Aa
HSV1
I'll try to sum this up as best that I can.
4 years ago after questionable encounter Dr. told me I had herpes. That's all he said. Actually he said I had exposure but no virus, of course I now know this makes no sense. Went to urologist for second opinion, he read my blood test and said "no herpes" later I realized what he was saying was no HSV2. A year later I realized he was wrong and I talked to him. he even showed me my blood test, he conveniently lost the page that said I was positive HSV1 and he showed me the HSV2 results and convinced me I was not infected. So my mental state is messed up going back and forth. Do I? or Don"t I? Anyhow this has pretty much ruined my life, I don't need to go into detail.
To further explain I have been reading everything there is to read and I realized that the original Dr. did a blood test only two days after my sexual encounter, so this means I had the virus before correct? I also started to think and realized I think I had a cold sore when I was an adolesent, never had any other kind of outbreak that I know of.
I have had a second test two years after the first and the result was exactly the same HSV1 IGG 5.52.
Finally to get to my question. I am 53 years old and recently started dating, I told my girlfriend I'm positive and she said she doesn't care. I asked her to go get tested and she refuses because she said she was just tested for all STD's and came back negative. I asked her to please call her Dr. to confirm that he tested for HSV1 she just blows me off and says "I'm sure he did" but she says she doesn't care and she understands that she is taking the risk and it is up to her. What's you opinion...What should I do? Should I insist she gets tested? Should I insist we use protection? Should I let her go ahead and take the risk?
4 years ago after questionable encounter Dr. told me I had herpes. That's all he said. Actually he said I had exposure but no virus, of course I now know this makes no sense. Went to urologist for second opinion, he read my blood test and said "no herpes" later I realized what he was saying was no HSV2. A year later I realized he was wrong and I talked to him. he even showed me my blood test, he conveniently lost the page that said I was positive HSV1 and he showed me the HSV2 results and convinced me I was not infected. So my mental state is messed up going back and forth. Do I? or Don"t I? Anyhow this has pretty much ruined my life, I don't need to go into detail.
To further explain I have been reading everything there is to read and I realized that the original Dr. did a blood test only two days after my sexual encounter, so this means I had the virus before correct? I also started to think and realized I think I had a cold sore when I was an adolesent, never had any other kind of outbreak that I know of.
I have had a second test two years after the first and the result was exactly the same HSV1 IGG 5.52.
Finally to get to my question. I am 53 years old and recently started dating, I told my girlfriend I'm positive and she said she doesn't care. I asked her to go get tested and she refuses because she said she was just tested for all STD's and came back negative. I asked her to please call her Dr. to confirm that he tested for HSV1 she just blows me off and says "I'm sure he did" but she says she doesn't care and she understands that she is taking the risk and it is up to her. What's you opinion...What should I do? Should I insist she gets tested? Should I insist we use protection? Should I let her go ahead and take the risk?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good, clarification should not bother her at all. Your HSV 2 results are clear to her, the same should apply for her.
Your first positive test certainly indicates that you were not newly infected.
Terri
Your first positive test certainly indicates that you were not newly infected.
Terri
Terri,
Yes, first test was positive. (2 years later same results, so I assumed it had been in my system a long time or else numbers would have increased; correct?) (if my Doctors were a little more educated I might not be in the situation that I am)
Yes, she wants oral.
Yes, I will ask her again to inquire about her results. I told her since she is 48 Y.O. there is better than 50/50 she already has it but I think she is in denial.
Yes, first test was positive. (2 years later same results, so I assumed it had been in my system a long time or else numbers would have increased; correct?) (if my Doctors were a little more educated I might not be in the situation that I am)
Yes, she wants oral.
Yes, I will ask her again to inquire about her results. I told her since she is 48 Y.O. there is better than 50/50 she already has it but I think she is in denial.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm a little confused. Did the first test end up showing that you WERE positive for HSV 1? If yes, then you didn't contract it from the worrisome sexual encounter. Also, since you report a cold sore in your history, your immune system would likely protect you from getting this in a new location.
Your partner's response is a little worrisome. You are correct that most STD screens do not include herpes. So not only do you not know if she is vulnerable to your HSV 1 oral infection, you also don't know for sure if she has HSV 2 or not.
Her risk from you is receiving oral sex if she is indeed negative for HSV 1 and HSV 2. For me, that would definitely be something I would want to know about. If she is negative for both, then I would recommend that you consider daily antiviral therapy to reduce the risk of infecting her if you give her oral sex. If you don't give her oral sex, then this isn't an issue.
I would push a little harder to call about test results.
Terri
Your partner's response is a little worrisome. You are correct that most STD screens do not include herpes. So not only do you not know if she is vulnerable to your HSV 1 oral infection, you also don't know for sure if she has HSV 2 or not.
Her risk from you is receiving oral sex if she is indeed negative for HSV 1 and HSV 2. For me, that would definitely be something I would want to know about. If she is negative for both, then I would recommend that you consider daily antiviral therapy to reduce the risk of infecting her if you give her oral sex. If you don't give her oral sex, then this isn't an issue.
I would push a little harder to call about test results.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
