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Question about herpes
Hello:
I am a 27 year old female. I have only had sex with two people in my life. I am currently married to a man who does not have herpes. I was diagnosed with herpes four years ago when I had my first symptoms. We have been married for nine years. I had sex once several years before meeting my husband and it was not a consensual situation. I am assuming this is where I came into contact with the herpes virus. I was not tested for any STD after the encounter because I did not tell anyone about it. I was 14 at the time. I have breakouts behind my right knee and have never had a breakout anywhere else. My question is this: Will this always stay behind my leg or could it happen elsewhere on my body? I was rather surprised that I did not have any symptoms for so long. I was years after the incident, does that happen often?
Thanks so much for providing this forum. I appreciate any thoughts you may have on this.
I am a 27 year old female. I have only had sex with two people in my life. I am currently married to a man who does not have herpes. I was diagnosed with herpes four years ago when I had my first symptoms. We have been married for nine years. I had sex once several years before meeting my husband and it was not a consensual situation. I am assuming this is where I came into contact with the herpes virus. I was not tested for any STD after the encounter because I did not tell anyone about it. I was 14 at the time. I have breakouts behind my right knee and have never had a breakout anywhere else. My question is this: Will this always stay behind my leg or could it happen elsewhere on my body? I was rather surprised that I did not have any symptoms for so long. I was years after the incident, does that happen often?
Thanks so much for providing this forum. I appreciate any thoughts you may have on this.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First, recurrent herpes behind the knee would be pretty peculiar. If your oringal diagnosis was confirmed by culture of the leg lesions, then you have it. But if not, you might want to see an STD-knowledgeable provider and have a type-specific blood test to be sure you have HSV-2 infection. The available diagnostic tests have improved in the past 13 years.
Second, let's assuming you are right. In people with recurrent herpes that involves the genitals, anal area, or buttocks, asymptomatic shedding often involves sites other than the site of symptomatic outbreaks. But to my knowledge nobody has studied people like you, with symptomatic recurrences so far removed from the genital area; so I don't know if this applies to you. To be safe, should assume that intermittently you have asymptomatic genital shedding of HSV-2 in the cervix or vagina; and that it occurs at times when you're not having an outbreak on your leg.
Third, presumably you ask because you are concerned about the potential for sexual transmission to your husband. The way to deal with that is for him to be tested for HSV-2 infection. If you have HSV-2, the odds are pretty good he has it to; absence of symptoms doesn't mean he hasn't caught it from you. If his test is positive, you don't need to worry about it.
I hope this helps. Good luck-- HHH, MD
Second, let's assuming you are right. In people with recurrent herpes that involves the genitals, anal area, or buttocks, asymptomatic shedding often involves sites other than the site of symptomatic outbreaks. But to my knowledge nobody has studied people like you, with symptomatic recurrences so far removed from the genital area; so I don't know if this applies to you. To be safe, should assume that intermittently you have asymptomatic genital shedding of HSV-2 in the cervix or vagina; and that it occurs at times when you're not having an outbreak on your leg.
Third, presumably you ask because you are concerned about the potential for sexual transmission to your husband. The way to deal with that is for him to be tested for HSV-2 infection. If you have HSV-2, the odds are pretty good he has it to; absence of symptoms doesn't mean he hasn't caught it from you. If his test is positive, you don't need to worry about it.
I hope this helps. Good luck-- HHH, MD
They did a test taken from the lesions and it was confirmed as herpes. They did blood work on my husband, herpe select, and he does not have it. So, I guess, its just an odd situation. I was hoping you might have seen this before. All of my doctors were quite surprised. I was initally treated for shingles. But they did a culture when it came back in the same place. I have had only four times when the lesions were present. My concern is not passing it to my husband. My doctor said that I would never have symptoms in my genital area since it has always been behind my knee. I was wanting to double check on that. I guess you feel it would be possible. I was hoping you would agree with what my other doctor said. I guess I knew she was probably wrong. Thanks again for you help.
I worded that badly. I meant that I AM concerned about passing it to my husband!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
OK, you clearly have it and your husband doesn't. So now the question is whether or not it's important to you (and him) not to transmit it.
Asymptomatic herpes is anxiety producing, because it means transmission can occur an unexpected times. But the silver lining is that most people who get herpes have such mild infections they don't know it. And if your husband gets a symptomatic infection, effective treatment is available to control it. Singles who are likely to change partners and don't want to have to inform them of their infections are the ones most concerned about catching it. Many (perhaps most) mutually monogamous couples just say forget it and don't worry about taking precautions.
But if preventing transmission in fact is important to you, you might consider asking your doctor to prescribe suppressive therapy, probably with valacyclovir.
HHH, MD
Asymptomatic herpes is anxiety producing, because it means transmission can occur an unexpected times. But the silver lining is that most people who get herpes have such mild infections they don't know it. And if your husband gets a symptomatic infection, effective treatment is available to control it. Singles who are likely to change partners and don't want to have to inform them of their infections are the ones most concerned about catching it. Many (perhaps most) mutually monogamous couples just say forget it and don't worry about taking precautions.
But if preventing transmission in fact is important to you, you might consider asking your doctor to prescribe suppressive therapy, probably with valacyclovir.
HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
