Flowerteacher55

Hi!! 🙂 I know, waiting is hard! I am so sorry you are anxious!! The Western Blot is a very accurate test, from what I have read, so the 12 weeks marker should be an appropriate amount of time. However, I would still call the testing center and see if they could offer a more trustworthy answer!! Your second questions is a great question, and I have often wondered the same thing! An IgG antibody test tests for specific antibodies that the body produces in response to the HSV, so I don't know if another virus or foreign agent would result in the production of the same antibodies that the test looks for in regards to the HSV. Awesome question, and I wish I could offer an answer 😞! I am going to tag @Ebelskiver, who has just joined the Community forum, and is a nurse practitioner who has so much experience helping patients with HSV! 🙂 Perhaps they would be able to provide some guidance for your questions! Blessings! 🙂❤️ Grace

Hi, @Ebelskiver!! I am so sorry I got your title incorrect! My apologies ❤️. Thank you so much for your work in the medical field, and thank you for joining the forum ❤️. It's so awesome to hear from a practitioner who has experience working with HSV, especially since so many people with herpes often have to go from clinic to clinic to find support and/or someone who is familiar with the range of herpes effects, treatments, and symptoms. So many friends on here have been told "there's nothing else we can do," when someone is experiencing neural issues or excessive outbreaks, so thank you for providing possible options for treatment! Welcome to the (H)Opportunity Community! 🙂 Blessings! 🌄 Grace

Hi friends and @Lucia22!! I just wanted to reach out and reccomend that before stopping any antivirals or medicines, always talk to your OBGYN/PCP beforehand. That way, if you experience and side effects, your doctor will be aware and know how to help you in case of any serious side effects. Another hidden gem-- pharmacists!! Pharmacists are skilled at understand how medicines interact in the body and with other medications you may be taking or will be taking in the future. My brother is highly allergic to penicillin, and a pharmacist actually saved his life by knowing the composition of drugs!! Although the doctor prescribed him a drug and my brother was about to take it, the pharmacist called us and told him not to take it, since it was penicillin-based (he knew my brother was allergic to penicillin since the pharmacy had a pop-up in the computer that warned of allergies)!! Anyways!! May you all be blessed ☀️☺️ -- Grace

Hi, @Ebelskiver! Thank you so much for being an essential worker, and for taking the time to join the (H)Opp Community and provide insight and advice!! Your work as an RN at a clinic is so appreciated. You are a blessing! Thank you so much for all you do. The world is so blessed to have you. You are needed and appreciated! ❤️🌎🌻 Blessings!! ☀️🌄🌻

Yes!! 110%. It's totally okay to feel sad or angry or upset. All emotions are valid and okay, its what we do with them that matters. Processing pain is part of the human experience. It's better to let it out in the moment than hold it in and let it bubble and build up later. And, the great thing about the human experience, is that we experience it with other humans!! No person is an island. It's okay to ask for help, and people generally like to rise to the occasion and help those they care about. It's good to give others the opportunity to help you. Just like it feels good to help others, it's great to give other the opportunity to feel that connection, too!! ☺️ Also, so true about friendship! The most true thing is actions speak louder than words. As Maya Angelou said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time," and listen. Or, as an arborist I know says, "If you're going through hell, keep on going, because why would you want to stop? You're in hell!" 😂 No matter what you are going through, know you are loved and that the world needs you. ❤️ Here comes the sun, friends! Stay strong ☀️❤️

@Neverwouldathought Hi! Good advice, especially about the importance of fueling our bodies with food ☺️. Without good food and water we feel even more sad and unable to focus, which reduces appetite even more, and this creates a dangerous cycle. What you said about perseverance reminds me of a Bob Marley quote, "You never know how strong you are till being strong is the only choice you have." It also reminds me of one of my all time favorite Tom Petty songs, "I Won't Back Down." It's my empowerment song!! I totally reccomend it to you all ☺️. Gotta have a go-to anthem that boosts your spirit! I hope you are doing well!

