I recently tested positive for HSV-1. I got tested because I had a new partner about a month ago and we did not use protection. I was having some discomfort (itching, redness) so I got tested and results came back as HIGH for HSV-1.
I immediately assumed this indicated genital and freaked out, felt depressed and scared. I did a lot of research and even posted on this forum about it when I was feeling so lost about what this meant for my future. When I received my results I immediately paid to have the phone call consultation from a doctor about them. It took a couple days to get that call, which in that time I had already informed my 2 most recent partners and gone down the rabbit hole. The call lasted less than 2 minutes and the doctor informed me that I tested positive for HSV-1 but no STDs and that I was fine, no need to worry....
Hence my confusion. I asked her if she was sure that it was not genital herpes and proceeded to share that I have redness kind of like a rash but no blistering. She told me that I likely have something else going on that I should get checked locally but other than that I am fine. This left me with only more questions. How do I know for sure that I am not misinformed? Should I be relieved? I am slightly more frustrated with myself for paying $95 for a consultation that told me no more than I could find on the internet and left me even more confused. All in, what am I supposed to think now? What does this mean about disclosure? I plan on going to see a specialist but that may take some time, especially in the pandemic. Can anyone shed some light?