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Herpes Women
Okay, so I have recently become sexually active and I made the mistake of having a drunken rebound from my first... A few months later my friend started dating my rebound... (awkward!) but she recently approached me and told me that she tested positive for herpes - type 2 - and she knows she caught it from the guy that I had sex with that one time/the guy she is dating now. He had no signs of it, so he didn't know he gave it to her, but she had all the classic symptoms. I don't know how graphic I'm suppose to get, but we had unprotected sex that one time and he came inside of me... I have never had anyone do that before so I don't know if it's common for girls to itch or feel irritated down there for awhile afterwards. I'm pretty sure I have never had an outbreak at all (apparently you would definitely know because it really hurts) but I was a little itchy for a few days afterward - this could have been a mental thing considering I felt pretty bad about the hook up anyways. It's been 3 months and I feel perfectly fine, but I'm still terrified. I have had a pap smear since then and everything is normal, but if I do have it and I wasn't having an outbreak, how would they be able to tell? Especially since some people have it and don't even know... Is spread easier through semen too? Basically, I'm freaking out and if anyone could give me some helpful advice/information, I would really appreciate it!
What are the milder symptoms that you can get from HSV2?
Are women more likely to know whether they have it like some STDs, more than men?
I'm getting a blood test tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous.
Are women more likely to know whether they have it like some STDs, more than men?
I'm getting a blood test tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous.
Studies have shown over and over again that over 90% of folks who have hsv2, have no idea they have it until they are tested. most people are unaware of the milder symptoms that genital herpes can appear with.
follow up with testing to see what your own status is and go from there.
follow up with testing to see what your own status is and go from there.
Whoops, I meant HSV. And the one time we did, it was unprotected and he didn't find out that he may have it until after my friend and him had sex and she had the classic flu-like symptoms. I know I need to get tested, and I'm going to, but is it true that a lot of people have HSV type 2 and they don't even know it? Or is it more common to never know with HSV type 1? I guess I just want to know what my overall risk is if we had unprotected sex and he went inside of me... It wasn't that long (I'm not sure if time matters?) and as far as I can remember I never had any flu-like symptoms. I definitely had itching - maybe a little more than usual... Do most girls show symptoms, while boys don't? Would I most likely know if I had it? It's been over 3 months and I feel completely fine.. (Once again, I'm planning on getting tested, but until then, I'm freaking out!)
no it's not that high of a risk from a one time protected encounter. If a partner is aware of their status, the risk is very low.
definitely get a full std screening if you haven't had one at the proper times already to cover your bases and protect your future fertility. A yearly pap test isn't proper std testing by no means. odds are you've never been tested for herpes before to know your own status either so make sure that's part of the blood testing you get done.
hpv is not herpes. hpv is human papillomavirus. hsv is the abbreviation for herpes.
your friend's partner need proper testing to know for sure what his status is. Not always a good thing to assume anything. Also your friend should be sure that she too had proper testing to know if she has hsv1 or hsv2 genitally too. encourage her to start her own post here if she has any questions :)
grace
definitely get a full std screening if you haven't had one at the proper times already to cover your bases and protect your future fertility. A yearly pap test isn't proper std testing by no means. odds are you've never been tested for herpes before to know your own status either so make sure that's part of the blood testing you get done.
hpv is not herpes. hpv is human papillomavirus. hsv is the abbreviation for herpes.
your friend's partner need proper testing to know for sure what his status is. Not always a good thing to assume anything. Also your friend should be sure that she too had proper testing to know if she has hsv1 or hsv2 genitally too. encourage her to start her own post here if she has any questions :)
grace
Thank you for your response, I really do appreciate it. I haven't had sex since that encounter 3 months ago. (Like I said, big mistake!) So I wouldn't have passed anything on to anyone else. I didn't have any classic symptoms - thank God, but it's definitely scary to think that I had been exposed to it. So the chances of catching it, after one unprotected encounter isn't actually that high? The research and facts out there make you think that everyone has herpes or at least some kind of std. I made an appointment to get tested today and you're saying that I should request to get the igg HPV blood test or is that included in a standard blood test when being checked for stds? Also another question - if my friend had all the flu-like symptoms and an outbreak 3 weeks after she had sex with our/my.... ex-hook up (yep, still awkward) is it most likely that she caught it from him or could it have been dormant for awhile? Because now they don't use condoms, but he hasn't actually been tested for it - he just assumes he must have given it to her because she told him about her symptoms and had gotten tested afterwards.
Anyways - thanks again for responding!
Anyways - thanks again for responding!
Just to say something. The first responder to the page was actually a spammer. Disregard I have reported his post to the mods for handling. Sorry about that.
On to your situation. I would agree your situation with your friend is awkard. That is putting it nicely.
One time encounters are low risk for herpes. Semen has nothing to do with STD risk at all. Its the act that will get you. When dealing with HSV (herpes) you wearing a condom only protects about 30% of the time. Pap smear's while good for your females good health does not test for HSV. Women get that itchy feeling sometimes from a yeast or bacterial infection. So that could have been the case or just friction from the encounter. Chances what you had wasn't herpes related.
So it's 3 months past the encounter. Given that your sexually active I would advise testing at this point. Not because I am worried about the encounter (not telling when your ex-partner had HSV-2 or if your friend's was initial or reoccurant outbreak). You should get your STD testing down now for all the STD's and request a type specific igg HSV blood test as well. Make sure you request it as some places don't do the testing routinely. Do NOT use the IgM testing (ask your doctor if they are running that) because it leads to false positive and is a worthless test.
On to your situation. I would agree your situation with your friend is awkard. That is putting it nicely.
One time encounters are low risk for herpes. Semen has nothing to do with STD risk at all. Its the act that will get you. When dealing with HSV (herpes) you wearing a condom only protects about 30% of the time. Pap smear's while good for your females good health does not test for HSV. Women get that itchy feeling sometimes from a yeast or bacterial infection. So that could have been the case or just friction from the encounter. Chances what you had wasn't herpes related.
So it's 3 months past the encounter. Given that your sexually active I would advise testing at this point. Not because I am worried about the encounter (not telling when your ex-partner had HSV-2 or if your friend's was initial or reoccurant outbreak). You should get your STD testing down now for all the STD's and request a type specific igg HSV blood test as well. Make sure you request it as some places don't do the testing routinely. Do NOT use the IgM testing (ask your doctor if they are running that) because it leads to false positive and is a worthless test.
I don't think I have it, I was just curious about the whole situation... I'm not looking to find a date through this.
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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.
