I have several comments before I get to your questions.
First, hearsay is notoriously inaccurate, not to mention malicious. I would not believe that someone has herpes because someone says it is the case. If you wonder about your partner, ask her. for that matter, while you don't need to tell her who said it, you could even tell her that others are spreading such rumors.
Second, your doctor sounds wise and the information he has given you is right on target. I would add to what he has already told you that the fact that you have had cold sores will tend to help you resist HSV-2. Cold sores are caused by HSV-1 and the body's response to HSV-1 offers partial resistance to infection by HSV-2. thus why it does not guarantee that you won't get herpes, it does help.
Now on to your questions:
1. Yes.
2. You have to decide this. There is little you have said to suggest that you have herpes and, as your doctor has already pointed out, you appear to pay pretty close attention. What would your reaction be if you had HSV, or if you did not/ Also, consider that the fact that you have HSV-1 does somewhat increase your risk for a false positive result so, if you get tested and the result is positive, check out the result before you accept it as fact.
3. Yes
4, Herpes lesions most typically appear 3-10 days following transmission from an infected partner.
Hope this helps. Take care. EWH
In your situation you are more likely to have a false positvie result for HSV-2 that a true positive. At 4 months the blood test will detect about 80% of HSV-2 infections acquired 4 months earlier. Whether that is "good enough" to alleviate your anxiety is not something I can answer. I do however worry that you will get a false positive result which will make your anxiety worse, not better. Those are the facts, what you do with them is up to you. EWH
I decided to go ahead and have a blood test done for hsv2, despite never having any symptoms such as lesions or blisters, and my results were negative. This was done at the 4 month mark since my last unprotected sexual encounter and 2 months since the last protected encounter. Do I need further testing since it has only been 2 months since the last protected encounter, or should I just accept these results and let it go. I know i've read that sometimes it can take six months
Thank You for your help