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Ulcer question
Hello just curious has anyone experienced a single medium-sized fairly deep painful ulcer that continues to ooze a thick white liquid for over a week? Is this a typical sign of hsv2? Or does this sound like a different kind of issue? Obviously going to get it checked out but just wanted to see if this was a common sign. I have not experienced itching body aches fever or burning when I pee. Noticed the ulceration a few days after intimacy.
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It could be herpes, but it could also be a lot of other things. It definitely sounds like something that you need to get checked out by a doctor, though.
If they even suspect herpes, ask that they do a type specific culture, preferably a PCR swab. Any doctor can do that, even an Urgent Care. Go as soon as you can - the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get an accurate test.
Let us know what happens.
If they even suspect herpes, ask that they do a type specific culture, preferably a PCR swab. Any doctor can do that, even an Urgent Care. Go as soon as you can - the longer you wait, the harder it will be to get an accurate test.
Let us know what happens.
6 Comments
Just went to the doctor she said she's on the fence because it doesn't present as a typical herpes infection. Because it's just stayed in a open infectious State as an ulcer that's pretty deep with the white pus that keeps coming out and it hasn't gone through the rest of the stages. But of course to be careful because it still could be herpes she swabbed it. So I guess I'll know my results in a week but in the meantime she sent me home with antibiotics to help with the infection. If it's even bacterial I guess.
I'm glad they swabbed it for herpes, just in case.
I hope the antibiotics help, and you get some relief. Keep me posted.
I hope the antibiotics help, and you get some relief. Keep me posted.
So the doctor said the results would take a week but a day later quest notified me they were in? So I found out from an email and logging into my portal, not my own doctor my results. Hsv1 detected and hsv2 not detected. So that sucks. I thought I'd get a refrence range and it says not detected next to both hsv1 and two. Is the refrence range only for blood work and not culture tests?
The reference range is for the blood work only, not cultures.
So, you have genital hsv1. It does suck, but I have some good news about it all.
There is something called site of preference with herpes. Hsv1 prefers the mouth, and hsv2 prefers the genitals. When herpes is in it's site of preference, it's more active - it recurs more frequently, sheds more often, and transmits more often.
Generally speaking, genital hsv1, or ghsv1, recurs a lot less frequently than genital hsv2 does. The average number of outbreaks for ghsv1 is less than 1 a year, and for ghsv2 it's 4-5 a year.
We know that ghsv1, after 2 years, sheds on average about 4 days per year. Even in the first 2 years, it sheds a lot less than ghsv2. (Shedding is when the virus is active on the skin, but no symptoms are present. You can still transmit it at this time.)
About 67% of people under 50 have hsv1 already. (If you are over 50, that number goes up to 80%ish, depending on your age. Basically, the older you are, the more likely you are to have it.
If your partner has hsv1 already, that means they have antibodies that will offer them significant protection against getting it in another location on their body. If they have it orally, it is highly unlikely that they'd ever get it genitally. If they have it genitally, they can't be reinfected in the same place they already have it.
What I'm essentially saying is that you are unlikely to ever transmit this without symptoms present. Ghsv1 is almost always transmitted from oral hsv1 to the genitals. You should still tell partners because the risk isn't technically zero, and if you are in or wanting a long term relationship, it's a trust thing, but the risk is very minimal.
You can take antivirals if you want to reduce the risk more, but many people with ghsv1 don't take them, but that's a personal decision.
You can read more about herpes in the Herpes Handbook. It's written by Terri Warren, a nurse practitioner with 35+ years in the field. It's free and you can read it on any device.
https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
I'm also happy to answer any question you have. I've had ghsv2 for 20 years. I can promise you that you're going to be just fine. Whatever you've thought about living with herpes is probably not nearly as bad as the reality of it. :)
So, you have genital hsv1. It does suck, but I have some good news about it all.
There is something called site of preference with herpes. Hsv1 prefers the mouth, and hsv2 prefers the genitals. When herpes is in it's site of preference, it's more active - it recurs more frequently, sheds more often, and transmits more often.
Generally speaking, genital hsv1, or ghsv1, recurs a lot less frequently than genital hsv2 does. The average number of outbreaks for ghsv1 is less than 1 a year, and for ghsv2 it's 4-5 a year.
We know that ghsv1, after 2 years, sheds on average about 4 days per year. Even in the first 2 years, it sheds a lot less than ghsv2. (Shedding is when the virus is active on the skin, but no symptoms are present. You can still transmit it at this time.)
About 67% of people under 50 have hsv1 already. (If you are over 50, that number goes up to 80%ish, depending on your age. Basically, the older you are, the more likely you are to have it.
If your partner has hsv1 already, that means they have antibodies that will offer them significant protection against getting it in another location on their body. If they have it orally, it is highly unlikely that they'd ever get it genitally. If they have it genitally, they can't be reinfected in the same place they already have it.
