Genital Herpes: Useful info for those looking for answers like me!
Posted , 315 users are following.
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
Jackrabbit FelizCastus
Posted
Felis, she is being very hesitant for us to get her results. I've been struggling for days with this. How have we've been together for 7 years and I haven't caught it. It makes absolutely no sense if she is telling the truth.
FelizCastus Jackrabbit
Posted
It is quite common for a couple to be together for years and for only one to have it. As I said, it's like Russian roulette, but with much, much better odds, especially for men! Can't help you with her procrastination, however. I would sit her down and say that you need to get this sorted out asap, so just get the results already, because you want to try to understand and put this behind you.
pyrrhus FelizCastus
Posted
I haven't yet been diagnosed with genital herpes as my clinic isn't open until Tuesday
but two weeks after a one night stand (condom used, but unprotected oral) I'm pretty much checking off all the symptoms of a nasty first outbreak so I'm fairly certain I have the virus.
I'm a 36 year old male and despite what having one night stands may suggest, I'd like nothing more than to have a meaningful relationship; I just don't seem to have much success in that area. I suspect that herpes will only make that more difficult, and will also make one night stands a thing of the past if I am going to be upfront about my condition. I'm understandably depressed about it.
My question is... and it may seem like a daft question... but are there any positives to having contracted the virus?
FelizCastus pyrrhus
Posted
If you don't have any lesions and only flu-like symptoms, then there's a strong chance it's not herpes. Could be anything. What makes you suspect herpes? Or do you have lesions?
The only positives I can think of is that if it's HSV2 and you've never had HSV1, you'll be immune to HSV1 after you establish antibodies (3-4 months), plus it makes you focus more on yourself, your own health and seeking happiness from within than via others. It also makes you more selective in who you open up to and want to have a real relationship with. Not sure if that helps?!
pyrrhus FelizCastus
Posted
Thank you for the quick reply.
My penis has a lot of painful blisters. Inflamed foreskin makes urination uncomfortable. I can feel bumps around my anus which are also itchy and sore. I haven't really had flu-like symptoms but my muscles ached a lot on the day my symptoms first started appearing.
I do have a history of yeast infections but I've never had that cause penile blisters. I guess it might not be herpes but I'll be surprised if it isn't.
FelizCastus pyrrhus
Posted
Try to get them swabbed first thing, before they start healing too much. A pcr swab is even more accurate, if your clinic can do it. If the blisters turn into ulcers, or what look like canker sores, that would seem to more strongly suggest herpes. Hopefully only HSV1, however. If that's what it is, then you don't have nearly as much stigma to deal with, or transmission issues, so can lead a pretty normal sexual life. Forgot to mention that before, but type matters.
pyrrhus FelizCastus
Posted
Yes, this is what concerns me as they have already healed quite a lot and I'm worried that it I wait until Tuesday, there may be nothing left to swab.
There's a place open tomorrow morning which will take me about an hour to get to so I'll try and make it there. I just hope it's not too late. Fresh blisters appeared this morning but they don't look as severe as the previous ones that have already scabbed over.
FelizCastus pyrrhus
Posted
pyrrhus FelizCastus
Posted
You may not know the answer to this but are they likely to require me to pull my foreskin back? I've done so a few times over the past week in order to clean, and the head of my penis appears unaffected - but the pain of doing so is horrific.
FelizCastus pyrrhus
Posted
I would imagine they'd only need to pull it back if you have lesions there to examine and swab. If not, I don't see why they would have to.
