[Question #10819] Should I be concerned about HSV?
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19 months ago
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About 14 weeks ago I received unprotected oral sex. Seemingly hours after I was stressed about the experience. Since then (for 14 weeks) I have had nerve pain, genital and groin burning, but no apparent sores. I tested for HSV two weeks after exposure and tested positive for HSV1 with an IGG of 8, but I’ve had cold sores for 15 years.
Most recently, I tested negative for HSV2 at 13.5 weeks. I also had the area swabbed when I had a weird hair follicle/scratch, and it came back negative.
Can I believe at this point I don’t have genital HSV and should not be concerned despite odd nerve pain and genital burning? It seems I’ve been exhaustive with tests and oral sex would only pose a risk for HSV1 which I already have. Thank you!
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
19 months ago
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The herpes that gets transmitted to someone's genital from receiving oral sex is HSV 1, the vast majority of the time. Not HSV 2 because oral HSV 2 is rare and when it is there, it is rarely shed.
And once someone has HSV 1 in one location (in your case, mouth), it extremely likely that someone would get it in a new location on their body (in this case, genitals).
What I'm saying is that I think is isn't at all likely that you would get genital HSV infection from receiving oral sex when you already have oral cold sores (HSV 1).
Does that make sense to you? Please let me know what questions you have about this situation, OK?
Terri
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19 months ago
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Yes it does make sense, I just wanted to also know if the testing I’ve done seems definitive, including the PCR swab that was negative.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
19 months ago
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The igG test for HSV 2 picks up 92% of HSV 2 infection, as compared to the western blot.
Since we don't have a swab test that is better than the PCR, we have nothing to compare that to so I can't tell you how accurate that likely is.
Terri
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19 months ago
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I understand, just to clarify my question is if I was your patient with the above facts: no typical sores, months of nerve pain, negative blood test at 13.5 weeks, and negative swab of the area, oral sex, already having HSV1, would you tell me to continue living my life as opposed to continue worrying about this?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
19 months ago
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I would tell you very gently to try to stop your worry, that you can be very confident with the IgG results
Terri
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