[Question #4128] HSV2

84 months ago

Hello - I have a question about transmission of HSV2 that I’m really hoping you can help me with!

I dated a guy for 3 years (we can call him Guy 1) who told me when we started dating that he had HSV (didn’t specify if it was 1 or 2) and that he took Valtrex every day, which I think he did. I slept with him on Saturday, August 4, and we broke up that evening.

I then slept with my previous ex- boyfriend (we can call him Guy 2) on Wednesday, August 8. On Friday, August 10, Guy 2 told me that his penis had started itching Thursday night and Friday morning he was in pain and had a sore on his penis. He got tested that day, Friday, and was positive for HSV1, and the dr told him to come back in 3 weeks to get tested for HSV2, and that with the pain and sore, he would most likely be positive for HSV2. Guy 2 told me it must have come from me because he wasn’t with anyone for the 3 years that we were broken up.

I asked my dr to call in a blood test for me, which she did, and so I got my blood tested on Tuesday, August 14. I got my results today, August 16 and was negative for both HSV1 and HSV2. I’ve never had a breakout as far as I know, and still haven’t.

So my question is - is there any way that I gave HSV directly to Guy 2 from Guy 1 because I slept with them both in such a short time frame? And as kindof a follow up question, is it possible that I have HSV2 but it’s still in incubation and I should get tested again in 2 or 3 weeks?

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

84 months ago

It is possible that you gave HSV 1 to guy 2, and it may or may not be from guy 1. The IgG test misses 30% of HSV 1 infection so you could have been infected previously to even guy 1 OR guy 2 was previously infected with HSV 1 and didn't know it. A single sore suggests he may have been infected before. Were you the giver of oral sex to him? Have you ever had a cold sore in the past in your lifetime? To get greater clarity, you could ask guy 1 to find out if he has HSV 1 or HSV 2. Also, the symptoms of HSV 1 and 2 genitally are the same so for his doc to suggest because he has pain and a sore that he has HSV 2 instead of HSV 1 is ridiculous, especially since his swab test was positive for HSV 1. I don't think we are dealing with HSV 2 here.

You may wish to get a new test when more time has passed - perhaps 6 weeks.

Terri

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84 months ago

Hi Terri - thank you so much for your answer! I really appreciate your help as this has been very stressful!!

To answer your questions- yes I was a giver of oral sex to Guy 2 that evening, and we had vaginal sex as well.

I have had a couple of cold sores in my life, the most recent one was a few years ago- I’ve only had 2 or 3 that I can recall. I did not have an active cold sore that evening, but I did have surgery about 2 weeks prior so its quite possible that my immune system may been low.

Just a couple of follow up questions for you - I believe that Guy 2 has had a cold sore in the past, so he may have already had HSV1. If he did have it already, could HSV1 show up on his genitals if he had already had it on his lip?

Also, is it possible that if I infected him Wednesday evening, that he could have had itching Thursday evening and a sore appear Friday morning- just seems like that’s very fast so I wanted to run that by you!

Thank you!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

84 months ago

If guy 2 has ever had a cold sore in his lifetime, it is extremely unlikely that would acquire this genitally.

The incubation period for new infection is two -10 days. I agree that this is very soon but not impossible. Just very soon and unlikely

Terri

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84 months ago

Thank you Nurse Terri! I really appreciate this information!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

84 months ago

You are most welcome!

Terri

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