Could I have had genital herpes for 13 years

Posted , 3 users are following.

Could I have had genital herpes for 13 years with no outbreaks

Also could I have not passed this to my partner in this time our sex life has not been great for a couple of years

Just been to gum clinic who have advised I could have got this years ago they don't think I have it after looking at my virgina but did swabs anyway

I'm worried as I think he has been faithful and so have I

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Posted

    Yes, it's possible, as strange as it may seem. Why do you think that you have it if the clinic said that it doesn't look like it and the swab results aren't back yet? Or are they back? Just wondering.

    • Posted

      So I could have had it and he's has not contracted it in 13 years

    • Posted

      Either of you could have had it. Yes it could've been dormant for years. Has he been tested for hsv? Blood test (igg)? Did your symptoms begin shortly after a sexual encounter?

    • Posted

      Yes, that's very possible. Not sure if you have access to the herpes IgG antibody test in the UK, but if so, your husband could test to find out if he carries it. Wait for your swab results first, though. It may not be herpes.

    • Posted

      They have said they do not do blood tests as most people have the hsv1 virus in there system so will only test when symptoms are visible
    • Posted

      It depends. The IgM test for herpes is unreliable. The IgG test is a lot better, but can occasionally miss cases of HSV1 and sometimes cause false positives for HSV2 in some cases of pre-existing HSV1. It depends on the test kit. The US HerpeSelect test kit is prone to these issues, but the German EuroImmun test kit is supposedly not. The NHS doesn't really offer either, so you'd probably have to go private or via one of those online lab services.

    • Posted

      Hey felis catus I know you have a lot of knowledge about this in freaking out here I just want to clarify something is it possible that I could have had it and not passed it to my partner in 13 years of sex not that often I might add
    • Posted

      Thank you for your reply I'm just freaking out cause I put my symtoms in google and it always came up with genital herpes another question the initial outbreak when doe this normally occur and how bad can it be would you notice the symtoms

    • Posted

      Most symptomatic people will experience a first outbreak within a week of infection, but a minority don't for months or years. Also, in a discordant couple, the negative partner might not acquire herpes until months or years later, which adds to the confusion. To make it even more confusing, most people are asymptomatic or near asymptomatic, so have no symptoms or unrecognised ones. Those who are symptomatic tend to get moderate to bad first outbreaks. So, taken together, it can be rather confusing to understand as a result of all the exceptions, etc.!

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