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Genital Herpes: Useful info for those looking for answers like me!

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FelizCastus
FelizCastus

Ever since I suspected genital herpes (GH) and was recently confirmed to be going through a primary outbreak of HSV-2 (ugh, the "bad" one), I have been researching the topic like crazy! Guess that's a pretty normal thing to do, lol, and I'm sure many others here have done the same.

Anyway, I thought it would be helpful to share everything that I have learnt thus far, and I will continue to add to this thread as I come across more useful, interesting and/or relevant info.

Genital HSV symptoms https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776485

Testing for HSV https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776488

Does having one HSV type protect you against the other? https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776489

Autoinnoculation (self-contagion to other areas) https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776492

When is genital HSV most contagious? https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776494

Genital HSV transmission risk https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776497

Antiviral meds for genital HSV https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776501

Natural treatments for genital HSV https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776503

Genital HSV and increased risk of HIV https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1776505

Transmission risk via inanimate objects, swimming and blood https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1778698

Genital herpes and menstruation https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1778703

Genital herpes and BV and yeast infections https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1778708

Is there a vaccine for HSV-1/2? https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1778714

Possible complications of genital herpes https://patient.info/forums/discuss/comment?discussionid=482438&commentid=1782789

88 likes, 535 replies

535 Replies

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  • layla13081
    layla13081 FelizCastus

    Posted

    Hey I'm new to this but I needed some help .. I am 23 years old and 5 months ago I had kissed my ex boyfriend literally the next day I was feeling really sic the worst headaches I got a canker sore on inside of my mouth a few of them .. Then I eventually got a cold sore which got so bad because I didn't do anything about it I didn't know what it was .. Then I had tonsillitis the white cankers everywhere all over my throat and tonsils. So then 2 months later me and my sons dad had sex and I performed oral sex with a cold sore and a few days later he got a bump just one lesion that quickly crusted over it didn't spread or get bigger just one lesion we still had unprotected Sex and i never got a breakout down there .. I'm confused why was my breakout on my mouth but his on his penis and not his mouth ? Do you think this is genital herpes since he got it down on his private parts ? I just had another cold sore coming it's been 4 months since my last one but I think from stress .. Do you think this is type 2? I need help
    • Shakie32
      Shakie32 layla13081

      Posted

      I think you should get yourself checked, but by your explanation it sounds like herpes and yes when you have it on you mouth and give oral sex then yes you can spread it that way, I have been reading and trying to educate myself, since I am new to this. But you should go to your doctor as soon as possible to get tested so you can start your medication if that what it is. Best of luck
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus layla13081

      Posted

      Sounds like you have oral Type 1 and gave it to your son's father genitally via oral sex, which can and does happen. In future, do not make lip or genital contact with another person of negative or unknown status while you have cold sores or think you are getting one. Your son's father now has genital Type 1, but he can still acquire the virus in other body areas until he's had it for 4 months, so you should both take care.
  • kaitlyn92717
    kaitlyn92717 FelizCastus

    Posted

    Hey felis! So we have spoken before!! My outbreak went away and has been gone for about a week now(yay!!) but my butt hole has been itchy for the past few days. I've had runny poop lately so I've been using wipes multiple times after I use the bathroom. So could this be another possible outbreak? Or just a reaction from the amount of wipes I've been using? Should I take the medicine tht was prescribed to me just in case?? Please help😩
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus kaitlyn92717

      Posted

      I suspect it's probably more an irritation from the poop and excessive wiping. Have you taken Immodium or similar to stop the runs and allow your backside some relief? Avoid strong soaps and maybe apply a nappy cream of sorts after showering. After developing a suspected skin allergy to tea tree oil down below (boo sad), my new favourite is a zinc oxide-based nappy cream.
    • kaitlyn92717
      kaitlyn92717 FelizCastus

