Is my doctor right?

[Mynameis__]

Hi, I was recently diagnosed with genital HSV1.I found out i was positive through reading my lab results on my patient portal. I was depressed for a whole week. I had my appointment with my gynecologist today & I was crying when she came in the room. She basically told me that it’s not that bad and most people are infected with HSV1. It just happens that mines is in my genital area. She also told me it’s up to me if i want to let my partner know that i have this because it’s such a common virus and it rarely sheds. I just want some clearfication that this is correct. I definitely felt a lot better when i left, but should i be this calm about my status now?

[Terri Warren]

Wait – your had a positive blood antibody test for HSV 1 or a positive swab test from a lesion?
HSV 1 genital infection does shed infrequently but there are certainly documented cases of transmission. If you are having sex with someone who is also HSV 1 infected (like with cold sores) it is extremely unlikely that they would then acquire HSV 1 genitally. Let me know about the method of diagnosis.

Terri

[Mynameis__]

It was the Igg blood test, because by the time i was able to have an appointment with my doctor the lesions healed. The lesions were not on my vagina.. They were on my rectum, buttocks and perineal area. Thats a little weird to me because I never have anal sex & when i have oral sex he never touched my rectum

[Terri Warren]

It is possible to be infected genitally and have your lesions be anal without ever having anal sex. I would suggest that if you get the lesions again, you get them swab tested. Until then, I would say that you cannot know if your infection is oral or genital.

Terri

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