had an outbreak like the ones that are always described. Nothing like that ever down below. I have had 2 healthy children. Never an outbreak during preganancy. I have never recalled any sort of outbreak down there. Like I said I still get the tear in that same spot when I have sex. I recently had that tear swabbed an it was negative. Could there be a chance that because she said I tested positive for herpes in blood that the culture back then was negative. I just assumed genital herpes. Plus she never had a talk with me about future sexual partners. Don't you think she would have? The only sore I got down there was from the tear. I just became sexually active when she examined me and know that was the tear she swabbed. I remember the feeling. Please any thoughts would be helpful.
once you have hsv1 orally, you are very unlikely to contract it genitally later on. Having had hsv1 orally long before you were sexually active, it's not likely you later on contracted it genitally.
Sorry I left out the antibody part. You will always have HSV. Therefore your body will always develop antibodies to fight the infection which includes the same type at a different location. HSV-1 antibodies won't fight off an HSV-2 infection and same vice versa.
The numbers don't mean anything and aren't how long someones been infected. A person positive will always score in the positive range and a negative in the negative range.
Grace I have one more question. I got my test result numbers. Of course the hsv2 came back 0.18, and the hsv1 came back at >5.00 H. I know I'm positive for that. What I want to know is does such a high number mean I have had this for a while?It doesn't mean I had a previous infection does it. No cold sores for a while. Been getting cold sores since I was 10. I'm now 37. Also would I carry some sort of antibodies back then that would of protected me from getting this genitally. I just hate not knowing for sure. I know you can't answer for sure If I do, so don't think I'm looking for that. I just need information. Something the doctor should have done back then. Thanks!!
Most likely your HSV-1 is oral which with a history of coldsores your chance at having HSV-1 genital are less likely. Reason being that you had an immune response to fight the infection at a new location.
HSV-1 genital (if you do have it which by all indications you don't) is less likely to reoccur and the shedding rate for HSV-1 genital is really low when compared to HSV-2.
HSV-1 genital (if you do have it which by all indications you don't) is less likely to reoccur and the shedding rate for HSV-1 genital is really low when compared to HSV-2.
sounds like you have no reason to think that you have genital herpes :) As I said, the blood test you had originally wasn't type specific so really nothing could be ascertained by it being + at that time. too bad you've went all these years thinking you had herpes!
I did just get a herpes select test for 1 and 2. I was positive for 1 and negative for 2. It is so confusing because even back then I never recalled an outbreak. Just that tear and I remember her taking a culture. Thinking it was herepes. I don't recall the next visit to find out results except remembering being positive on blood work. I want to know for sure. I never have any outbreaks so that I can get a culture. I'm not going to complain though. I was married for 13 years and never infected my husband, but I always stay aware. I just want a normal life.
You are right. I tried to contact my old ob-gyn. If you are not a patient for over 10 years your charts are destroyed. That really sucks.
Thank you Grace for your advice and input. I will talk to my doctor about estrogen cream. I tear all the time. It heals in a day or two and then I tear again.
Can I ask one more question? After 20 years if by chance I do have this what are the risks of having unprotected sex. I'm been divorced for a couple of years and recently got into a relationship with someone. I told him I was positive for hsv1 oral, but not positive on hsv1 genital. He will be getting tested. Don't know his status yet. I have never even given anyone a cold sore. I usually get one once a year.
You are right. I tried to contact my old ob-gyn. If you are not a patient for over 10 years your charts are destroyed. That really sucks.
Thank you Grace for your advice and input. I will talk to my doctor about estrogen cream. I tear all the time. It heals in a day or two and then I tear again.
Can I ask one more question? After 20 years if by chance I do have this what are the risks of having unprotected sex. I'm been divorced for a couple of years and recently got into a relationship with someone. I told him I was positive for hsv1 oral, but not positive on hsv1 genital. He will be getting tested. Don't know his status yet. I have never even given anyone a cold sore. I usually get one once a year.
20 years ago they weren't doing type specific herpes igg blood testing. You tested + on the blood test because of your hsv1 oral infection ( cold sores ). The tests back then didn't differentiate between hsv1 and hsv2. I'm also sure that the results of your first culture all those years back is no longer available in your chart too.
At this point, ask your provider to order a hsv2 igg blood test on you just to see what your status is. No reason to test for hsv1 since you already know you have that orally with your cold sore history. Best to cover that base while herpes is on your mind.
Your cut you get every time with sex isn't likely to be herpes either. sounds like your skin is fragile there and tears easily. Make sure you are using a good lube for sex as well as ask your provider about topical estrogen cream to try to strengthen the skin in that area so it doesn't tear so easily too.
grace
At this point, ask your provider to order a hsv2 igg blood test on you just to see what your status is. No reason to test for hsv1 since you already know you have that orally with your cold sore history. Best to cover that base while herpes is on your mind.
Your cut you get every time with sex isn't likely to be herpes either. sounds like your skin is fragile there and tears easily. Make sure you are using a good lube for sex as well as ask your provider about topical estrogen cream to try to strengthen the skin in that area so it doesn't tear so easily too.
grace
I would say contact your doctors office to have the result of the first culture results.
However, yes if you had cold sores you will test positive for HSV. Most likely you will test for HSV-1.
This doesn't sound like herpes. However, my suggestion would be to find out what testing was done and what the result of the culture was. A negative culture would have been to believed if you had it done within 48hrs of when the sore appeared. If your testing was an IgM test you should disregard it. If you wish you can get a type specific igg blood test that will show your status but you will know you have HSV-1 from your cold sores.
However, yes if you had cold sores you will test positive for HSV. Most likely you will test for HSV-1.
This doesn't sound like herpes. However, my suggestion would be to find out what testing was done and what the result of the culture was. A negative culture would have been to believed if you had it done within 48hrs of when the sore appeared. If your testing was an IgM test you should disregard it. If you wish you can get a type specific igg blood test that will show your status but you will know you have HSV-1 from your cold sores.
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
