[Question #6124] Just find out have HSV-2

70 months ago

Hi,

I am a 48 year old male and found out 2 weeks ago that I was HSV-2 positive. I am HSV-1 negative and have

no exposure to it at all. Not sure if I had an outbreak or not as I went to the doctor a few days after a spot appeared

and they couldn’t tell what it was at the time.

My partner for almost three years is a 41 year old female and found out about two years ago she had HSV-2.

She had no symptoms previously, so was shocked when she went to the doctor for a rash to find out she had it.

Of course I was looked at for blame, but I got tested and was negative on all STD tests. We took precautions

after that and were careful and aware of the risks and accepted them as we plan to have a long life together.

Questions:

1. Will my outbreak always be in the initial spot or can future outbreaks be in different areas?

2. Her outbreak is usually above her right butt cheek. Since I already have it, can contact with this spot on

her spread it to different places on me and vice versa for her?

3. Is there any risk we can spread it to our mouth or face through oral sex with each other now that we both have it?

4. What are the additional risks of two people with HSV-2 having unprotected sex?

5. Can someone get the virus if I don’t realize I touched an infected area and touch someone else or something like a doorknob or toilet seat?

6. I was a 10.10 on the IGg test but negative on the IGm test. Should I get retested?

Confused and alittle scared but dealing with it.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

70 months ago

1. Will my outbreak always be in the initial spot or can future outbreaks be in different areas?

Outbreaks could be anywhere in the boxer shorts area in the future.

2. Her outbreak is usually above her right butt cheek. Since I already have it, can contact with this spot on

her spread it to different places on me and vice versa for her?

No, each of your own immune systems will handle this in their own way.

3. Is there any risk we can spread it to our mouth or face through oral sex with each other now that we both have it?

The chance of that is very low indeed, after your infection is well established, which it is with this index value.

4. What are the additional risks of two people with HSV-2 having unprotected sex?

None

5. Can someone get the virus if I don’t realize I touched an infected area and touch someone else or something like a doorknob or toilet seat?

6. I was a 10.10 on the IGg test but negative on the IGm test. Should I get retested?

No need to be retested, no. You are certainly infected. And I have no idea how this turned blue.

Terri

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70 months ago

Thank you for your responses!

Is the additional risk none also if in the future I have unprotected sex with a new partner that also has HSV-2? Is the virus me and my current partner have unique to us in anyway?

I not sure what the IGg 10.10 result means in terms of how high the number is and the range. Can you explain it to me?

I know from reading your answers that a person with HSV-1 has a lower chance of getting HSV-2. Is the reverse also true?

Thanks again!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

70 months ago

The index value of 10 simply means that you have a well established HSV 2 infection.

I don't believe that I ever said a person with HSV 1 has a lower chance of acquiring HSV 2. That isn't true. What is true is that a person with HSV 2 will virtually never get HSV 1 subsequently.

If both people have HSV 2, we are not concerned about transmission between these two people.

Terri

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70 months ago

Hi Terri,

Just letting all that sink in before I ask my final question. It's hard to conceive that anyone I might date in the future would would to risk being with me and contracting HSV-2. It's somewhat depressing to think about even though I'm currently in a relationship. It's not even something I feel I can share with my closest friends or family members. I find that I'm coping well overall with this, but my mind does tend to wonder and think about it and of course I get a little down and regrets.

So sometimes I feel like a itchy burning sensation in my boxer area and on my penis area as well, but no sign of outbreak anywhere. Could this just be in my imagination or can it be real?

Finally, so if a might have a small lesion on my penis and have unprotected sex with my HSV-2 partner, there is no additional risks for each of us. Is this correct.

Thanks for your patience and guidance.

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

70 months ago

I know it's a challenging shift to make and over time, I promise it will get easier.

I think the itching is likely completely normal and because of your diagnosis, you are observing everything very closely and things that you would never have thought about, now are viewed as meaningful.

As long as you are having sex with someone who is also HSV 2, there is no risk of transmission. You're good to go!

It's completely normal to feel down about this diagnosis and right now, you think about it a lot, but in the future, I think you will think about it far less.

Terri

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