Hi everyone I'm new here, and I have a few questions if you wouldn't mind. First, I'll give you my little story so you know where I'm coming from. I was diagnosed with genital hsv 2 on 3 July 2006. It totally caught me by surprise because I've only slept with like 7 women and only two of those were unprotected (both of which were the only ones remotely close to my first ob). The most recent girl I was with was in late May, and the other girl was sometime around the March/April time frame. Anyway, I called them both immediately after being diagnosed by the doctor (ob was on the inside of my thigh--nothing anywhere else). I just found out yesterday that both of them tested negative. So now I am really stumped. The first outbreak is supposed to show up within a matter of days--not months or years! So now I am wondering if I should go back and get confirmation with a blood test or maybe still a swab (there is still a little "scarring" from the outbreak--is this normal 2 months later?). I haven't had an ob since I was intially diagnosed back in July. Does any of this sound right to you? I mean I would have to go back to maybe a little after Christmas of last year for the last girl I was with. And I used protection with the rest of them so it seems doubly unlikely (albeit still possible) that I got it from them. And now I'm wondering if it is possible that I got it from shaking hands with someone or something random like that. Anyway, I know I'm kind of ranting but I'm pretty confused. I have made a list of questions that I would like answered if at all possible:


Since I have genital herpes (hsv 2), can i transmit my herpes to my partner through receiving oral sex?

How long should primary outbreak last/take to heal completely? Like I said there's still a little evidence of the ob left and it's been over two months.

Should I get tested to confirm initial diagnosis? If so, what type of test? Should I test for something else that it might be? I'm pretty sure it's herpes because the doctor seemed certain (but they always seem certain even when they're clueless). The combination of a supposed long period of time (many months/possibly years) between infection and first ob and location of ob, not to mention it's still not healed just all add up to make this seem a little off. I have heard of people every once in a while experiencing one of these rarities but it seems too unlikely to me. But I think it's more likely that I would just like to entertain the idea that I'm not infected, even though I know I am :( .

How can i tell when its latent or shedding? When is it safe to have sex? How much do condoms help?

Can i still have kids? Whats the risk of spreading to partner/kids? Is a C-Section absolutely necessary to avoid giving it to the child assuming the woman is infected? I am under the impression that once you have a C section you should not have any more kids. I would like more than one so this could be a huge problem for me.

My doctor prescribed acyclovir. Do i just keep taking it forever or only during ob's? Is it safe (read a post about it possibly affecting eye sight. Given my profession this is a show stopper if at all substantiated).

I hear there's no cure but has any progress been made with the vaccine for women? I read an article about it but it was dated 2000 and it made some promising remarks. I'd like to look into it further, especially following the sucesful release of the new hpv vaccine.


Okay that's it. Thanks for the help.

First of all, how were you diagnosed? A visual diagnosis is not reliable if you ask me...have the IgG blood test done. As far as the condom issue goes, it's much easier for a man to catch herpes from an infected woman because usually the virus is active around the pubic/vulva/vagina area and the condom doesn't keep that area of a woman from coming into contact with you. For a man with herpes, usually the condom covers the lesion keeping it from contacting the woman's skin. Unless you are troubled by constant OBs, I wouldn't take a prescription drug. That's just my humble opinion. Other's live for scripts but that's not me. I personally feel that it's not helping a thing...when they come up with a script that cures herpes...bring it on but until then, I'll be darned if I'm going to take a drug for life.

First of all, how were you diagnosed? A visual diagnosis is not reliable if you ask me...have the IgG blood test done. As far as the condom issue goes, it's much easier for a man to catch herpes from an infected woman because usually the virus is active around the pubic/vulva/vagina area and the condom doesn't keep that area of a woman from coming into contact with you. For a man with herpes, usually the condom covers the lesion keeping it from contacting the woman's skin. Unless you are troubled by constant OBs, I wouldn't take a prescription drug. That's just my humble opinion. Other's live for scripts but that's not me. I personally feel that it's not helping a thing...when they come up with a script that cures herpes...bring it on but until then, I'll be darned if I'm going to take a drug for life.

keepsgoin,

Thank you for your replying. The doctor took one look at it (I don't even think I had my pants down to my knees yet :rolleyes: ) and said "Well, that's herpes [you idiot]." I was surprised he diagnosed me so quickly (althought I must admit I don't know what else it could be) and a little dissappointed he didn't take more time with me. I even asked him if I should get a blood/swab test done and he told me I could waste the time but it was definitely hsv 2. I think I'll go back and ask for the blood test you specified just to be sure. Couldn't hurt anything, right? As for the acyclovir, I think I have two refills left after this one (each one lasts about 10 days), so i guess I'll finish them out and then just rely on the natural remedies. Could you speak to the rest of my questions? I'm trying to figure out how I can live with this and not hate myself at the end of the day for giving it to someone.

