As was foretold, we've added advertisements to the forums! If you have questions, or if you encounter any bugs, please visit this thread: https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/240191/forum-advertisement-faq-and-reports-thread/

Ah the "h" word. *LOCK*

plantersplanters Registered User regular
edited August 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
I'm going to try to make this short as possible.

Few months back, my ex got diagnosed with herpes 2 the doctors said it was a primary infection, I got tested I came back positive for type 1 and negative for type 2. She swore she didn't do anything to get it, and I didn't do anything before her. Now she says I gave it to her and that type 1 turned into 2, my question is: is that possible? and possible for me not to get type 2 even though I supposedly gave it to someone?

planters on

Posts

  • TurretTurret Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Well I know that it isn't possible for type 1 to mystically turn into type 2, these are two different viruses that cause the same symptoms, although type 1 is more commonly on the face and type 2 more commonly on the genitals.

    Turret on
  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and Herpes Simplex Virus-2 are two completely different species of the same virus. What your girlfriend says happened is impossible. HSV-1 is commonly associated with cold sores, although it can also cause a genital infection.

    Do you have sores? Just because you test positive for HSV antibodies, you are do not necessarily have HSV, although you probably had it in the past. If you tested positive for HSV-1 antibodies, all that means is you got a cold sore once.

    If your girlfriend has HSV-2, and you tested negative for it, chances are close to 100% she got it from someone else. Keep in mind in the US 1-in-5 men have HSV-2, and you may not develop sores for years after you are infected. So basically, if your girlfriend ever had sex with anyone else, they could be the source.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • RaggaholicRaggaholic Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Umm... I thought every sex ed class out there teaches that you can give your partner herpes if you have a cold sore and go down on them...

    Raggaholic on
  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Raggaholic wrote: »
    Umm... I thought every sex ed class out there teaches that you can give your partner herpes if you have a cold sore and go down on them...

    There are multiple forms of herpes. If one partner has one type, and one partner has another, they didn't get it from each other.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • EggyToastEggyToast Jersey CityRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    As mentioned above, HSV-1 is possibly from cold sores and may not be a chronic infection. You may want to go back to the doc after a while, get tested again just to see if it's chronic... and ask the doc.

    Or trust Runn1ngman, because they really are two different things. Herpes isn't herpes. I have a cat that has cat herpes; I'm not going to get cat herpes from him. And there's 3 different common strains of influenza, and you can get vaccinated for one and still get one of the others. Your girl got it from someone else, but may have had it for a long time and never even realized it. Just because she has it doesn't mean she's fooling around or anything.

    EggyToast on
    || Flickr — || PSN: EggyToast
  • LondonBridgeLondonBridge __BANNED USERS regular
    edited July 2008
    Wow, that sucks. You guys need to talk to your prior partners next.

    LondonBridge on
  • FeralFeral MEMETICHARIZARD interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Raggaholic wrote: »
    Umm... I thought every sex ed class out there teaches that you can give your partner herpes if you have a cold sore and go down on them...

    HSV-1 and HSV-2 are two different strains of the herpes virus. They are not specific to the location of infection.
    HSV-1 is more often found in the mouth but can infect the genitals.
    HSV-2 is more often found in the genitals but can infect the mouth.
    You can transfer either virus from either location to the other location.
    It is not possible for HSV-1 to turn into HSV-2. However, tests can be wrong. It is always best to get more than one test a few weeks apart to be absolutely sure.
    Also, there are different types of test. The most accurate, but most expensive and rarest, form of test is the PCR. If you can get a PCR test, do it, but it might not be possible depending on your insurance and where you live.

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • anonywhoanonywho Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    Okay I was positive for type 1 but negative for type 2. She was positive for type 2.

    she had sores down under, and got them checked out and turns out it was a primary infection of type 2, but I don't see how I could give something I don't have. I told her I don't think it's possible for type 1 to just turn into something else, she insisted that she "did research" that showed that. When I asked how come I didn't get it the answer was type 1 prevents type 2. Makes lots of sense....

    I've gotten a few cold sores but nothing ever down there, so I don't see how I could be carrying it for 19 years and not see any signs.


    EDIT: What other ways could someone get it besides being sexually transmitted?

    anonywho on
  • FeralFeral MEMETICHARIZARD interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    If she has HSV-2 and you have HSV-1, confirmed by blood tests, you didn't give it to her.

    End of story.

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • SkyGheNeSkyGheNe Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    ...Why is she trying to convince you? All evidence points to her being incorrect and makes me think of more cynical matters behind her extremely faulty logic.

    SkyGheNe on
  • myvillainmyvillain __BANNED USERS regular
    edited July 2008
    anonywho wrote: »
    Okay I was positive for type 1 but negative for type 2. She was positive for type 2.

    she had sores down under, and got them checked out and turns out it was a primary infection of type 2, but I don't see how I could give something I don't have. I told her I don't think it's possible for type 1 to just turn into something else, she insisted that she "did research" that showed that. When I asked how come I didn't get it the answer was type 1 prevents type 2. Makes lots of sense....

