I am a 48 year old female and was recently diagnosed with HSV 2 by swab culture.  A few months prior to the swab culture, I took a serology test on which I tested negative for HSV 2.  Several weeks before the the serology test and again after the test, I had unprotected sex.  However remote the possibility, could I have been infected with HSV 2 for many years and my antibodies waned over time resulting in a negative serology test?  I am also wondering if lesions appear in the same location on the genitals during recurrent outbreaks?  And do I need to worry about them getting infected if I go swimming in a natural body of water or some other activity like that?  Is it possible for HSV 2 lesions to appear anywhere else on the body?

So your situation is a little complicated.  If you took the serology test too soon after an unprotected intercourse that resulted in an infection, the serology could be falsely negative.  Also, the IgG test for HSV 2 misses 8% of HSV 2 infections.  Either of those are possibilities about why the serology test could have been falsely negative.  But the other possibility is that you had unprotected sex after the serology test and you go infected after that.  ---

Thank you so much for that information!  I experienced what I believe was the prodome on the 6th of the month and began feeling real discomfort on the 9th.  Prior to that, there was unprotected sex on the 3rd as well as 5.5 weeks prior to the prodome (all contact with the same person).  I visited the doctor on the 12th and also had bacterial vaginosis at that time.  I could feel my symptoms improving by the 12th and they were 90% resolved by the 16th without use of any medications.  The doctor briefly mentioned that the BV could have brought on the outbreak or vice versa.

well, if it was new, it was the person from the 3rd but if it was a recurrence, it could have been from any person you have had unprotected sex with in the past.---

I had 2 lesions just inside the vagina which is the area that was swabbed.  I could see them upon self examination.  I had 2 other bumps on my labia, but they were only mildly sore and did not contain any fluid so I'm not sure if they were something else.  I have experienced bumps like these in the past, but they had mostly gone away by the time I visited the doctor.  During the outbreak I felt a little run down, but generally fine other than the discomfort in my genital area.  The worst part was the pain during urination.  I did have patches of sensitive skin (similar to when you get the flu or a cold) that over the course of a few days moved from my hip/thigh area to my torso and up to my chest before completely going away.  My serology was positive for HSV1 at 3.54.  I have never had a cold sore.  This happened in October. 

Well, you know for sure that you have HSV 2 infection due to the lesions that swab tested positive for HSV 2.  ---