What I'm essentially saying is that you are unlikely to ever transmit this without symptoms present. Ghsv1 is almost always transmitted from oral hsv1 to the genitals. You should still tell partners because the risk isn't technically zero, and if you are in or wanting a long term relationship, it's a trust thing, but the risk is very minimal.
You can take antivirals if you want to reduce the risk more, but many people with ghsv1 don't take them, but that's a personal decision.
You can read more about herpes in the Herpes Handbook. It's written by Terri Warren, a nurse practitioner with 35+ years in the field. It's free and you can read it on any device.
https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
I'm also happy to answer any question you have. I've had ghsv2 for 20 years. I can promise you that you're going to be just fine. Whatever you've thought about living with herpes is probably not nearly as bad as the reality of it. :)
Thank you so much for your reply it was very detailed and informative and helpful! Especially since my doctor still has yet to call me to tell me any information. I also got another notification from quest for the bacterial culture that they did and that came back positive. So I have a bacterial infection in the sore as well. It just makes me wonder if it hadn't become infected if I would have even noticed that there was anything there at all? Because of where it's located. And having no other symptoms. Or if I had gotten an infection which then triggered the hsv1 to be activated? I have no idea. I've been on antibiotics for almost 3 days and it is starting to help with the infection which is good. And I can't help but Wonder since nobody uses dental dams how could you avoid a possible hsv1 infection down there if most people have oral hsv1 and oral sex is just normal when with a partner. Especially if they haven't experienced sores themselves.
"I also got another notification from quest for the bacterial culture that they did and that came back positive."
Okay, that's interesting. So what may have happened is that the bacterial infection triggered an hsv1 outbreak on top of the bacterial wound or infection or whatever it is, or the swab picked up enough virus from shedding. This means that it's not a new infection.
When was the last time you had oral sex? Was that in the last few weeks or the same time you mention the intimacy?
You may never know, honestly, if this is a new infection or not. If your most recent partner is a regular partner, that person can get a type specific IgG blood test to see if they have it, but the type 1 blood test misses a full 30% of infections, so it's far from conclusive.
"And I can't help but Wonder since nobody uses dental dams how could you avoid a possible hsv1 infection down there if most people have oral hsv1 and oral sex is just normal when with a partner."
Honestly? Kinda luck of the draw. More and more genital herpes infections are ghsv1 - at least 50% of new genital herpes infections are now ghsv1. They say it's because oral sex is more common, but I think it's because type testing is better now, with doctors more aware and more sensitive swabbing. I'm in my 50s, and oral sex was just as common when I was younger as it is now lol.
Since the vast majority of people with oral hsv1 never experience symptoms, don't know they have it but can still transmit it, it's just dumb luck if you don't get it. Oral hsv1 sheds about as much as ghsv2.
Your doctor may give you a pamphlet or something, so don't be disappointed if they aren't all that informed. To be fair, docs have to keep up with all kinds of things, and STIs tend to fall to the wayside, especially with things like covid, RSV, etc. You might ask for a prescription for antivirals to have on hand in case you get an outbreak, though. The sooner you start them, the faster the outbreak heals. You may never need them, but it's better to have them when you need them then not have them.
I'm glad the antibiotics are helping you feel better. :)
Okay, that's interesting. So what may have happened is that the bacterial infection triggered an hsv1 outbreak on top of the bacterial wound or infection or whatever it is, or the swab picked up enough virus from shedding. This means that it's not a new infection.
When was the last time you had oral sex? Was that in the last few weeks or the same time you mention the intimacy?
You may never know, honestly, if this is a new infection or not. If your most recent partner is a regular partner, that person can get a type specific IgG blood test to see if they have it, but the type 1 blood test misses a full 30% of infections, so it's far from conclusive.
"And I can't help but Wonder since nobody uses dental dams how could you avoid a possible hsv1 infection down there if most people have oral hsv1 and oral sex is just normal when with a partner."
Honestly? Kinda luck of the draw. More and more genital herpes infections are ghsv1 - at least 50% of new genital herpes infections are now ghsv1. They say it's because oral sex is more common, but I think it's because type testing is better now, with doctors more aware and more sensitive swabbing. I'm in my 50s, and oral sex was just as common when I was younger as it is now lol.
Since the vast majority of people with oral hsv1 never experience symptoms, don't know they have it but can still transmit it, it's just dumb luck if you don't get it. Oral hsv1 sheds about as much as ghsv2.
Your doctor may give you a pamphlet or something, so don't be disappointed if they aren't all that informed. To be fair, docs have to keep up with all kinds of things, and STIs tend to fall to the wayside, especially with things like covid, RSV, etc. You might ask for a prescription for antivirals to have on hand in case you get an outbreak, though. The sooner you start them, the faster the outbreak heals. You may never need them, but it's better to have them when you need them then not have them.
I'm glad the antibiotics are helping you feel better. :)
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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.
