[Question #739] Genital Herpes
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101 months ago
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I recently submitted a question regarding having been diagnosed with herpes virus.
Dr. Warren replied and in her reply, she asked if I had HSV1
or HSV2. I mistakenly typed HSV1, but that is the oral virus. I have HSV2,
the genital virus. So would the answer that I received for the first question
change or stay the same in this case?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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So Yvette, these two viruses can live in either place - the location of the infection does not determine the type. So that means that HSV 1 can live in the genital area. HSV 2 is rarely oral. These two viruses are very different in the genital area. Are you sure that you have HSV 2? The virus can be typed either by a swab test or an antibody test.
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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I will have to contact my doctor to get a copy of the results. I will, then, be able to supply you the correct type. I will have a reply for you tomorrow.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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Sounds good, Yvette! We will be flying internationally at some point tomorrow but will try to get to this ASAP.
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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I have retrieved my results and it is confirmed that I have HSV2.
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101 months ago
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I, also, submitted a second question that I do not see under the 'Submitted Questions' tab. It was regarding having sexual intercourse with my husband.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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I'm not sure where that other question went, Yvette. The risk of you transmitted HSV 2 to your husband through intercourse is certainly higher than it would be if you had HSV 1 instead. Has your husband been tested to determine that he is not infected with HSV 2?
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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Yes, Dr. Warren, my husband has been test and was diagnosed with HSV 1 and 2. My second question to this thread was about having sexual relations with or without protection.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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If your husband and you both have HSV 2, it is not necessarily to have any protection with intercourse - you are quite free to have sex as you wish now, without worry. Is that your question?
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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Dr. Warren thank you for answering my second question...but I am waiting for your reply to the first initial question that I asked:.. Dr. Warren asked if I had HSV1 or HSV2. I have HSV2...would the answer that I received for the first question change or stay the same in this case?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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I'm not sure I understand exactly what you are asking me here. If you have HSV 2 and your husband does also, there is no worry about transmission. If you only had HSV 1 and he had HSV 2, then you would be vulnerable to his HSV 2 but as I understand your question, he also has HSV 2. Please let me know if I am not interpreting your question correctly.
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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Yes, you answered my second question. I am waiting for a response to my first question in this thread--remember I had to get the result to my test that was done, then I answered your question about which virus I actually had--so now I am waiting for your reply to the question, "can the HSV2 virus lay dormant for more than 11 years?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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aaaah, OK, yes, the herpes virus can remain dormant (and by that I mean no symptoms - what do you mean?) for 11 years and then become active. I have actually seen this many times. That is a different question though than can someone be infected for years and test repeatedly negative and then all of a sudden test positive. With the first, you are infected for years (and would test positive by blood test if you had one done) but may not have symptoms at all for a long time. On the other hand, it is not likely that you would be infected for many years, continually test negative by IgG blood antibody test and then all of a sudden test positive by antibody test. Do you see the distinction I am making there?
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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Dr. Warren, below is the partial statement/question from the first paid question that I asked:
...My husband and I have been married for 11 years and we've been faithful to each other. We've known each other for over 20 years. During the time that we weren't married I had unprotected relations with other men. Is it possible for the virus to lay dormant over 11 years?
You, then, asked what type we had--I, mistakenly, said that I had HSV1. Then I wrote back with the correct type, HSV2. You explained the difference. Next, I paid for the second question (the partial below) to be answered:
...I mistakenly typed HSV1, ...I have HSV2,... So would the answer that I received for the first (paid) question change or stay the same in this case?
And to comment on your last reply, when I say dormant--I mean no symptoms or outbreaks diagnosed by any doctors in my life time--That is why the recent outbreak is a shock to me. I have never been tested (by blood or swab tests) for herpes before this outbreak.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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Yes, it is certainly possible to have herpes for many many years before having a recognized outbreak. Yes. I have seen this many times, as a matter of fact. And we most often don't know why the virus is quiet for years and then starts to act up = likely something to do with your own immune response rather than something about the virus itself.
Terri
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Terri
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101 months ago
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Well, Dr. Warren, if you recall in my first initial paid question, I mentioned that I was sick for almost two months--so that could account for my immune system to be very low. Thank you for your time and expertise.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
101 months ago
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Yes, that makes sense, Yvette, complete sense.
Terri
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Terri
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