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Asymtompatic to herpes?
Hi There,
I've been with my boyfriend for about 2 years, and we broke up for a year, and have been monogomous since we got back together, which was in July of 08.
There was a guy I was seeing when my boyfriend and I were not together, and a few weeks ago his ex-girlfriend contacted me telling me that he had herpes and had given it to her in August. (the last time I slept with him was in June) )I should also add that she and I are African-Canadian, and I read that African-Canadian women are 3X likely to get it.
I'm not sure why she had contacted me almost 5 months later to tell me this news. (rumor has it she is a bit crazy)
I've talked to the guy and he claims that she is mad that he cheated on her, contracted herpes while she slept with other people and is trying to hurt him by telling people.
On the other hand, she is saying that he was soliciting sex on the internet.
Whatever, its all hearsay.
My point being, it's been 5 months and my boyfriend and I have no syptoms. But when I got and HSV test (which is the non-specific type) It came up reactive (positive). My grandad gets cold sores so I'm sure the virus is in my family, but I've never had any coldsores on my face.
So I'm getting a HSV Typing test done today (in canada is costs $130.00) and i'm wondering what are the chances of me having the virus with me and my boyfriend having no symptoms?
I've been with my boyfriend for about 2 years, and we broke up for a year, and have been monogomous since we got back together, which was in July of 08.
There was a guy I was seeing when my boyfriend and I were not together, and a few weeks ago his ex-girlfriend contacted me telling me that he had herpes and had given it to her in August. (the last time I slept with him was in June) )I should also add that she and I are African-Canadian, and I read that African-Canadian women are 3X likely to get it.
I'm not sure why she had contacted me almost 5 months later to tell me this news. (rumor has it she is a bit crazy)
I've talked to the guy and he claims that she is mad that he cheated on her, contracted herpes while she slept with other people and is trying to hurt him by telling people.
On the other hand, she is saying that he was soliciting sex on the internet.
Whatever, its all hearsay.
My point being, it's been 5 months and my boyfriend and I have no syptoms. But when I got and HSV test (which is the non-specific type) It came up reactive (positive). My grandad gets cold sores so I'm sure the virus is in my family, but I've never had any coldsores on my face.
So I'm getting a HSV Typing test done today (in canada is costs $130.00) and i'm wondering what are the chances of me having the virus with me and my boyfriend having no symptoms?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Congratulations! Stay safe.
Hi Dr.
So my test came back negative for the HSV-2 and 1!!!! Pretty happy about that!
So my test came back negative for the HSV-2 and 1!!!! Pretty happy about that!
Thank-you so much for your help!!! I truly appreciate it! My blood results will be in 2 weeks from today (February 11th) and i'll let you know the results!
Thanks again! :)
Thanks again! :)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'll try to help. You're essentially asking me to predict whether or not your HSV blood test will be positive, in particular for HSV-2. Based on what you say, I would put it at 50:50.
On one hand, you are the sex partner of someone who reportedly has genital herpes. On the other, the source of that information is unreliable and your partner denies it. That said, he has had other partners and could well be infected. (And so presumably have you.) Many people with HSV-2 are asymptomatic, so your lack of symptoms doesn't mean too much. However, relatively educated and knowledgeable people who are specifically worried about herpes probably notice at least subtle symptoms. So reading between the lines about your personality and articulate language, you might be more likely to recongize symptoms than the average person. In other words, in your case, lack of symptoms tends to favor the conclusion you don't have it.
Although I am unfamiliar with Canadian data, what you say about HSV-2 in black Canadians is consistent with the substantially higher prevalence of HSV-2 in African Americans than other race-ethnicity groups in the US. So from a statistical prediction perspective, your race tips the guesswork in the wrong direction.
Finally, in response to the follow-up comment below, most apparent yeast infections are just that. But if "bad" yeast infection means lots of pain and especially if there were open sores of your labia, vaginal area, etc, then it is possible that really was an initial genital herpes infection. On the other hand, if the yeast diagnosis was made by an experienced health care provider, it probably was accurate. That the problem cleared up with anti-yeast therapy doesn't mean much; initial herpes clears up on its own, so the improvement could have been coincidental.
So there you have it: more or less equally balanced reasons to think you do or do not have HSV-2, which explains my initial 50:50 guess. You can definitely expect a positive result for HSV-1, which is present in half the population (and in the US, probably 70-80% of 20-30 year old blacks). If positive for HSV-1, you won't know whether it dates back to an undiagnosed oral infection in childhood or, less likely, a genital infection. But genital herpes due to HSV-1 doesn't recur and is not commonly transmitted sexually, so it wouldn't matter much.
Please come back to the forum to post the blood test result. We can then discuss the implications. And by the way, I suggest your boyfriend also be tested -- although I can understand that the cost of testing might be a barrier.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
On one hand, you are the sex partner of someone who reportedly has genital herpes. On the other, the source of that information is unreliable and your partner denies it. That said, he has had other partners and could well be infected. (And so presumably have you.) Many people with HSV-2 are asymptomatic, so your lack of symptoms doesn't mean too much. However, relatively educated and knowledgeable people who are specifically worried about herpes probably notice at least subtle symptoms. So reading between the lines about your personality and articulate language, you might be more likely to recongize symptoms than the average person. In other words, in your case, lack of symptoms tends to favor the conclusion you don't have it.
Although I am unfamiliar with Canadian data, what you say about HSV-2 in black Canadians is consistent with the substantially higher prevalence of HSV-2 in African Americans than other race-ethnicity groups in the US. So from a statistical prediction perspective, your race tips the guesswork in the wrong direction.
Finally, in response to the follow-up comment below, most apparent yeast infections are just that. But if "bad" yeast infection means lots of pain and especially if there were open sores of your labia, vaginal area, etc, then it is possible that really was an initial genital herpes infection. On the other hand, if the yeast diagnosis was made by an experienced health care provider, it probably was accurate. That the problem cleared up with anti-yeast therapy doesn't mean much; initial herpes clears up on its own, so the improvement could have been coincidental.
So there you have it: more or less equally balanced reasons to think you do or do not have HSV-2, which explains my initial 50:50 guess. You can definitely expect a positive result for HSV-1, which is present in half the population (and in the US, probably 70-80% of 20-30 year old blacks). If positive for HSV-1, you won't know whether it dates back to an undiagnosed oral infection in childhood or, less likely, a genital infection. But genital herpes due to HSV-1 doesn't recur and is not commonly transmitted sexually, so it wouldn't matter much.
Please come back to the forum to post the blood test result. We can then discuss the implications. And by the way, I suggest your boyfriend also be tested -- although I can understand that the cost of testing might be a barrier.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
also i must add, that I had a really bad yeast infection and I used Canesten and it went away, after using the 6 day, but previoulsy the 3 day cream didn't work- can ccanesten rid herpes?
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.
