[Question #11744] Herpes 2 on Nipples

12 months ago

So I recently contracted HSV2 from my boyfriend a couple of weeks back. I noticed the sores but didn’t think much of them. A couple of days later I recklessly masturbated for my bf and autinoculated the herpes onto both of my nipples. I’ve been experiencing pain, the sores won’t go away despite being on antivirals for weeks. I fear I’ve spread it all over my body because I keep brushing against my nipples. I’ve been having prodromal symptoms on my arms, legs and scalp pretty intensely, and I can’t identify which bumps are or were herpetic

Also, my doctor told me I have a UTI, and BV. I recently got a PCR test on sores from both sites and both came back negative but the doctor didn’t seem all that skilled.

Are my nipples ruined forever? Is it possible I really did spread herpes all over my body? Can I virally shed from every infection site? Should I be afraid to hug my autoimmune mom? Can my bf still safely have oral sex with me? Will my future children always be at risk from me?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

12 months ago

I think it is really confusing because the swab test from your nipples was negative, yet you feel it was HSV 2. It is very unlikely that HSV 2 would go on for weeks. You would not transfer the virus to your arms, legs and scalp as those locations have skin that is too thick for virus to penetrate. I think if you have any other outbreaks, you should most certainly have them swab tested right away. If you are infected on your nipples, you should wear a bra when hugging your mom. If you are certain that your boyfriend has HSV 2 and gave it to you (I assume you had a swab test to know that in the beginning of all of this), then he is not at risk of acquiring this orally by giving you oral sex, no. Your children are not at risk of being infected from you as your lesions, if that's what they are, are in locations covered by clothing and HSV does not go through clothing.

terri

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12 months ago

Hello! I went to a third doctor and she said that didn't look herpetic, unless they were healed but i never experienced the popping or scabbing phase. I'm currently having a genital outbreak (3rd in one month) and I see what blisters and sores are supposed to look/feel like, she said it could be dermatitis and I think maybe mastitis? The bumps are still there, no longer hurting as much unless i irritate them, I have milk blebs as well, but no clue what to do about them or if it's a bacterial infection

The itching on my scalp is persistant but off and on, and flares up the most during the beginning days of an outbreak. I'm not quite sure what's happening, could oral HSV2 be a potential cause? I haven't developed sores on my face at all but I had bleeding gums during my first infection and face tingling and itching, sore throats in other outbreaks

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

12 months ago

It really wouldn't be possible to know if you have facial HSV without something there to swab test. So if something like that shows up, please have it swab tested right away.

If the lesions on your breast are HSV, they would like to recur, so keep an eye out for anything that looks abnormal and go in right away for a swab test if something shows up.

I'm glad the clinician that you saw didn't think that they were HSV.

How exactly were you diagnosed with HSV 2?

Terri

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12 months ago

Forgive me, I haven’t officially been diagnosed with HSV yet, I’ve had two blood tests (negative) but it’s only been one month. There were terrible sores a few days ago, (I think they’ve bursted now?) and a lot of pain down there as well as a few on my bottom and one big one on my thigh (also bursted). I can’t really see where they were now, but the pain is immense. I am on antivirals at the moment which is probably speeding the healing. My boyfriend tested positive for HSV2 via blood test 3 years ago but is asymptomatic

I also noticed I had white spots in my throat and sore throat and mild difficulty breathing/swallowing for two days but now the pain is gone completely and the spots are almost gone. During my first outbreak I saw some as well, but this one felt more like a sinus infection mixed with a very sore throat. Would throat herpes possibly cause head itching?

I wasn’t able to go get them tested as I am on a work trip unfortunately.

No new bumps have occurred on my nipples, but the ones that were there before are still exactly the same.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

12 months ago

well, I would agree with you that that all sounds like herpes, but your'e right, the blood test were done too soon. Sounds like you've been reading up on this topic. I would recommend that you repeat the blood test about 6 weeks out from the symptoms and see what you get. There are false positives on the HSV 2 blood test - plenty of them - so I'm wondering, since your boyfriend is asymptomatic, if that could be the case for him? Does he use condoms when having sex with you? If yes, that reduces transmission by 96% from men to women.

Herpes in your throat would not cause head itching, no

Herpes lesions would change over time, not stay exactly the same. My suspicion is that they are not HSV.

Terri

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