Cut outside vagina

[beenta]

Hi,

I’ve been dealing with wondering if I have herpes for a few months now. I had my first cold sore a few months ago. I went to a clinic and got tested and came back positive for HSV1 but not HSV2. At the time I was concerned that I had infected myself genitally because I masturbated after touching my cold sore. I’ve read about autoinnoculation only occurring during a primary outbreak. Because that was my first cold sore, was that my primary outbreak?

Two days ago I touched my genital area and noticed the feeling of a cut and when I touched the cut it was very itchy. Today I went to see a doctor to have it examined and she said she couldn’t tell if it was herpes and that I should have come in sooner to have it swabbed.

I looked at the spot with a hand mirror when I first noticed it–I saw no blister, it was one spot, a little smaller than the size of an eraser head. It was red from me scratching it and there was a tiny bit of clear fluid covering it. Two days later it’s almost gone, you can barely even see it, and only if you’re inspecting very closely. It doesn’t itch or have any clear fluid on it anymore and it never hurt. I’m still worried it was herpes because of the clear fluid and the itching–I never felt a bump or saw a blister, but could I have popped it when I scratched it without knowing?

I’ve only had 2 partners ever, and the second partner and I had sex two weeks ago unprotected and one week ago protected, although there was plenty of rubbing against each other’s genital areas regardless of condom use. He has HSV1 and had a cold sore the second time we had sex, but we absolutely did not have oral sex and his mouth has never been in or around my genital area.

Was the cut outside my vagina herpes? Is there any way to tell at this point except for waiting to see if this happens again?

[Terri Warren]

When you say you went to a clinic and got tested and it was positive for HSV 1, was that a swab from the sore or a blood antibody test? If it was a blood antibody test and you went it very soon after you got the first cold sore, it is not a new infection (because you already had antibody in place). If all of that is true, then you don’t need to worry about autoinoculation to the genitals because you already have established infection. Please let me know the answer and we can work more on sorting this out.

Terri

[beenta]

It was a blood antibody test and yes, I got the test done very soon after my first cold sore, so I guess that means it was not a new infection.

In regards to the cut–I wanted to clarify, I had sex with this new partner a week ago. Then again Saturday. I noticed the cut Sunday night, it was on my outer labia, it was a very small gash and a little wet. It was itchy when I rubbed it and was sensitive to the touch Monday and Tuesday. I saw the doctor Wednesday morning and by Wednesday night/this morning it’s basically gone.

If this was a primary outbreak of HSV2 is it normal for it to be so short and mild? Could I have missed the blister or scratched it and popped it by accident? I didn’t test positive for HSV2 before having this new partner, so if it is HSV2 was it from him? The only other thing I could think of was that the cut was from sex the previous night, but if so, why would it itch?

I’m thinking it would be best to have my partner get tested to see if he has HSV2, which could help me figure out if he did pass something on to me. What do you think?

[Terri Warren]

You are correct that the HSV 1 was likely old infection.
You mentioned that you had been tested for HSV 1 and 2 and your HSV 2 was negative How long after your last sexual contact did you have that test done and have you had other partners between the testing and now?
If this is HSV 2 from the new partner you would have gotten it at the first encounter not the one on Saturday. That is a very mild presentation for first infection with HSV 2 but it is possible, yes. Have you talked with this person and asked them to be tested?

Whoops just read your last paragraph and I totally agree that he needs testing but do let me know about the timing of your testing also.

Terri

[beenta]

I got that HSV test done around June 2nd. There was a special occasion around that time so that’s why I remember the date. I was seeing someone new then, we started having sexual contact two weeks before I got the test done. In the two or three weeks we saw each other, we never had sexual intercourse, but he did perform oral sex and there was genital skin to skin contact. That partner told me he had gotten tested in March. He told me the only thing he’d come up positive for was HSV1, but I am not sure if he was referring to the test he got in March or if he was just speaking generally. I am also not sure if he had any partners between March and the time we got together in June. After I got that test done, the two of us stopped sexual contact, for reasons unrelated.

Besides this new partner I started seeing two weeks ago, I have had no partners between that testing and now.

Should I get another blood test? At this point it seems the only way to confirm if I have HSV2 or not. If I get one and my current partner gets one then would that be a good way to figure this out?

[Terri Warren]

I’m probably a little mixed up here. So you had a test in June and you had sex two weeks before then and not since? yes, I think you should have it done again. And it would be good if your partner had one two, yes. You’ve waited long enough since your contact with that other person to have an accurate test now and it will be good to know your current partners test as well.

Terri

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