Ghsv1 or oral?

[Justawomen]

6 years ago I had a strange rash appear below and I received a visual diagnosis from a doctor saying it was herpes . I didn’t receive any tests or medication & now I’m my adult hood I do have hsv1 . So should I assume it’s Ora or genital ? I haven’t had nothing weird down there happen since that one time 6 years ago . .

[Strength123]

@Justawomen I would not assume anything, next time you have an outbreak go into the doctor and get it swabbed for a herpes test. You may also request a HSV blood test if you don't have an outbreak but the swab is most definitive. Best of luck!

[Justawomen]

That visual diagnosis was 6 years ago and nothing has happened since then . I have received a blood test in my adult hood and it show positive for the cold sore kind & im not sure of location and I’ve had a lot of bad stressors over 6 years and nothing so I’m just skeptical 

[MsTaken]

The oral v genital thing is bunk. Both can transmit anywhere there’s an open wound. And with the popularity of oral sex, both are showing up in both places. Hsv2 just doesn’t survive as well in the oral cavity. 

[Justawomen]

Which means ?

[mr_hopp]

Hey @Justawomen,

HSV-1 can show up either orally or genitally (in fact more than 50% of new genital herpes cases are HSV-1 from oral sex). So it's impossible to say strictly from a blood test which area of your body would be contagious. Those are the 2 sides to the coin: It's great that you aren't having outbreaks, but also not so great that you can't definitively locate where you're shedding virus without having an outbreak. So when you disclose to partners, tell them just that. That you are a carrier of HSV-1, which can either be oral or genital, but since you haven't had an outbreak, you don't know for sure. 

[Justawomen]

Ok @mr_hopp do u think the visual diagnosis from the doctor is legable ? Considering no swab or test was done ?

[mr_hopp]

It's definitely a pet peeve that doctors do visual diagnoses when so many visual diagnoses are just plain wrong. 😕 

Insisting on getting a swab test when there's an actual outbreak will give you a definitive result if there's enough to culture. 

[Justawomen]

Will do , what looks common to ghsv that they are able to confuse it with ? I figured it was not legible (not saying he was wrong but he could be right or wrong ) I wasn’t even prescribed any medications so I’ve never been on any medication the whole six years & I haven’t received any sores or anything . & I’ve had major stressors IM TALKING ABOUT SOME SERIOUS STUFF.  Maybe a itch hear or there when my pubic hairs grow but nothing that caught my eye as irregular . @mr_hopp

[Justawomen]

@mr_hopp and if it is genital what’s the chances of my recurrence, considering it’s been six years

[Justawomen]

Ok thanks for all of your help on my 3 posts @mr_hopp