[Question #12463] HSV2 after 20 yrs of marriage
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7 months ago
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Dr Handsfield,
After 20 yrs of marriage, I have a positive vaginal HSV2 swab after seeing my gyn due to symptoms of stinging urination, vaginal swelling, and general discomfort. Gyn found a small open cut and swabbed. This came back positive for HSV2. I am monogamous and I believe my husband has been. Before marriage I was greatly concerned about avoiding STIs, requested he get a full screening before sex. He said he was clear. 2-3 years later I found his bloodwork and it said HSV2 positive. He said his first wife had herpes but he never got it. He said he didn’t share info to protect her privacy.
1. Is it possible to get infected now? Sex in my 50s is painful so could internal vaginal tears have contributed ? My recent blood IGG is neg for HSV so I know this is a first outbreak. Would my husband need physical symptoms to transmit or could asymptomatic shedding cause after 20+ yrs? Is swab typically 100%
2. I have twenty yr old daughters and worry about exposure . This initial outbreak went undetected for several weeks I’ve shared bathrooms and razors with them. The girls wear thong bathing suits with their buttcheeks exposed as we live in a warm climate. I wear swimsuits too and try to avoid sitting anywhere that might expose them. They borrow my clothes.
Pls advise.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
7 months ago
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Your husband would not need visible symptoms to transmit, no. We call that asymptomatic viral shedding. I would believe the swab given the symptoms AND the ability of the swab to type the lesion as well.
I probably would advise against sharing razors with your daughters and no worries about bathrooms. Your buttocks skin is too thick to shed virus unless you have an outbreak so no worries there.
Terri
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