[Question #2649] confused about what type of herpes i have
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42 months ago
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So i have 2 important questions to ask.
The first one is regarding herpes that i got in 2009 most probably. The 2 guys i had slept with both have oral hsv 1. From what i can remember the one guy had a oral outbreak the day we had sex so he didnt kiss me and he has never went down on me, though touched my vagina and anus with his fingers (only the other guy has given me oral sex but i have never seen any blister at that time ) and i think a few days or a week after this I got my primary outbreak which was a living hell. Couldnt pee, vaginal discharge, couldnt walk, full of rash , cant recall blisters but i guess i had it. But basically my vagina looked very weird, deformed.
When i finally went to the GYN to check out my poor vagina he couldnt at all tell what i had even if i was full of sores and in a lot of pain, so I had to take a blood test a few weeks later. The blood test said i had neither hsv 1 or 2 which i was relieved to hear. What did come back positive was gardnerella vaginalis so i got 7 pills to get rid of that at least. So since that outbreak ive had a very small and mild blister just above my buttcrack, just once a year and mostly when i have shaved. It has never really bothered me. So for many years i had like that, but this year i had 3 outbreaks since january. This makes me confused because I have thought i have hsv 1 for all those years but now im not sure at all.
So what do you think ??
Second question is, since both guys have oral hsv 1, can they also have genital hsv 2?? For me it sounds weird but i guess it could be possible? I thought oral hsv 1 could at least give you a little immunity. The reason I ask is of course because Im concidering the possibility of my herpes to be hsv 2.
So what do you think ??
Second question is, since both guys have oral hsv 1, can they also have genital hsv 2?? For me it sounds weird but i guess it could be possible? I thought oral hsv 1 could at least give you a little immunity. The reason I ask is of course because Im concidering the possibility of my herpes to be hsv 2.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
42 months ago
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I think you probably do have herpes genitally from your description, but it would be most helpful if, when you get a blister, you have it swab tested and if positive, get it typed (HSV 1 or 2).
Also, an antibody test with new infection would certainly be negative as your body has not yet had time to make antibody in response to the virus. What might be useful here is to repeat the IgG test (do you know if that is what was done?) and if it is now positive for a type that was previously negative, you could logically make the assumption that you had new infection when you had the first antibody test.
You ask about immunity that HSV 1 gives you - are you saying that you already have HSV 1 when this happened? I'm confused. If a person only has HSV 1, they cannot transmit it as HSV 2, if that's what you are asking.
Terri
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Also, an antibody test with new infection would certainly be negative as your body has not yet had time to make antibody in response to the virus. What might be useful here is to repeat the IgG test (do you know if that is what was done?) and if it is now positive for a type that was previously negative, you could logically make the assumption that you had new infection when you had the first antibody test.
You ask about immunity that HSV 1 gives you - are you saying that you already have HSV 1 when this happened? I'm confused. If a person only has HSV 1, they cannot transmit it as HSV 2, if that's what you are asking.
Terri
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41 months ago
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Hello and thanks for your reply.
I dont know if that was what the testt was, all i remember is that it was a type specific blood test that showed negative for both hsv 1 and 2. I guess the good news is that i think i know who passed it on to me since that infection must have been new at the time.
What i meant regarding hsv 2 genitally was , if the guy i slept with have oral herpes (hsv 1) could he also be infected with hsv 2 genitally? Is it common or does having hsv 1 orally give you some type of immunity against genital hsv 2?
The reason i ask is because a few days before my primary genital outbreak the guy with oral hsv 1 vhad an active lesion on his upper lip, We never kissed and he didnt go down on me so i have been so confused and dont really understand how he infected me "downstairs". So sometimes i wonder if he could have given hsv 1 somehow from his fingers by touching his lip and then my genitals or if he in fact also had genital hsv 2.
The reason i ask is because a few days before my primary genital outbreak the guy with oral hsv 1 vhad an active lesion on his upper lip, We never kissed and he didnt go down on me so i have been so confused and dont really understand how he infected me "downstairs". So sometimes i wonder if he could have given hsv 1 somehow from his fingers by touching his lip and then my genitals or if he in fact also had genital hsv 2.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
41 months ago
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I suppose the test could have missed HSV 2 - it misses 8% of HSV 2 and 30% of HSV 1. The herpes western blot would clarify that for you.
And yes, the person with HSV 1 could have also had HSV 2 but the method of transmission that you suggest seems extremely unlikely to me. So did you have intercourse with him? And a condom was used or not? You might have said but I don't see it.
Terri
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And yes, the person with HSV 1 could have also had HSV 2 but the method of transmission that you suggest seems extremely unlikely to me. So did you have intercourse with him? And a condom was used or not? You might have said but I don't see it.
Terri
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41 months ago
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Yes I did have intercourse without a condom but even if it is hsv 2 I am confused because I had one severe initial ob and after that for years just one small dot far above anus once a year if even that . This year I had 3 ob so far but I'm having to cope with my grandmas death,my mother's depression and stress at work so that's maybe why . But I heard that hsv 2 reoccurs more frequently and with painful lesions and I for 7 years had extremely mild ob.s once a year, one tiny tiny lesion that doesn't even bother me. Only this year it came 3 times and this made me wonder which type I have. I'm extremely confused. I live in Sweden and they won't let me come and take a swab or test unless I have an active lesion (and if I'm (un)lucky it might take months... but in the meantime I'm so scared I might infect my boyfriend if it's in fact hsv 2.
Does taking valtrex reduce virus levels?
What do you think? Hsv 1 or 2? Keep in mind both guys I had had oral hsv 1. Isn't it more likely I catched hsv 1 than 2?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
41 months ago
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I think HSV 2 but only testing is going to tell for certain. People with HSV 2 can have zero outbreaks per year or 10 - it's all over the place honestly.
So to be sure I have this clear - you had unprotected intercourse with someone and a few days later had a horrific outbreak but you think maybe it is HSV 1 because he had oral herpes but did not give you oral sex? Do I have that right?
Terri
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So to be sure I have this clear - you had unprotected intercourse with someone and a few days later had a horrific outbreak but you think maybe it is HSV 1 because he had oral herpes but did not give you oral sex? Do I have that right?
Terri
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