Great! I pray it comes back negative. HSV and Covid sounds like a bad combination! 😢 in the meantime, monitor symptoms and take care of yourself. Thank you for your kindness, too!!

Hi! Aw, I hope your neck headache feels better soon! Also, I am so sorry that your friend tested positive!! I hope she is okay. I also hope you are okay, too!! Some of the symptoms you mentioned do align with Covid, so it would be a great idea to get another test. Are you vaccinated? If so, the USA CDC says waiting 3-5 days before getting tested after exposure is a good rule of thumb. You should wear a mask when inside public spaces for 14 days, or until you get a negative result. Whether you are vaccinated or not, it would be a good idea to definitely get another Covid test after waiting a few more days, as getting a false negative is possible when tested too soon after exposure. Feel better! ☺️

Hello! First, it is awesome that you are proactive about your sexual health. Getting tested regularly is so important, and yet so underrated! So, way to go! Second, here are answers to your questions! 1) Typically, it is recommended to wait 12+ weeks from the latest date of possible exposure. You waited 9 weeks, and the results were .90 (just at the end of the negative range) and .93 (just entering the equivocal range), if you waited another 3 or more weeks, your antibody rates could increase into the positive range. 2) Because it's been only 9 weeks, I honestly cannot say that the result is most likely negative. 12 weeks is the minimum to wait for, so maybe waiting about 13 or 14 weeks would show a more accurate result. I'm not a doctor or healthcare professional, but there's no harm in waiting a few extra weeks after week 12 before getting a second test. 3) The Western Blot test is utilized by the University of Washington Virology Division. Read about the test, how it works, and more using this link: https://testguide.labmed.uw.edu/public/view/HSWB?tabs=no The Western Blot has great sensitivity and specificity rates. I am unfamiliar with exactly how the testing works, but I did find a lot of scholarly research on the test. I am going to keep researching and provide you with some helpful and easy to interpret information. Also, I recommend calling the University of Washington's Medical site where they do the testing to find out more information and answers to your questions. They would have much better answers and they'd be able to provide guidance as well. Here are some contacts I found: Herpes Resistance Director: David Koelle, MD (206) 616-1940 Virology Research Clinic (VRC) Director: Anna Wald, MD, MPH (206) 520-4340 I hope that this helps!! 4) I personally have never received those results. However, if anyone o ln the forum has, I'm sure they will comment and or reach out to you ☺️ I hope the above answers your questions. If they didn't, I am so sorry! Feel free to ask more questions, we are her to help! Stay well. Sending blessings your way 🌻☀️, Grace

Hi! Oh gosh, that's not good! The headache could be linked to other causes, too. Herpes can cause headaches, but also stress, dehydration, eye strain, sinus pressure and allergies, and so much more can cause them. An interesting way to figure out how to best help your headache is to identify where the headache is coming from. Here is a picture! There are different pressure points that help reduce pain depending on the headache type, too. USA healthcare is extremely varied depending on where someone lives, their socioeconomic status, their job, and so many other factors, such as race, language, and gender (we have many inequality issues surrounding healthcare!). Luckily, there are many free clinics and clinics like Planned Parenthood, who not only provide services at reduced and even free rates, but they also do education and outreach as well. I pray your appointment goes well, and it is so cool that you found a site that offers photo diagnostics by dermatologists! That's great. Also, this site actually allows you to submit photos (just the sore(s) and small area of skin around it, nothing else), but we are not doctors or medical professionals, especially not me. So, perhaps submitting the photo to the dermatologist site would be more helpful! Just make sure the site is verified to be trustworthy, and that the people are licensed practicing dermatologists. There are so many online scams these days, and many people lie online! I hope you find a critter to hug (stuffed animals are also a great second option)! 🧸 Humor is so healing, and laughter really can help us get through such hard times. Keep laughing and stay strong!

