Accurate Swab and Could it be something else

[MagicBanana]

Hi Terri,
For context, I was last in an exclusive monogamous relationship in September 2022. I have not had any sexual contact since that relationship ended. In 28 January 2023, I woke up with a pimple my on labia. The irritation on my genitals was quite weird in appearance and my provider agreed. They were 4-5 grey in color (kinda big) pimple-like bumbs that did not hurt. Only one bump that did hurt was the one on my left labia that burst/opened after a few days. That one hurt with urination. These bumps were not small similar to the images on the internet but, more like white-head pimples but with grey color and less sensitive to popping (if that makes sense)

On January 29 I went to the urgent care and there they prescribed me valacyclovir. I took that until 3 Friday. The sores began to heal. That same Friday, I got swabbed for HSV but, the test came back negative for both types.

I’m convinced it is HSV but, the swab test was messed up from treatment but, I am confused by a few things and do not know how to proceed. I had a Western Blot before the start of my most previous relationship and HSV1/2 were both negative so I am certain I did not have HSV before contact with my most recent partner. I got the Western Blot because my OB/GYN did so accidentally and gave me a false positive result; the Western Blot was used for clarity. My previous partner has not expressed any symptoms and could not receive a serology test because the policy where he went is to not test unless you express symptoms.

So my question Terri, is could this be anything else (e.g. molluscum contagiosum) Is it possible the swab test is inaccurate? Also if it is HSV wouldn’t the first outbreak happening 3 months (almost 4 months) later make any sense? That seems like a really long time from exposure. I can’t get a serology because those don’t work on me from previous experience.

[Terri Warren]

I must confess to feeling quite saddened by your post because it was managed badly. You should’ve had a swab test of the bumps from the first provider that saw you. Antiviral medicine should not have been prescribed until a swab test was completed. The bumps that you described are very concerning to me, and I’m wondering if you’ve done any follow-up IgG testing at all. Do you think that your previous partner would be willing to get an IgG test?

Terri

[MagicBanana]

I asked my previous partner and he made an attempt but does not have symptoms so the provider refused to test him. I asked him to please go again and he agreed but he thinks it’s weird that I am asking him 1) I have a negative result and 2) the provider did not see it necessary to test him

[Terri Warren]

Of course he could order this test on his own if he wanted to – he doesn’t need a provider to order an IgG test. But apparently he doesn’t want to. I guess you will have to follow up with your own testing, without his help?

Terri

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