What can I expect?

[phoenix_8]

I am a 47 year old woman and I have just been (visually) diagnosed with my first genital herpes outbreak. This happened after sleeping with my new partner for the first time. Neither of us have ever shown any symptoms of herpes, nor been with anyone we knew who had herpes. I’ve had a swab test (awaiting what is certainly a positive result) and he has had a blood test (waiting for his result). I am assuming it if far more likely that I had somehow already contracted the virus but it had lain dormant in my system until now – we had some ‘rough sex’ that left a bit of tearing in my labia, and my intuition tells me that this ‘trauma’ may have activated the virus.

My question is – do I consider my first outbreak as the point of infection and/or inoculation? And if so, does the common wisdom that the first year is the worst etc apply now from this point on? Or do I consider myself infected from some prior point (I am planning to get a blood test as well to confirm if there are antibodies) – in which case I may not be in for a ‘terrible’ first year?

Also, does the age at which you contract/have your first outbreak have any bearing on how the virus behaves over its lifespan in your system? Does getting herpes later in life possibly lead to a less virulent experience (or is this just wishful thinking)?

This has been a shocking, devastating experience for me.

thank you for your time.

[Terri Warren]

You need a type specific antibody test for HSV as well as your partner. If your antibody test is negative, let’s say for HSV 2, and your swab test is positive, then this is your first infection. Glad you are planning to get that test, but you need to get it ASAP. The longer you wait to test, the more antibody will be made it if it new infection. 50% of those infected will make antibody within three weeks. So if you keep waiting you will not be able to know if this is new or old infection.
For most people, the longer they have the virus, the less active the virus is. But the age at which people acquire this virus does not matter.

Get your antibody test and compare that to your swab test results.

Terri

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