Help identifying Outbreaks

[somanyquestions224]

Hi Terri,

For background: I’ve had HSV1 for 10+years. I’ve never had a coldsore.

My testing and sexual timeline is as follows:

3/8/22 – I tested negative for HSV2 >3months after my last partner.
6/5/22-7/20/22 – New sexual partner A (Mostly protected sex but 3 times without. No symptoms)
8/9/22 – I tested negative for HSV2 ~3 weeks after our last sexual encounter (He tested negative at the end of August)
8/27/22-9/20/22 – New sexual partner B (Used condoms every time. No symptoms. He’s awaiting results currently)
12/28/22 – I tested positive for HSV2

My ob-gyn’s lab used a Diasorin Liaison IGG type specific test. It came back positive for HSV2 but the lab’s policy doesn’t show index scores, nor do they do confirmation testing. I am getting a HerpesSelect IGG test so I can understand my index score and determine if I’ll do the WB. Before my diagnosis, I had no symptoms. I check myself pretty regularly and haven’t noticed anything odd BUT admittedly, I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for.

I have bad anxiety so since the diagnosis, I’ve started hyper-focusing on EVERYTHING my body does. A little itch, a bump or chafing has sent me down many a spiral. I am hoping you can help me identify what might be an OB.

My symptoms
1. An irritation in my left groin. Feels like chafing. No bumps, rashes or bumps are present after 2 weeks.

2. One bump on my left labia majora. It’s about 1. millimeter in diameter and has a yellow-ish pus. It’s been here for a week with no itch, irritation, or growth. I went to the urgent care and the Dr. said it looked like an infected hair follicle but washing with hibiclens hasn’t helped it shrink.

3. One bump (smaller than the 1 mentioned before) on the interior of my labia minora near my vaginal opening. It looked red with flash but skin colored without. Not itchy or painful. It appeared on the last day my period. The following day it was smaller and almost undetectable. Within 48 hours it was gone.

Any sound like an OB?

[somanyquestions224]

^the third bump is on the RIGHT side near my vaginal opening.

[somanyquestions224]

just got word that “sexual partner B” has tested negative. Awaiting new results from Quest which uses the Herpeselect ELISA. I had somewhat accepted that I have a true positive but with this new information, I’m really unsure what to think.

[somanyquestions224]

Hi Terri,

Can I change my question? I just got my results back from Quest and this was the result

1/10/23 – HerpesSelect IgG HSV1 – 38.20
1/10/23 – HerpesSelect IgG HSV2 – 1.53

That positive HSV2 test reflexed to the inhibition assay. When they repeated the test it was negative so they were unable to do the inhibition assay. The report advises if there was a recent exposure to re-test in 2-3 weeks but my last sexual encounter was 9/20/22 and that partner is negative for HSV1&2.

Any advice on how to proceed? Should I take this as negative or continue testing with the WB?

[Terri Warren]

what a journey you’ve been on. Which is why we don’t recommend screening with these IgG tests.
I would believe the negative inhibition assay and move on without the blot unless you need more reassurance.

Terri

[somanyquestions224]

Thank you. Because I had a bump/spot on my inner labia (right before the vaginal opening not in the vagina) I’m wondering if it’s possible I contracted hsv-1 genitally after having it for about 16 years? I am like 99% sure I got hsv-1 from my first kiss in 2007 and didn’t have sex until 2010 so I don’t think it had a chance of being genital until then.

I read that it’s incredibly rare to get it in a new location after about 6 months but a friend of mine swears she got it genitally after already having it orally for a while.

I’m monitoring to see if it returns and can get it swabbed but until then, thoughts on possibly spreading to myself?

[somanyquestions224]

Or someone else spreading it to me.

[Terri Warren]

you already know what I am going to say here – I don’t believe you got HSV 1 genitally after having it orally for years. I have seen it once in my practice and once someone reported this happening online. That’s in 40 years. So is it possible? yes. Is it likely? Certainly not.

Could you spread your oral HSV 1 to others. yes, I think you know that, either through kissing or giving oral sex to someone else.

Terri

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