Hi!! Don't apologize!! You are not a burden, no one is!! I am so sorry you are physically feeling ill. You don't deserve that. I am also sorry your friend isn't being as supportive as you'd like. Remember how someone treats you is a reflection of them. To help with the skin irritation, you can put cold or ice water in a spray bottle and spray it on the skin, especially if it's burning. The mist will help cool it down. Also, your body can't feel temperature and pain simultaneously (hence the wonders of icy hot sports cream!) If you wanted a second clinic opinion and rule out any other possible dermatological diagnoses, you could make an appointment with a dermatologist. They could examine the skin and even take a skin sample for further examination. To help with the headaches, Tylenol could help. Make sure you are hydrated, too. I know during such stressful times we often don't have motivation to eat or drink, but your body needs fuel to function and process these new body changes. For the nerve pain, Tylenol may help, or you could try a heating pad/hot water pack or an icepack; whichever feels better for you. If you can, keep a log of your symptoms and the times they occur and the triggers of the symptoms. This log can help you monitor your symptoms and if this is HSV, you'll be able to identify possible future prodrome symptoms. Also, it gives the doctor a better idea of what you have been experiencing, and they can use your data to help them piece together what's going on. I am so sorry you are struggling. Keep on keeping on. You are a blessing and the world needs you. I know it is so hard to be positive right now, and it's okay to be angry, sad, or confused, or other emotions. Let them out in a healthy way. Your feelings are valid, and you deserve to let them out, whether that be by talking, having a good cry, watching TV, going for a drive somewhere scenic, doing yoga, or hugging your pet. Just take out your feelings in a healthy, positive way. Hang in there. We are all here for you!! When this is all over, you'll look back and realize that you are so much stronger than you ever knew!! ☺️

Hi! A good thing to do to reduce anxiety and worry is to not google, trust me. We are so blessed to have the internet at our fingertips, but it can also lead to us going down the rabbit hole of worry and googling, and we find ourselves inspecting our bodies saying "COULD THIS BE HERPES?! SOMEONE ON REDDIT SAID SO!" and it's literally just a freckle. In terms of the lymph nodes, it makes sense that the swelling was in the neck. The neck ones are common to swell during the presence of a new foreign virus. The small bursts of pain you described sound like nerve pain, as they were short and lasted for only a minute or so, and happened randomly. The aching deep inside the leg could be aches similar to the ones we get when we get the flu. The first outbreak can actually cause flu-like symptoms such as aches, a fever, etc. Alcohol really does complicate things, and it is possible that she gave you oral sex and maybe you or her don't remember. In terms of your friendship, intimacy does complicate things. Especially during COVID and being locked inside and dealing with so much stress, people are eager to get back into the dating and intimacy world. I am so sorry about your heartbreak. Heartbreak is so hard. Please know that you are strong and there are so many wonderful human in the world, and there is one for you, too! Have faith, friend! It's great that you worked on yourself after the heartbreak. Self-love is so important, and it shows self-respect and self-kindness. A key foundation of love is respect, so respecting yourself is SO important, too! ❤️ Please know that you are good enough just the way you are. The way people treat us is a reflection of who they are, not who we are. If someone wants to end things or doesn't see us the way we see them, then it's better to break it off, because you deserve to be with someone who sees you for a wonderful blessing you are. And a true blessing of a person wouldn't be turned off by your common virus. You can 110% still find love and intimacy with herpes! ❤️ If anything, herpes acts as a magical sorter of people... the chumps who are judgmental aren't the type of people you'd want anyways! When you disclose to someone you have HSV, you learn so much about that person. You see if they are kind, logical, accepting, see you for more than just physical connection, and more! It's such a blessing in disguise, but a blessing none the less. Stay strong and be kind to yourself. You will make it through this. Blessings, Grace

Of course! If you have any other questions, reach out!

