Does this sound like herpes

[worried154]

Dear Doctors,

I had unprotected sex approximately 11
weeks ago. Of course I found out after that
my boyfriend was positive for hsv2. We had
sex twice unprotected. About 7 weeks after
that encounter I had flu like symptoms, but
thought nothing of it. I then started having
vaginal burning. I went to my OBGYN at 8
weeks and had a STD panel run, test for uti,
and yeast. Everything came back negative. I
am still feeling a burning sensation  but there
are no lesions. Does this sound like herpes?  Also
What are the chances of me turning positive at
the three to four month period. I do have hsv1 and have
outbreaks of cold sores approximately 2 times per year or
after I catch a cold.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The bump could be many things - your best bet is to see a clinician and have it evaluated.

Terri

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

I think it is unlikely that you will become positive for HSV 2 after this testing, but as I've said before, we like people to wait 16 weeks for the most accurate results.

Terri

[Kendra_loves_Jv]

ok well uhhh i don't really know how to explain this but ok here it goes.. well 2 days ago i was washin myself and i noticed this little bump on the side of my pubic area close to my private but it is under the skin and it is very sensitive to the touch and i was just wondering if you think maybe it could be herpes or something else? or if nothing is wrong because i shave down there and usually have bumps but i am just worried about this one.. please help me thanks

[worried154]

Hi Terri

Thank you very much for your response and clarification. That was helpful. I went and retested which would have been 13 weeks post exposure. I came back HSV1 3.2 High and HSV 2 < .90, but I didn't get the actual numerical score. I understand that this is negative. This rating was with a Herpes Select Test. With my positive Hsv1 score do you think I can count this result as official or do you beleive I shoud still retest at 16 weeks or later in the event of late seroconversion. I just want to make certain that I take the right steps to protect potential future partners and I don't want to start a new relationship without being on suppressive meds to lower the risk of transmission. Thank you again.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

The four months is the timing from the date of possible infection, not from symptoms.   A person can be infected for 50 years before they have their first symptom!  Everything is timing from the sexual encounter that could have transmitted infection to you, not from symptoms.

Does that clarify your question?
Terri

[worried154]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for your response. I do want to clarify with you testing time frames.
Is the 4 month number 4 months after the initial signs of an outbreak or 4 months
since first possible exposure?

I am confused because if people don't have outbreaks are they developping the
antibodies?  I am just trying to understand if I test negative could it just be because
I didn't have an outbreak yet and then several years later my body finally has an outbreak and then and only then I start creating antibodies.

So when the statistics state 50% of people are seroconverting at 6 weeks is that from exposure or 6 weeks after the symptoms?

I am just concerned because I feel like I started a primary outbreak at 7 weeks after last exposure, but that would mean my blood test was taken only 1 week after symptoms began.

Thank you again. Everyone here provides such a great service and it really helps to keep stress levels down. Thank you for devoting your time and for your patience.  

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Yes, if your test at 8-9 weeks was negative, I think that is a very very good sign!  Seventy percent of people who are going to test positive will do so at 6 weeks, so you are beyond that, so the percent is even higher at this time frame.  That's great!  Try not to worry too much, the odds are definitely in your favor.

Terri

[worried154]

Hi Terri
Thank you for your response. This is just very scary for me and I hate myself for my mistake. I was tested for hsv1 and 2 at only hsv1 came back positive.  The though of waiting four months is killing me. I feel like my life is turned upside down. I can't focus at school. Is there any positive hope for me that since my hsv2 came back negative at 8-9 weeks that it will stay that way?  I also have leg pain in both legs. Are my symptoms pointing to a breakout and I can't see the sores because they are inside?  Does that happen often?  Or can you have all the symptoms but never acutally have a lesion ( or is this an all or nothing kind of virus?). I am just so scared and I don't know how I will make it to the 4 month mark.

[Terri Warren, RN, Adult Nurse Practitioner]

Did your STD panel include testing for herpes?  If not, that would be something you should look into about 4 months after the last encounter.  If you are having ongoing sex with your boyfriend who has HSV 2, then I would suggest that you get a baseline test now and then, at some point, repeat it, but remember that it will always be a moving target.  If you are negative for HSV 2, then I would strongly suggest that he be placed on daily suppressive therapy.  

Burning that continues for weeks in the genital area, unchanged, is not likely due to herpes.  Herpes presents intermittently, not continuously.  Also, since you already have HSV 1 infection, you may take a little longer, perhaps closer to the 4 months in some cases, to become positive for HSV 2 if you do become infected, just so you keep you testing "honest".

Terri