potential undiagnosed hsv 2 and transmission concern

[stellavalens]

I believe that I have HSV 2 that has gone undiagnosed because tested positive for HSV 1 a month after exposure and three months after exposure. The doctor never mentioned that I might have not seroconverted yet, so I wasn’t worried about hsv 2. Now that I think about it, though, my symptoms do seem more in line with hsv 2. I have constant tingling and burning all over the area, although have only had a couple of sores twice.

I have recently started a new relationship, and talked about hsv 1 with him (he was positive for it, too).

We kissed at length, I gave him oral sex, and he fingered me a little, but I never took off my underwear when I was with him.
The next day I had a tiny blister on the side of my nose-first time I have ever had anything on my face that seemed like a potential hsv breakout.

I am now concerned after reading your website that I may have hsv 2 and have exposed him to it either through oral sex or if he fingered me and then touched him self.

I am going to the ob/gyn today and plan to get retested for hsv 2 and would like to get swabbing of the mouth, nose, and genital area to see if I am shedding HSV 2.

What is the likelihood that I wouldn’t have seroconverted by 3 months? Do you think it’s likely that he could be at risk as a result of the exposure? What is the likelihood that I have oral hsv 2 as well as genital? And do you recommend any other course of action? What specific tests should I ask for? The IGG and PCR?

[Terri Warren]

I think the chances that you have HSV 2 and had not serconverted yet for HSV 2 are low. I would say you have at least 90% certainty at 3 months that you do not have HSV 2. Did you take antiviral medicine? If yes, for how long?
And no, I don’t think there is much chance that he got infected from you by doing what you did. Has he actually been tested for HSV 2? That would be important to know before you go much further with this, I think.
There is no point in having your mouth swabbed for HSV 2. If you happened to have HSV 2 orally, which is not common, it is only shed on about three days of the year. Random swabbing of any location without lesions one time only is rarely productive. I think just getting another IgG test for HSV 2 is plenty if it has been 16 weeks since possible exposure.
The HSV 1 positive test result that you had could be from infection orally or genitally and you could have had it a short time or a long time no way to know if you have never had a cold sore on your lip. You may wish to get the nose thing swab tested by PCR.

Terri

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