    I've gotten a few cold sores but nothing ever down there, so I don't see how I could be carrying it for 19 years and not see any signs.


    EDIT: What other ways could someone get it besides being sexually transmitted?


    There is the whole myth of getting it from a toilet seat, but I believe the common view is that while its theoretically possible, its probably a one in a billion shot. She could have touched someone's sores and then touched herself. Thats a possible way to get it. She could have have kissed someone who had type 2 in the mouth and then spit on her cooch... She could have worn panties recently worn by a prostitute that just had sex with someone and was all nasty like.

    In the end, you should break up. These are the reasons: one, you will get type 2 eventually if you keep having sex. If you really love her then that shouldnt stop you. Two, she probably was with someone else.

    myvillain on
  • FeralFeral MEMETICHARIZARD interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    anonywho wrote: »
    EDIT: What other ways could someone get it besides being sexually transmitted?

    Mouth-to-mouth, genital-to-genital, or genital-to-mouth contact only.
    Sometimes an infected mother can transmit it to her child during birth.
    If she's the really kinky type, sharing a sex toy immediately might transmit it, but that's never been confirmed. (In any case, it's not a good idea to share sex toys if you're into that kind of scene.)
    That's about it.

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • bsjezzbsjezz Registered User regular
    edited July 2008
    myvillain wrote: »
    In the end, you should break up. These are the reasons: one, you will get type 2 eventually if you keep having sex. If you really love her then that shouldnt stop you. Two, she probably was with someone else.

    what? it's herpes, man. they'll survive. you can have herpes and never know about it; you can have it and it's a minor irritation for a couple of days a year. she's probably telling the truth and trying to understand what happened herself. it's not like when you're infected a neon sign pops out of your undies saying 'you got herped!', so she's right not to be sure.

    basically unless you're hugely bothered by the fact she might have had sex before she met you, don't worry about this.

    bsjezz on
    sC4Q4nq.jpg
  • FeralFeral MEMETICHARIZARD interior crocodile alligator ⇔ ǝɹʇɐǝɥʇ ǝᴉʌoɯ ʇǝloɹʌǝɥɔ ɐ ǝʌᴉɹp ᴉRegistered User regular
    edited July 2008
    myvillain wrote: »
    In the end, you should break up. These are the reasons: one, you will get type 2 eventually if you keep having sex. If you really love her then that shouldnt stop you. Two, she probably was with someone else.

    First off, the OP is talking about his ex, not his current girlfriend.

    Secondly, just in case somebody else is reading this who is in (or considering) a relationship with an HSV-positive partner, this isn't good advice. Herpes is a manageable condition, and is very very common in the adult sexually active population. It's estimated to be present in around 1 in 4 sexually active adults which means if you date other people enough you will eventually be exposed to it. Most people who have it don't know they have it. Exposure to HSV if you're actively dating people is a "when," not an "if."

    The chances of asymptomatic, male-to-female transmission through condoms in a committed relationship are actually extremely low. In addition, if somebody is positive for herpes, they can take antivirals (usually a drug called Valtrex) that suppresses both outbreaks and transmission, further reducing the chances of infection.

    If you put all of these together, the chances of a man acquiring herpes from his long-term girlfriend is somewhere around 1-2% per year having sex 2-3 times a week. When you figure that just picking up somebody from a party or a dating website carries a 25% chance that your new friend has herpes anyway, it's not really something to get paranoid about.

    Feral on
    every person who doesn't like an acquired taste always seems to think everyone who likes it is faking it. it should be an official fallacy.

    the "no true scotch man" fallacy.
  • gtrmpgtrmp Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    planters wrote: »
    Few months back, my ex got diagnosed with herpes 2 the doctors said it was a primary infection, I got tested I came back positive for type 1 and negative for type 2. She swore she didn't do anything to get it, and I didn't do anything before her. Now she says I gave it to her and that type 1 turned into 2, my question is: is that possible? and possible for me not to get type 2 even though I supposedly gave it to someone?

    I'm guessing that "anything" in this sentence means "sexual intercourse" and/or "oral sex". Like everyone else in the thread has said, it's possible for herpes to be transmitted by kissing. If I were in your position, I wouldn't necessarily take her word that she hadn't done "anything" with anyone else before or after your relationship. She might be saying that to cover for cheating, she might be trying to make herself look less sexually experienced than she actually is, or she might be erroneously thinking that herpes can only be transmitted by sexual intercourse or oral sex. That said, when you talk to her about it, don't assume anything, and don't be judgmental.

    If you're 100% certain that you only have HSV-1 and she only has HSV-2, and that neither of you could have contracted the viruses from anyone else, you should both get retested. If the tests come back with the same results, it's theoretically possible that one or both of you contracted the viruses from your respective mothers during pregnancy, in which case, oh god, you might need to talk to your mom about herpes.

    gtrmp on
  • plantersplanters Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I wouldn't want to talk to my parents about that at all.
    Thank you everyone for your help, greatly appreciated it.

    planters on
This discussion has been closed.