Is this herpes?

Thanks for replying!

I have the itching sensation and pain when sitting on it a certain way but aside from that I haven't seen any other signs. When it came, it began as a sore spot that had a small lump under it then it looked like a pimple which turned into what you see in the picture. I pray it's not herpes but I'm going to get tested tomorrow.

One last thing, I just found this on the other side of my anus and this on my scrotum. The bump on my scrotum was more defined but I squeezed some of the pus out.  I'm going to say it's safe to say that I have herpes now. Still hoping it isn't but not holding my breath. This visit tomorrow isn't looking promising.

I'm still not sure. They should all be relatively similar in their progression if you had contracted them at the same time like you think; during the threesome. The second pic kinda looks like an ingrown hair. The first one kind of looks like blister. 

That's a good point about their progression. Holding my breath for the results tomorrow. I'm not having sexual interaction with anyone else till I'm in a relationship or we have an exclusivity understanding and I see the paperwork.

Good luck! I hope you get the results you want. And I'm glad you've made the decision to take charge of your sexual health and be more preemptive about the choices you make! 

Hey,

I wasn't able to get tested Monday because of the holiday and not today because urgent care said they don't do general testing. I have a blood work appointment scheduled with my doctor on Thursday. However, today I was snooping around and here's an updated picture. I think it's safe to say I have herpes, right?

I would certainly swab for herpes. It's starting to look a little blistery now. Does it feel sore to touch?

It's pretty sensitive. Touching it is painful, sitting the wrong way and walking are both painful. It's a mix of itchyness and pain. I don't have any other symptoms but what I'm sharing right now. I read that blisters can come from skin irritation as well and I was initially picking at it till I realized it could be symptoms of something. As far as the sore itself, it doesn't seem to be healing like I'm used to my body generally healing. I've also started feeling depressed since I began to think about possibly having it.

Get a swab done at your Thursday appointment, not just blood tests. A blood test won't turn up anything if this is very new, but a swab will, as it's a direct test (blood tests are indirect). Also, no matter what your doctor says, the IgM test is useless and proves nothing. Only the IgG blood test matters, either for benchmark purposes or indirect diagnosis after 3+ months. Google the CDC and ASHA for info on why the IgM test is no good for herpes. Just want you to get the right tests done, unlike so many on here.

It's mentally bothering me to the point where I can't work. I'm leaving work now to head to urgent care to be tested.

So my results for IgG came back today and my index was 30.91 for HSV 1 and < 0.91 for HSV 2. I'm pretty upset right now because I have a genital outbreak from HSV 1. I can feel myself entering a depression but I'm going to try to fight through it. However, I'd like to know how easy is it to spread to someone else? What if I'm dating someone that doesn't have it. Will I always put them at risk to catch it?

Were you also swabbed? If you tested high positive for IgG in under a month, then that is indicative of an existing infection, and one you've probably carried for some time. HSV1 is very common. Many people are unknowingly oral carriers since childhood. I hope you were swabbed as well, as I advised you more than once to do that. The best thing is to test what is actually in your genital area. A positive swab is conclusive, HSV2 IgG nearly always means genital, but HSV1 IgG could be an infection anywhere.

I insisted on a swab but my doctor said they didn't have any swabs for testing. He took a blood test instead. I've requested my results from when I got tested last which was February and they were all negative. Only the swab can detect if it's HPV 2 while the blood test gives HPV 1 as a generalization which is inclusive of HPV 2? 

That's unbelievably cr@p of your doctor! No swabs at his clinic to do a test?? Swabs are used to test many other issues. I'd change doctor, if he can't even manage his basic clinic supplies, thus compromising your diagnosis! Sorry, but I've never heard of such an excuse to not do a swab.

What I meant before is that the swab is best. The HSV2 IgG test, if positive, is assumed to mean genital infection. The HSV1 IgG, if positive, cannot be assumed to mean genital infection, however, as HSV1 is more frequently carried elsewhere, especially the mouth.

So, right now, you only know that you have an existing HSV1 infection somewhere in your body that may or may not explain your current issue, which could still potentially be something else altogether. You should retest for both HSV IgG at 3 months to ensure the window period is covered, at least.

My friend suggested I change doctors as well. This is what confused me: 

- I call, nurse says she needs doctor's approval to discuss results

- Gets approval, says I'm negative

- I ask negative for HSV 1, 2, or both? She states high for HSV 1 and negative for 2

- I ask to get a copy of my results

- I see it's high for 1 and negative for 2 but confused as to how this equates to negative for herpes

- Call back and ask for my doctor to give me a call

- Doctor calls and states that I do not have herpes

- I bring up the index rating for HSV 1 and he says that's just cold sores, you can stop taking the Valtrex I prescribed you prior to the results

- I inquire about HSV 1 causing a genital outbreak

- Get told that is extremely rare and not the case

- Prescribed antibacterial for the blisters that have now almost healed 

I argued with two of my friends who both stated I didn't have herpes. One friend is a nurse technician who viewed my results and told me I was negative. The fact of the matter is, my index for HSV 1 was 30.91 and anything greater than 1.09 is positive. Though I tested negative for HSV 2, I still do in fact have a herpes. I'm being told I have a form of herpes that everyone has so it's not considered bad, however, I know for a fact that I just had a genital outbreak. The itching, nerve sensations, and irritation all align with a genital outbreak. It's almost as if having HSV 1 means you don't have herpes while HSV 2 is all that matters when in reality HSV 1 can cause HSV 2 outbreaks and vice versa. 

