Aa
HSV 1 questions
Almost four years ago I had a culture for a cluster of red bumps on the left outside region of my vagina that tested positive for HSV-1. My bloodwork was negative for HSV-2 though. The past two weeks I've been dealing with boil-like bumps on my lower left-butt/upper left thigh (three that went away in six days, a new scattering that showed up late this sunday.) The doc isn't sure if it's a recurrence, because it looks and feels completely different than what I had last time. He said it could easily be boils or irritation from my bike, since I ride upwards of 20 miles daily and that's exact spot my new bike seat rubs me.
1) Do HSV-1 infections, genitally, recur less often than HSV-2? Are equally contagious?
2) Would having HSV-1 make me more susceptible to HSV-2? Could these boils be HSV-2?
3) Are my odds of transmission to a partner lower or equal to HSV-2?
4) I thought HSV-1 only occurred in the oral region. I know I had canker sores as a kid; why would the initial outbreak appear on my genitalia? Wouldn't I have had the antibodies to prevent that?
5) My STD clinic no longer does HSV tests (SO RIDICULOUS); how should I proceed from here? Dermatologist? OB/GYN? Regular doctor? If this is NOT a recurrence, I would like to know what it is.
1) Do HSV-1 infections, genitally, recur less often than HSV-2? Are equally contagious?
2) Would having HSV-1 make me more susceptible to HSV-2? Could these boils be HSV-2?
3) Are my odds of transmission to a partner lower or equal to HSV-2?
4) I thought HSV-1 only occurred in the oral region. I know I had canker sores as a kid; why would the initial outbreak appear on my genitalia? Wouldn't I have had the antibodies to prevent that?
5) My STD clinic no longer does HSV tests (SO RIDICULOUS); how should I proceed from here? Dermatologist? OB/GYN? Regular doctor? If this is NOT a recurrence, I would like to know what it is.
A swab properly type for HSV1 is definitive, this is what you have genitally. It now makes it very hard to be also infected genitally with HSV2.
1. Genital HSV1 recurrences can be very infrequent for some people. Half never have another outbreaks and those that do average an recurrence each couple of years. It is perhaps 3-6 times less 'contagious' than genital HSV2 due to less frequent shedding and harder to infect a males genitals with HSV1 compared to HSV2.
2. Less susceptible to HSV2. You have antibodies and some or all of your nerve cells will be 'occupied' by the HSV1 virus.
3. Much lower as per above comments.
4. Most likely you did not have oral HSV1 as a child. Canker sores are not herpes. You really need blisters on you lips, under your nostrils etc. to be more certain of a visual diagnosis.
5. A regular doctor should be able to swab the lesions and have them tested, insist if you need to.
This is most likely a HSV1 recurrence or not herpetic at all. HSV2 is a very distant possibility.
1. Genital HSV1 recurrences can be very infrequent for some people. Half never have another outbreaks and those that do average an recurrence each couple of years. It is perhaps 3-6 times less 'contagious' than genital HSV2 due to less frequent shedding and harder to infect a males genitals with HSV1 compared to HSV2.
2. Less susceptible to HSV2. You have antibodies and some or all of your nerve cells will be 'occupied' by the HSV1 virus.
3. Much lower as per above comments.
4. Most likely you did not have oral HSV1 as a child. Canker sores are not herpes. You really need blisters on you lips, under your nostrils etc. to be more certain of a visual diagnosis.
5. A regular doctor should be able to swab the lesions and have them tested, insist if you need to.
This is most likely a HSV1 recurrence or not herpetic at all. HSV2 is a very distant possibility.
Have an Answer?
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.
