JudyW99

Hi,

I was diagnosed with HSV2 in April 2007. I had a blood test in April 2005 and I was clear for all STD/STIs (including HSV2).

Between April 2005 and April 2007 I slept with one man. Soon after our relationship became sexual (unprotected sex at his insistence - stupid me) I thought I had an ingrown hair. The sore came up about 2-3 weeks (max) from the time we first had sex. He checked the 'ingrown hair' and said it was fine.

The 'ingrown hair' came back a couple more times. We broke up in March 2007. The 'ingrown hair' came back when I had a really bad cold a few weeks later. I had the sore swabbed and the test came back as positive for HSV2.

I know that I did not have HSV2 in April 2005 (clear blood test). I now have HSV2 (blood test and swab). I only slept with this one guy between the clear test in April 2005 and the first outbreak in September/October 2006. I had the swab and blood test in April 2007. Before this partner I had no symptoms whatsoever.

I did the right thing and rang him to tell him that he should get tested. He didn't return my call for 3 weeks. He then waited 2 weeks to get a blood test (well, he said he got a blood test). Then he waited 4 weeks to get his results. He then sent me an email. I have inserted the part about his tests ...

Re the blood tests, what they ran was an HSV-1 and HSV-2 serology. This means that they test to see if my blood has shown either recent, or old exposure to those two viruses. I’m not sure how they do this, something to do with antibodies that are developed and stored in the blood I believe. What my test showed was that in the distant past (distant could be anytime from when I was born until 6 to 12 months ago) I have had contact with both of those viruses. The tests also show no recent activity of either of the viruses. I asked what “recent” was and there’s no definitive time, but generally speaking within the last 6 to 12 months. I again related our experience and the Doctor said what this means is that firstly, I’ve not contracted the virus recently through your outbreak. He said it also means that it’s highly unlikely that you would have contracted it through me, through shedding, or anything similar.

If his blood has developed antibodies to HSV2, doesn't this mean that he has HSV2?
If I had no symptoms until I had sex with him, and if he is the only person that I had sex with since my clear HSV2 blood test in 2005, doesn't that mean that I got it from him?

I know that it makes no difference if it was him who gave me genital herpes. But I am really angry that he refuses to accept responsibility, and that he is probably lying through his teeth. I also suspect that he will continue to insist on unprotected sex and pass the virus on to more unsuspecting women.

Please help me make some sense of this. I think I would feel better if he just accepted the facts, and said sorry.

I have had at least 4 or 5 outbreaks in 6 months. This one is really bad because I had a gastro infection as well. I have never been so rundown in my life and I keep getting sick, and I keep getting outbreaks.

Please help.