My logic behind this is people believe HSV 1 isn't herpes or don't call it as such due to the STD stigma. However, a cold sore is a form of herpes which is likely HSV 1. Never had a cold sore a day in my life but in my case, a genital outbreak can clearly happen from HSV 1 and no matter how "rare" it is according to my doctor, it happened. It's almost as if people, including my doctor, are telling me I don't have herpes and I'm fine simply because so many people have it when that index rating says otherwise! I know that I'm fine but I want to know about transmitting it to someone else, whether I need to take anti viral medication and things of that nature.

I'm just confused and need a new doctor.

I understand the confusion and agree with you up to a point. Where I don't agree is concluding that your current issues are due to HSV1, since it's something you already had but never knew about, plus you don't know where you have it. The lesions you have now could be due to something else.

I asked my doctor what it was since he claims it isn't from an outbreak and he said bacterial infection from the anal fissure or something about ingrown hair that didn't even sound logical. He prescribed this antifungal cream. The only symptoms I've had are itching and irritation. I'm not sure what to do at this point besides see a different doctor.

Well, like I said, the HSV1 is pre-existing, you don't have HSV2, and it's not clear that what you have now is due to herpes at all, so test for HSV2 IgG at 3 months, but don't freak out about the HSV1. A result that high so soon after means you likely had it long before your encounter.

Makes sense. I'll be sure to test again around December. Thanks so much!

Hi guys! i know this thread is a bit old but i just wanted to add a couple things for anyone who may be experiencing something similar. Your index coming back at 30.91 is VERY high and DOES NOT indicate a new infection. It just wouldn't be that high that soon. This indicates that you've had this for quite some time. HSV1 typically presents as cold sores on the mouth though it can also be genital if you've engaged in oral sex. While there is stigma around genital herpes, they really are the same thing as cold sores. The mouth is just the preferred location for HSV1. HSV2's preferred location is the genitals. While you should still be careful (VERY CAREFUL) not to pass it on to others, i'm pretty confident that the pictures you've shown are not what you've been describing as your "initial outbreak". The index is just too high. 

While the picture doesn't look like herpes to me, I hope you've had a chance to get the area swabbed while symptomatic. I would really hate for you to be dealing with all of this and thats not even what it is  HSV1/HSV1 symptoms unfortunately coincide with MANY other things, thats why they can be confused for razor rash, pimples, yeast infections, UTI, anal fissures etc. 

Getting a culture swab when you have a visible lesion/bump/cut is really the only way to know if THAT picture is genital HSV1. But please don't assume that and add unnecessary stress. As I mentioned, you're index is just too high for that to be your initial outbreak in the way you're thinking.  I've gotten cold sores since i was in high school and I hadn't so much as kissed anyone. I had my own scare with thinking I had genital herpes and I got tested. My index for HSV1 was 24.something. And again, i've gotten cold sores for over ten years of my life and your index is a good bit higher than mine. You've HAD that for long time. You HAVE to get the area swabbed when symptoms are present to know whether anyone gave you genital HSV1. 

In answer to the last part about passing it on, It is very possible to pass cold sores/HSV1 to a partner (via oral sex). You are most contagious when symptoms are present (i.e., sores, bumps, scabs etc). However, asymptomatic shedding is also an annoying part of having HSV1/HSV2. You can pass it to your partner even if you don't have symptoms. But honestly, I don't know if I've ever ACTUALLY read a confirmed situation of that happening. I just know thats what all the doctors and research say. But i think (in my unprofessional opinion) it's more likely that people DID have symptoms and simply didn't recognize it as such. I will say that I was with my bf for almost six years and I NEVER gave him anything and we frequently did oral. But i am also super aware of cold sores and if i feel so much as a tingle i don't do anything. Condoms help but they may not protect your partner if your lesions are in a location the condom doesn't cover. The safest option is if you're having symptoms, NO SEXUAL ACTIVITY. I know it can be frustrating to deal with but I would also recommend talking to your doctor about getting on some meds to reduce occurrence and duration of any outbreaks. Valacyclovir works really well for me when i actually get a sore and also prevents them if i start to feel like i'm getting symptoms. 

I'm not a doctors so obviously, I can't definitively say that that picture is or is not genital HSV1. But i do know that when you're researching all of this stuff and reading the symptoms you CAN create your own stress-induced symptoms. I did the same thing to the point where I was getting depressed and lost weight, just making myself sick. Ive been swabbed twice and gotten tested for an acute outbreak and general presence of HSV1/2. I DO NOT (thank you Jesus) have genital HSV1 or HSV2 even though i felt like i had all the symptoms. So you guys stop reading the internet and just go get tested. if you have physical sores or something suspicious go get it swabbed ASAP. the swabs will come back negative if no sores are present.