I went in today to get my bloodwork done. I told the doctor that the only two women I had been with recently--as in last 6 months from primary outbreak in july--(and consequently the only two I had ever had unprotected sex with) both came up negative and were showing no symptoms. He said that was way out of the ordinary. He also said that what I have on the inside of my thigh now is scar tissue from the outbreak. I'm pissed cause now I'm going to have this lame *** little scar there forever??!! And everything I read said it wasn't supposed to scar. But he said it didn't look like it was active. So I'm going to wait 2 weeks and they'll get back to me. He said it might be herpes zoster (shingles?) but it was highly unlikely in someone my age (21). So I guess I still have it. But this is lame I feel unlucky because if I got it from one of the like 5 chicks I was with before the two I originally thought gave it to me, then I used a condom each time. What are the odds of that?

So now I'm worried that I will give it to someone even if I wear a condom. They also told me to stop taking the acyclovir. So I guess I'm wondering what the odds are of transmitting hsv2 if I used a condom and I was showing no signs of an outbreak? And I guess oral sex is out of the question now? And finally, is it possible to tell when the virus is shedding so I don't have sex when I can transmit it? Please help...I don't want to give this to anybody! Thanks!

A visual diagnosis is incorrect (either way) 30% of the time. Hopefully your doctor knows the proper blood test to order, which is an IgG type specific blood test. HerpeSelect is the most common. The proper waiting period is at least 12-16 weeks post last possible exposure before getting blood tested.

If your doctor ordered an IgM test, toss out those results (what ever they are) and make him pay for it. They're worthless and a waste of time/money. They can not determine a recent or preexisting condition or even if you have the virus.

60-80% of the population has HSV1, oral herpes, also know as coldsores or fever blisters. 1 in 4 adults has genital herpes, yet 90% don't know it cause the symptoms are so mild they go unnoticed or missed diagnosed. So, the next person you see, talk to, kiss, date, has a 25% chance of having genital herpes.

Get hard copies of your test results so you can post them here if you have questions about the test or the results.

This is a very common virus with a bad rap!

Thank you for the help...he ordered both the igm and igg test...I made sure to request the igg. They said I should know in 2 weeks. The outbreak happened in late june and the latest I could have been exposed was late may, so the results should be accurate. I guess I will post here when I find out. Could you answer some of my other questions? I'm concerned about how this could affect my relationship...don't wanna give it to her...

Wellthissux - yes it does! If your test comes back positive and you want to talk about it let me know. My biggest problem is not my own health but the fear of transmitting it to someone else but still maintaining and having a safe sex life.

I might try and look into a couple of those vaccine trials. Is anyone here invovled with that?

I just found out yesterday that both of them tested negative. So now I am really stumped.

You could have gotten it from the girls you had protected sex with. A condom will not totally reduce your risk. So it may not have been from one of the two you are thinking.

Since I have genital herpes (hsv 2), can i transmit my herpes to my partner through receiving oral sex?

Yes.

How long should primary outbreak last/take to heal completely? Like I said there's still a little evidence of the ob left and it's been over two months.

I think that depends on the person.

Can i still have kids? Whats the risk of spreading to partner/kids? Is a C-Section absolutely necessary to avoid giving it to the child assuming the woman is infected? I am under the impression that once you have a C section you should not have any more kids. I would like more than one so this could be a huge problem for me.

You can still have kids, and vaginal deliveries are possible if she is free of outbreaks. You can certainly have more kids after a c-section.

Rawdeal (it def is!)

Thanks for answering some of my questions. I guess all that is left to do now is wait for the test results. This is not sweet...

Condoms aren't the be all and end all....I got H using a condom.

As for can you have a baby? I conceived my child two months after I was diagnosed with H. If there are no signs of an outbreak you can give birth vaginally. I did and my babe was perfectly healthy. If you have ANY signs of an OB they will do a C-section as otherwise babe could be born blind.

I contracted H 13 years ago. I was one that had ob's often. My dr. told me the next time I became pregnant he would deliver by c-section and I agreed. I wouldn't take a chance. Not only can a baby become blind, they can also have mental retardation and even die. I don't know if it's true when giving birth, but I've read that you're most contagious right before you have an ob.

My initial ob took 3 weeks to heal. It's easier on guys as they don't have the vaginal moisture us women do. Dryness helps to clear it up faster. Heck, I've even used a blow dryer on my genital area after a shower.

Just on your comment below -

"The first outbreak is supposed to show up within a matter of days--not months or years!"

I have been with my boyfriend for 2 years, and I have just had my first OB about a month ago. My boyfriend got tested and he is negative, which means i got mine probably from a guy i slept with 2 years ago - and only just got my first OB.

That is true you actualy can go years before even the first outbreak and sometimes the person has had some outbreaks but they were so miniscule that they went unnoticed or brushed off as something else....my doctor told me this.