Apparently I've had genital herpes since I was a baby, is there any chance I was misdiagnosed?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hello, recently I was at a doctors appointment and my doctor asked me if I needed a refill on my herpes medication. I was very confused and I told her that I didn't have herpes.

She pulled up my file to show where it said herpes and I was diagnosed when I was seven. When I was younger, I would get itchy, blistery rashes on my inner and outer labia, but my mother never explained what it was to me and this whole time I assumed it was due to poor hygiene. I recently turned 18 and have not had any rash-like outbreaks in years. It's been so long that I do not remember when my last outbreak was.

When I was seven they did a swab test that came back positive for herpes (I'm not sure which type). Is there any chance that this swab test was inaccurate? CPS audited my mother for possible sexual abuse since it is unusual for a young child to contract genital herpes but did not find anything wrong. My mother has frequent "cold sores," so I'm assuming I got it from her during a diaper change or something. She told me that even when I was four I would itch my vaginal area but she assumed it was just a rash from improper hygiene for a while.

I have had a boyfriend for about 1.5 years and we have been having unprotected sex (with arm implant birth control) for a little more than a year. I am in shock and don't know how to address this and break the news to my boyfriend. I'm only 18 and I do feel as if my sex life is over because of the rampant stigma (especially in younger populations a.k.a. anyone I might have a relationship with).

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    u could request a blood test but the swab is pretty accurate

  • Posted

    why don't you set up a new appointment and get the IGG and IGM blood tests to see exactly what it is you have. You need to know and then you can go from there. When is the last time you remember taking herpes medicine?! Do you get cold sores on the mouth ever?

  • Posted

    it sounds indeed like the hypothesis (infected from cold sore)

    • which would mean a high chance of it being type 1.
    • when you got it so young, chances are your body can manage it well.
    • 60% of people already has type 1 antibodies.
    • you didnt have a recurrence for so long, it seems dormant and under control

    for these reasons, I wouldnt be too worried of infecting someone else... chances are low. but still of course it would be best to be open about it to be honest. and do a bloodtest, maybe twice, to know more.

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