Hi! I hope you are well. First, I love how kind and receptive you were to her when she disclosed such sensitive information to you. It is so awesome that you both have decided to take things slow to get a feel for your longevity (the wording of that is so sweet!) Second, awesome choice in choosing to use protection. Safe sex is happy sex! Her choice of going on suppressive medication can significantly lower transmission risks. While it doesn't prevent possible risks of transmission, studies show it does help so many people and couples stay safe/safer! To answer your question, you can catch both at the same site and/or at different regions of the body. Overall, studies seem to show that those with HSV-1 who later contract HSV-2 have a tendency to have less severe symptoms than people who do not have HSV-1 antibodies. I will provide you the link to the scientifically-researched articles, too! 🙂 Also, Studies have shown that people with HSV-1 who contract HSV-2 are less likely to show symptoms at all when they catch it, meaning they are usually asymptomatic (they would not get symptoms when they get it and probably wouldn't know they had it). This is especially more common in men/people with penises. I hope this helps! Blessings to you and your partner! -- Grace

Hi! I am so sorry that you have been struggling. Please know you are not alone. You have come to the right place! Having herpes is so hard. As many will tell you, the social stigma surrounding the diagnosis is what really hits harder, often harder than the actual physical complication and effects of the virus. The socially-constructed stigma of herpes is just that... socially constructed! The misunderstandings and judgments people have regarding herpes are not true. They truly have no weight. The opinions and feelings of others are no match for reality; that you are just as beautiful, just as deserving of love, and just as a blessing with or without a common virus. Remember, this virus does not define you. You are not dirty. You are not bad. You are not a mistake. This is not your fault. You are clean. You are good. You are a blessing. And you are not defined by the way people treat you. Please hang in there. Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself (even though you've done nothing wrong) and hold your head high. If you have any questions, please reach out. We are so proud of you for reaching out on this forum. Depression causes such isolation, but you have taken steps in the right direction to heal. You can make it through this, and we are all here to support you every step of the way. ❤️ I am praying for you! Blessings, Grace

Hi! Thank you for your kind words. I'm happy to help! To answer your questions... 1. If you have herpes, yes, typically the next future outbreaks or instances of shedding will be less intense than the first primary exposure. Although you didn't see sores (just the redness), it is possible next time the virus is active, it will shed and you'll feel the physical symptoms (rash, pain when walking, redness, tiredness, headache, nerve pain) and no sores, or you may get symptoms and sores. Regardless, use those symptoms you felt this first time as "warning flags" that you are actively shedding the virus (don't just wait for sores to show up to start using precaution). During these times, you wouldn't have sex or be intimate with that region of the body. 2. Herpes doesn't travel in your body. If you have herpes in your mouth, it doesn't appear in your genitals. However, someone can have both types of herpes, each on different parts of their body. (You can have the same strain of the virus at different sites of the body but it's very rare, as your body builds up antibodies to the strain you have). She has herpes orally. She MAY have herpes on her genitals, which is a possible way you got it. However she doesn't know which type(s) she has. If she got a blood test and it said she had both strains of the virus, and she got a sore on her mouth swabbed, and that came up as one strain, then the question of "well where is the other strain located 🧐?" And that brings us to perhaps the second strain in the lower region. However, the above is all a hypothetical hypothesis based on deductive reasoning. Sorry to be confusing!! For right now, it seems that perhaps somehow her oral sore transmitted herpes to you. 3. You are very kind to not pester the girl. You have empathy and compassion, and you know that obviously she probably feels terrible that you have symptoms. The fact that you aren't badgering her is very kind. Balancing self-advocation and answer-seeking with gentleness and empathy is a skill more people in this world need to have!! 4. The fact that your lymph nodes were swollen is an indicator that it was most likely herpes, as that's a common symptom. We're the lymph nodes near your hips/groin swollen? And also did you experience any neurological pain or tingling that was either constant or came and went? Did the tingles shoot to other parts of the body (legs, back buttocks, etc?). 5. Other STIs that may cause the full set of the exact range of symptoms you explained... I honestly have no idea. There are many STIs that match up to some of your symptoms, but the combination of all of yours seem to align with herpes. I recommend getting an IgG test in 12+ weeks. I know testing in the UK can be difficult to obtain, but perhaps a health clinic can help. 5. ☀️☀️ (The most important thing!) ☀️☀️ Your life is not over. Love is the strongest force on the planet, this includes self love! Love cannot be broken by a common virus that most human being have. This virus doesn't determine who you are; it doesn't make you bad or dirty or any less of deserving love and happiness. It is just a a part of being a human. Be kind to yourself, and be kind to your body. It isn't trying to betray you, it's trying to help you and is working to help adapt to this new virus. It's going to be okay! The first few weeks and first outbreak are so scary, but I promise it will be okay. If you need support, post on the forum. You don't need to go through this alone. Stay strong! We are all here for you! 🌄