Positivemindset FelizCastus
Posted
In october of 2016,i had unprotected oral sex with a guy, but vaginal sex with a condom. The next day i hadred splotches on the top of my mouth and some kind of sore on the inside of my cheek. Within4 days my tonsils swole up with whute pus on them and i couldnt eat or swallow cause it hurt so bad. I went to get tested for gonnrrhea and it came back negative, but i was diagnosed with tonsilitis. So i got my smeds and it took down the swelling and pain and i was fine. I had sex with him again in december unprotected comoletely and my throat started gurting agin. Also I swallowed his cum and I have had diarrhea ever since. A day or two after we had intercourse my vagina was burning and white running discharge was coming out but no lesions. I also was very sick, couldnt eat, weak, feverish symptoms, back pain, and also i was sore inny thighs and butt for about two days.i also had a red rash odbmy arm but it didn't itch or burn. The tops of my arms and legs were burning constantly and so was my lips. I went to urgent care and got a cultural for gonorrhea, chlamydia, BV, andherpes and they all came back negative. The doctor gave me a prescription for bv and folliculitus because of the dry skin circles that were a appearing on my legs and thighs as well. About 2 days after i got my prescription there was I think a blister on my inner thigh so i popped it and clear liquid came out. I went to the doctor again exactly 2 weeks 1/7/16 after the intercourse to get a igm and igg blood test and the results came back negative . I had experienced constant burning in my mouth and lips and i believe that I developed a cold sore on my lip, it was painful and it looked like a pimple with a whitehead on the corner of my mouth, it tingled and burned sometimes as well. I am sure that i have herpes, but i dont understand why results came back negative even though ive had symptoms that fit herpes exactly.. i had sex in october and got tested in January, wouldnt something have came up? Could it be something else? Someone please help
FelizCastus Positivemindset
Posted
Were you swab tested at any time? Honestly, I'm not convinced that you have herpes, as the symptoms you report are far reaching and atypical, plus you tested negative for HSV IgG after a decent timeframe (forget IgM, it's unreliable). If you are still concerned, the next time you think you have a lesion, go to a clinic to have it swab tested asap. The sooner, the better, in terms of test accuracy.
KnockItOff FelizCastus
Posted
I'm so afraid I have herpes! For a good while now I've been getting a rash every now and then on the right side of my vulva. No bumps would appear really, it was just really red and irritated. For the past few days it's been hurting to walk and I checked what the pain was.. it's on my bikini line and it was really tiny white-ish bumps on a bump. And they only hurt because my legs rub together. I tried pushing down on it with tp but nothing came out so I squeezed it (I know bad idea) it was very hard to pop but since then it seems some of the bumps went away and it's just become more red and a bit more swollen..I don't have burning while i pee and I have no fever. I have been under a lot of stress and haven't had my period in two months but I believe that's because I had my son 5 months ago. Please someone help
FelizCastus KnockItOff
Posted
The pimple/bump doesn't sound like herpes, except for the fact you think the rash recurs. The next time you get the rash, go and have it swab tested asap, if possible. Only way to know for sure either way.
FelizCastus KnockItOff
Posted
The pimple/bump doesn't sound like herpes, except for the fact you think the rash recurs. The next time you get the rash, go and have it swab tested asap, if possible. It's the only way to know for sure either way.
KnockItOff FelizCastus
Posted
Is there anyway I can post or send a picture?? I've been taking pictures and of course I have them all cropped so nothing is showing other than the bumps..
FelizCastus KnockItOff
Posted
KnockItOff FelizCastus
Posted
​does it look like herpes to you???
FelizCastus KnockItOff
Posted
Hmmm, they look more like blisters than the bumps/pimples you described, especially in the second pic. Were they hard or fluid-filled? Did they ulcerate? They do look like herpes, I have to say, and they also recur, so I would get that swabbed the next time it happens to be sure (probably too late this time, as they look to be healing). Having said that, there was another lady on here just recently who had what appeared to be herpes, but her tests all came back negative. That's why testing is always best, especially swab tests whenever lesions are present.
KnockItOff FelizCastus
Posted
I believe in one of the pictures it was after I tried the whole popping it thing. The other one is like they are all busted or something.. I don't wear panties or anything so I'm not sure if maybe I keep getting these rashes due to my jeans rubbing against my skin or not... I stopped wearing them for some months now. When I tried popping one of them, a tiny bit of fluid came out but not even enough to really see the color of it. And they do seem to sort of look like an ulcer now...
I am definitely going to get tested the next time it happens, I just figured I'd ask someone who would know more about it then I do..
FelizCastus KnockItOff
Posted
KnockItOff FelizCastus
Posted
In February I'm supposed to have my 6 month check up so I will also get that igG test done. I'm honestly not sure exactly what they checked while I was pregnant. They took blood every now and then, including after pregnancy because my incision from my c section started pouring blood one day. Idk if they checked for anything like that though..