Is the medical community misinformed about herpes?

[paige]

Hey Everyone

So I just have a little story to tell. I'm slightly confused. I was doing some research on the differences between HSV 1 and 2 genital and oral and I came to realize that I was never told whether I had type 1 or 2. So I called the clinic where I was tested at and asked to speak to a nurse hoping that sh would know what Ii was talking about and be able to check my lab records. conversation went a little like this:

 

me: hello I am calling about some lab results from a couple weeks ago I have some questions

nurse: ok whats your question?

me: well I was diagnosed with HSV but never told if it was type 1 or 2 can you look it up for me?

nurse: well what were your symptoms?

me: genital sores

nurse: well then its genital herpes

me: I know that but is it type 1 or 2?

nurse: I don't know what you are talking about and if Ii did Ii couldn't give you that information over the phone

me: :(( (hangs up the phone)

 

 

So is it just me or are health care professionals seriously misinformed? From my understanding there is a difference between HSV 1 and 2 and you can get either of them in opposing regions. My doctor told me that lately he has seen a higher prevalence of genital HSV 1. I also read that if you have HSV and it is in the area that it normally doesn't choose to reside in then you will likely have less outbreaks. is this true? I feel like I should know what type I have so that Ii can know the statistics behind it. Am I wrong to want to know?

 

hopefully Ii can hear from someone who has some more experience with this than my self. I'm still very new to this.

 

Paige

[mr_hopp]

Absolutely misinformed. :) It's so sad, but what you went through seems to be the NORM, not the exception, based on the stories I've heard from many people on this forum worldwide. The medical profession seems to see this as not a big deal (which, ironically, it isn't a big deal medically), so there isn't as much attention paid to the facts as there should be so our medical community could properly inform us.

 

Here are some links talking about the difference between HSV-1 and HSV-2. And yes, EITHER strains of herpes can be on your genitals, each with differing levels of transmission rates. It is important you find out which strain of HSV you have.

http://herpeslife.com/hsv-1-hsv-2-types-of-herpes/

http://herpeslife.com/genital-hsv-1-herpes-and-oral-sex/

http://herpeslife.com/spreading-genital-herpes-hsv2-from-oral-sex

 

Handouts:

http://bit.ly/h-opp-diagnosis-handout

http://bit.ly/h-opp-disclosure-handout