Hey Friends! Okay, so I was thinking that I would make a new happy post. Often times when we think about herpes we think about the sad stuff! But honestly, I don't think I would have ever realized how strong I could be, or how much I appreciate my body, unless I got herpes. Let's try and think about the happy side of herpes, just for the heck of it! This also can help provide a happy boost for those who may be new to the herpes community 🙂 Share your thoughts and feelings, or answer a question or more below! Has herpes taught you anything? Has herpes brought anything or anyone positive into your life? Has herpes made you realize something positive about yourself? Has herpes made you appreciate something more or experience gratitude? Peace and Progress, Peeps! ☮️🐣❤️ -- Grace

Hi again! I also wanted to say that I think your optimistic perspective on accepting the worst case scenario is really awesome. Stay grounded and positive, it will all turn out ok no matter what happens!

Hello, First, I am so sorry you've been experiencing such pain. You don't deserve that at all. Second, thank you for sharing your honest story. There is no shame here, we are all open and kind and aim to help you in all ways we can. From what you described, it seems like you definitely have a dermatological condition going on, where that is herpes or not, only a test could tell since you don't have open/active sores. The thing is, even if you did have sores, getting a swab test would most likely produce a false negative since swab testing is really only helpful during the first 48 hours a sore is present. Even then, swabbing can result in false negatives since it's prone to human better; if not enough virus is swabbed then it will come back as negative! This being said, I recommend getting an IgM blood test. IgM antibodies show up in blood first, however they do tend to decrease quickly as time passes. You could get an IgM test since it has been only 11 days. After 12+ weeks, get an IgG blood test. IgG antibodies appear 12+ more weeks after the point of exposure. There are chances of false negatives is someone takes the IgG test too soon, as they may not have detectable amounts of antibodies. So, 12 or more weeks is the typical recommendation to wait prior to getting an IgG test. I am so sorry that the clinic refused to test you or offer any other helpful support or advice. It is great that you reached out to the girl and asked her about it. If anything, I'm sure she feels terrible if she did transmit it to you. I have a few questions to better help: Do you know if she has HSV-1 or HSV-2? Do you recall her at any point touching her cold sore and then touching your body? Do you recall if her sore was crusted over, or leaking fluids? Also, has she been tested for any other STIs? Other STIs can produce skin irritation, painful cramping, urge to urinate, and additional symptoms, even though you were tested for them already at the clinic. It may be helpful for her to be tested for anything else and perhaps get blood work done for her own health and wellbeing. Also, it is possible she has herpes in another body location, such as genitally, as well. You can have both types of HSV. She has one type of HSV (we don't know which kind) on her lip, but since she's never been tested, it is possible she also has another form of HSV, and this could be located genitally. Women can have herpes sores, viral shedding, and symptomatic and asymptomatic outbreaks inside and outside the vaginal cavity. If she has asymptomatic genital herpes, it is possible she could have been virally shedding (unknown to her, of course, it's asymptomatic!) and then you had vaginal intercourse, and then contracted HSV that way. That would also explain the painful urethral burning and bladder pain, as men can get HSV sores inside the urethral opening. I hope this helps!! I am praying for you ☺️ Blessings, Grace