      Posted

      Oh no! I'm sorry to hear about your recent allergy!!☹️ But no I didn't , I was on about three different antibiotics the past two weeks for strep, my herpes medication, and treatment for my BV. So I think that's why my poop has been so runny. I just finished all of the antibiotics about two days ago and my poop is finally becoming solid again just starting today !
    • kaitlyn92717
      kaitlyn92717 FelizCastus

      Posted

      I also did start using a perfumed body soap because that's all I was able to get my hands on this past week as well
  • shei58186
    shei58186 FelizCastus

    Posted

    me and my partner have hspv 2, i got it from him but i dont blame him, being angry and depress about the situation wont make any help since i have it already, so yeah we were very supportive with each other and very optimistic about the situation.

    I just wanna now if its ok to do oral sex as long as there is no outbreak? I know how much he likes it but he is so afraid that i can get cold sores if we do oral sex. Is it possible to have hspv 1 if we do oral sex since we both have hspv 2?

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus shei58186

      Posted

      If you both have Type 2 and have had it for 4+ months, then you should be immune from getting it orally or elsewhere. You should also be immune from Type 1. Even so, it's always good to avoid contact in the event of an outbreak.

      By the way, it's HSV (herpes simplex virus) or HPV (human papilloma virus), not HSPV (no such thing). Also, HSV-1 and HSV-2 are the "names" (types) of two different but half-related herpes viruses. The number has nothing to do with the location of infection, and both types can infect either location, although Type 2 is nearly always genital, while Type 1 is commonly oral but increasingly genital.

    • shei58186
      shei58186 FelizCastus

      Posted

      Thanks much, yes we both have hsv 2, so it means its ok to have oral as long as without outbreak. Thanks again
    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus shei58186

      Posted

      If you have both had it for longer than 4+ months, yes, it should be fine. Even if you were to get HSV-2 orally, it typically causes next to no outbreaks or shedding ever, and looks just like a normal HSV-1 cold sore.
  • Lollypop01
    Lollypop01 FelizCastus

    Posted

    Hi!

    I have recently been diagnosed with genetal herpes, I'm having my first outbreak and it's a nightmare!!

    I'm unsure whether I got it through receiving oral and during sex.....

    My question is if I have a partner who has cold sores and has had them for years are they less likely to get the herpes virus from me?

    Also when am I most likely to be 'shedding' ? I understand that I'm pretty infectious for the first 3 months regardless if I'm feeling symptoms or not....is that correct??

    Sorry for all the questions? The doctors are not too helpful, they have said in a walking talking infection all the time 😁🙈

    Thanks in advance

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Lollypop01

      Posted

      If your partner has had cold sores for years, then you probably have Type 1 through receiving oral sex from him. If so, he should be immune from getting Type 1 elsewhere himself. You really can't tell when you're shedding without obvious symptoms. New infections are more infectious, that's true, and you might well be shedding during periods of illness, but it's hard to say. The good thing, however, is that genital Type 1 tends not to shed or recur much in the first place (once a year, if that), and is generally uncommon to transmit via intercourse (transmits primarily from oral to genital).
    • Lollypop01
      Lollypop01 FelizCastus

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply...

      I don't have a partner at the moment, so I don't know which way I caught it....was just asking for future reference,

      Also if I go on long term medication (daily) does this mean that there is even less risk of passing onto a future long term partner or is the risk still the same.....does the medication just mask the symptoms or stops you from getting outbreaks?

      Thanks in advance 👍🏼

    • FelizCastus
      FelizCastus Lollypop01

      Posted

      Ah, okay. Well, it's important to know which type you have, as they are similar yet ultimately quite different. If you have genital Type 1, you don't need daily meds, as you should barely have any outbreaks or viral shedding. If Type 2, then daily meds are advisable if you are in a discordant relationship, as the meds reduce outbreaks, shedding and thus transmission as well, which answers your other question. To determine type, if you currently have new lesions, get swabbed asap. If no lesions and you think you've had it for 3+ months, then do the HSV IgG antibody test. Hope that helps!
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