Ghsv1 or not?

[Unsure22]

Hi there

So last February about two weeks after unprotected sex, I noticed a few small bumps on my labia minor. One looked very much like a pimple and the other two were flat and had a little bit of white pus in them. There was redness as well. no discharge. No pain on urination. No burning or tingling.

I get the occasional labia pimple so I wasn’t too concerned and then I noticed it stated happened cyclically every months since that first episode last February, about a week before my period. I get a few red bumps. Sometimes they have a small white head. Sometimes they are flat. Sometimes they are more pronounced and red and sore. None of them every look like a topical ulcer or what I had researched ghsv1 to look like.

Also… I have had ohsv1 since I was a teenager. I have gotten tested twice over the last year. My results were:

6/17/20
Hsv1 51.5
Hsv2 0.50

1/3/21
Hsv1 47.20
Hsv2 0.49

It’s clear I have a well established hsv1. And am negative for hsv2.

I realize given that I have had ohsv1 since I was a teen (I’m 40 now) and given that I’m experiencing these “outbreaks” almost monthly, based on What I’ve read that ghsv1 is rare in people that already have ohsv1 and generally doesn’t reoccur frequently what the heck is going on?

I’m assuming my next step would be to get one of these sores swabbed but the never leak clear fluid, if there is anything it’s more of a yellow pus.

Should I assume these “outbreaks” are premenstrual irrigation or should I follow up and try to get a swab?

Thanks so much.

[Terri Warren]

It truly is rare to have a long history of oral HSV 1 and then to get genital HSV 1. is it impossible? No.
Would I recommend that you get one of those swab tested that are red and sore?
Absolutely. You could even give the pimple type ones swab tested as well. If you have insurance that will help with this and a cooperative clinician, this is the only way to know for sure if these represent true HSV lesions.
Let me know!

Terri

[Unsure22]

Thank you!

I will try to get swabbed next time I get a bump/ sore.

One more question… from what I read if it is ghvs1 it’s rare to get many outbreaks. If it ends up that I do have ghsv1 why am I getting outbreaks so frequently? Especially considering I haven’t had an oral outbreak in over a decade. Wouldn’t I also be getting oral outbreaks monthly as well?

[Terri Warren]

I don’t know why, if you have HSV 1 genitally, that you would have frequently recurring outbreaks. It is very likely that you would be getting outbreaks both orally and genitally if this was indeed HSV 1

Terri

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