Hello!! First, please breathe. It is going to be okay. Second, you are not dirty, bad, ugly, or undeserving of love. You are clean, good, beautiful, and so so worthy of love and joy. I know that the voices of fear and stigma challenge these truths. But, love is the strongest force on the planet, and self-love can help us overcome anything! You are clean and beautiful. And nothing can ever change that ❤️ especially not a common virus. I am a 22 year old female, and I have had herpes since I was 19. Please know you can still have a relationship and sex life with herpes. I promise! You mentioned you have childhood trauma. I am so so sorry that you experienced trauma. You did not deserve that, and I am sorry that you have had to hide it. I also have had trauma, and getting herpes reopened those wounds. Childhood trauma can make children feel guilty, bad, dirty, and like they deserved to be treated badly. Getting herpes can reawaken those feelings, and validate them. If this is something you are currently experiencing, please know that none of this was your fault. You aren't dirty or bad. Just as the trauma wasn't your fault, neither is getting HSV. And HSV, just as the way people have treated us, doesn't determine who we are. We are still a blessing. I am so sorry that the doctor didn't explain HSV to you! That isn't cool! Here is some information about herpes. I hope it helps! HERPES SORES, OUTBREAKS, VIRAL SHEDDING: First, I wanted to ask if you have ever noticed sores. Herpes sores are little red bumps with a dimple in the center. They eventually may fill with a fluid, ooze, and then crust and scab over, and then heal. Sometimes people mistaken herpes sores for ingrown hairs or a rash. Typically, people feel tingling numbness or a shooting tingling pain in their legs, buttocks, or back, have a fever or flu like symptoms, are itchy or have irritated skin, and or other symptoms before they get an outbreak. These helpful prodrome symptoms actually are like a little warning preparation, telling you that an outbreak will be popping up soon since the virus is shedding(it is active). During these prodrome symptoms, someone should abstain from sex/physical intimacy and take their antivirals if they choose to do so. Antiviral medication helps reduce the severity of an outbreak, increase sore healing speed, and decrease overall risk of transmission. ASYMPTOMATIC VIRAL SHEDDING: Also, you can have asymptomatic outbreaks, meaning you do not show the prodrome symptoms before you have an outbreak. Asymptomatic folks can either have no prodrome symptoms and visual outbreaks, or have no prodrome symptoms and NO visual outbreaks. This means it is much harder to identify when you are most likely to transmit the virus to a partner. This is why many people with asymptomatic HSV, especially HSV-2 choose to take supressive medication. While some people take antivirals it during an outbreak, people on supressive antivirals take them every day to help decrease viral shedding and possible outbreaks. It doesn't prevent 100% of all outbreaks and shedding, but it can help many individuals. FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH & HERPES: You mentioned you were feeling crampy, which could be due to the stress, not eating the last three days, or hypothetically the herpes. The female genitals are so sensitive. Monitor your symptoms and if anything changes of the cramps worsen, contact your doctor. TESTING: Did you get a blood test?, And if so, was it an IgG or an IgM blood test? If you are worried there is a false positive, you can get tested again. However, it is best to wait 12+ weeks since the last time you had sex before you get the IgG blood test, as IgG antibodies gradually build up. The test only detects a positive with a high enough level of IgG antibodies. So, if you take the test too early before the antibodies build, you can get a false negative. I hope all this information helps and didn't overwhelm you. Please stay strong! You are not alone. We are all here to help you. I am praying for you! ❤️ Blessings, Grace

