Herpes or something else?

[junoon]

I am confused about my herpes diagnosis.

I had the typical symptoms. Went to get 2 swab tests (amplified DNA Assays), both came back positive for HSV-1.

Now I have kissed many guys in the past, but I haven't had much sex.

My partner never had any cold sores. We always used protection. Also, shortly after I had my OB, my partner said his penis was very itchy and so were his lips and scalp, he said he thought he had a fungal infection from living in a mouldy room.

What was odd about my symptoms is that they were never blisters, more like whiteheads that became sores. Also I got these tiny whiteheads on my legs (clear fluid when squeezed). I also got tiny cherry anigiomas everywhere. I also had numbness in my right arm and thigh and my symptoms (fever) were very persistent and lasted more than 3 weeks.

My questions is: If the DNA swab can be used on asymptomatic patients as well, could it be detecting HSV-1 from a previous oral infection?

Why haven't I had HSV-1 orally already from kissing?

PS: partner and I tested for all other STDs and all came back clear. I had 3 partners, and all protected.

[feelingundone]

The swab tests are very accurate. So it looks like you have genital hsv1. Your boyfriend most likely has an oral infection which is very common. He passed it to you through oral sex. Blood tests miss at least one out of 10 oral hsv1 infections so testing negative for hsv1 isn't  always conclusive.  Good news is genital hsv1 has few outbreaks and some women never get another one. It sheds very little and usually not very potent when it does. Any partner you have that gets cold sores is basically immune so it's  really much better than hsv2