How long can herpes lie dromant?

[grateful1954]

I was in a relationship from Sept. of 95 to Dec. 02 with the same person.  I was faihful and a few times he wasn't.  I have been celibate for 5 1/2 years and just recently diagnosed with genital herpes.  How long could this have layed dormant?  I am in complete shock of the results.

[auntiejessi]

It can be either type 1 or 2 genitally.  The number indicates the strain of the virus, not the location.

I know its overwhelming, but lets see what your test results say, ok?

Aj

[grateful1954]

I assume it's herpes 2 since I have a couple of bumps in the vagina area.  I will be going back to the doctor on Thursday and I am going to ask for my test results and try to find more info.  I was really stressed when I was going through my divorce in 2002 and don't recall if I had a outbreak.  I do remember having a few b;adder infections and once before having a bump down there but didn't pay much attention to it.  I went to the doctor then but my physican didn't have me tested for herpes.  This is the doctor's assist who had me tested this time.  All of this is just overwhelming.

[gracefromHHP]

It's not that it's laying dormant as much as most folks just aren't recognizing the signs of it reoccuring. For us gals you can even have ob's on your cervix and no matter how flexible you are you aren't going to be looking at that at home on your own to know what's going on.

Do you know i fyou have hsv1 or hsv2? what testing did you have done?

the patient counseling video and the herpes handbook at www.westoverheights.com are both terrific resources to help you learn more about herpes. The video also addresses a lot of the feels you are probably having right now too.

Hang in there - it's not as bad as it seems right.  You've evidently been infected for over 5 years already - don't let the idea of knowing you have herpes do too much of a number on you now.

grace