Hello! I hope you are well. Many people, especially men, are asymptomatic, meaning they don't show symptoms and outbreaks don't occur or are unnoticeable, or mistaken for an ingrown hair or a rash. Herpes spreads through direct skin to skin contact with the infected area, so if you got it from someone who was staying with you, you would have had to touch them on an active lesion or while they were virally shedding. Herpes doesn't spread through bedding, towels, or clothing. It doesn't spread through toilet seats, either! However, it can spread through sex toys and other objects shared during intimacy. It is much more likely you contracted it from someone who also was asymptomatic. It isn't their fault, it isn't your fault. The reason herpes is so common is because it often spreads without anyone noticing or knowing they had it to begin with! Here are some facts about the topics you requested: LOCATION OF OUTBREAK: Your body builds up antibodies to herpes, so you cannot give it to yourself. Could you hypothetically? Sure. But it would literally be like you rub an open sore with your hands and then lick your hands and repeat this a few time... But no one would do that! So, you are safe. People can infect other parts of their bodies before their body builds up immunity. So, for example, during someone's first outbreak, they could spread the illness to other parts of the body. However, after the body builds up IgG antibodies (about 12+ weeks after the first encounter of infection) you are safe. Rest assured, you are okay! It seems your antibodies built up enough that they were detected via blood. TRANSMISSION: Because your herpes is asymptomatic, and you've never had an outbreak before, it is really hard to predict when you are shedding the virus (the virus is active). Typically, symptomatic people have little warning signs that warn them they are shedding and/or are about to have an outbreak. These warning signs, called prodrome symptoms, help someone and their partner(s) stay safe, as during these symptoms/outbreak, the person would abstain from sex and physical intimacy with the infected area, and often times take an antiviral to slow the shedding, increase sore healing, and help reduce pain. It seems you have never noticed any prodrome symptoms after a sexual encounter with a partner (tingling, itching, flue-like symptoms, redness or sores on the genitals, anus, or mouth or throat). This means you don't know when you are shedding the virus as easily as someone who has the "warning signs". People who asymptomatically shed can take antiviral as a supressive medication to help them reduce the likelihood of shedding and passing their herpes to their partner. However, the medication does not prevent outbreaks or stop any possible transmission. It works to reduce shedding, reduce outbreaks, and speed up outbreak healing. The antivirals do NOT prevent transmission. HOW YOU GOT IT: You could have gotten HSV-2 orally by preforming oral sex on someone with it, or by kissing someone with it (however, oral HSV-2 is uncommon). You could have gotten HSV-2 genitally or anally if you received oral sex from someone with HSV-2 (again, unlikely for someone to have oral HSV-2) or if you had sex or your lower area came into contact with the parts of someone who has genital HSV-2. Since you are unsure who and when you got it from, it would be a good idea to reach out to recent partners and ask them if they have been tested. This is good for their own health reasons, as if you possibly gave it to them after you got it from someone previously, it is ethical to tell them. No blame, no judgement. Just mature adults talking about sexual health and being honest. 🙂 I hope that this helps!! Also, I wanted to ask, did you have an IgG antibody test or an IgM test? Blessings, Grace

I understand you feel that way. I am so sorry that you are struggling. If you need to vent, feel free to do so. You are not alone.

Also please please do this simple task. It is so important. Forgive yourself. If you are mad at yourself or disappointed, show yourself kindness and compassion. It's hard to do that, but it really is something that you deserve. You are going to be okay. ❤️

Okay! It is possible that she received a false negative if she tested too early before she had detectable antibodies. Regardless it may be a good idea just to let her know you tested positive, so she can get retested for her own health. I totally understand taking your health seriously. This isn't your fault. Please know you are still a wonderful human being worthy of love. You aren't dirty or bad. You have a common virus. Your life isn't over!! So many people have HSV-2. Trust me!! You can still find love and be happy and healthy!!! Stay strong ❤️ Focus on the TRUTH-- you are still the same old you. You are clean and good and well!! 🍀

Hi! It'll be okay!! Okay, so brief contact like that hypothetically could have caused it. You said she was a virgin, but let's say someone gave her oral sex and had HSV-2, and she got it that way. Or, she could have given oral sex to someone who had HSV-2, and she contracted it orally, and then gave it to you. However, getting and transmitting HSV-2 orally is uncommon. Obviously, it isn't a good idea to text or call the girl you had the most recent sexual encounter with and start interrogating her or anything like that. If anything, most people with herpes don't even know they have it, and it's a sensitive topic for most people. You can reach out and ask her if she's ever had cold sores that tested positive for HSV-2, and explain that you've recently tested positive for it. Also, it is good to reach out to those whom you've recently had sex with so they can get tested for their own safety and health. All is well. Hang in there!! 🍀