Brief Answer:
Provide more information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic

I am Dr. Kakkar. I have gone through your query.

Genital Herpes is usually transmitted through sexual contact (genital to genital or oro-genital sexual contact).

Clinical features of Genital herpes are: Well defined, grouped, discrete erosions in the genital area. There may be associated pain and burning sensation.

First, I would like to gather more information from you regarding the diagnosis.

-How was herpes diagnosed in you? Was it through a blood test?If yes, what is the test report?
-Do you have genital lesions? Did you get it examined by a doctor?
-Do you or your husband have a history of cold sores?
-Has your husband been tested positive for the infection?

I would suggest you to not yet outrightly confront him. I can very well understand your concern regarding the diagnosis of Genital Herpes and in such a situation suspecting your partner is the first thing that crops up in mind. I need more details so that I am better able to help you.

Regards

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Brief Answer:
Herpes Genitalis

Detailed Answer:
Hi.

Thank you for the additional information.
So, your husband has a history of cold sore. That is an important point to note.
As I mentioned in my previous reply that Genital Herpes can be a result of either Genital or Oral sex.
In herpes labialis/cold sore, the causative virus is shed from time to time from labial mucosa, even if the patient is asymptomatic/has no sores. So, the point that your husband had an episode long ago (> 4 years) is not relevant. The important point is that he has Herpes Labialis. Therefore, he was always a source of infection for you, if you ever engaged in receptive oral sex with your husband. Did you ever engage with him that way, even if it was not recent? If yes, this could be one possible route of acquisition of genital herpes. Though you have been having episodes just recently, even if you acquired the infection through oral sex somewhere back in the past, because herpes can remain silent for a long time.

The only other possible way you could have got genital herpes is, because your husband acquired herpes either from genital or oral sex with someone else.

It is always advisable to test both the sexual partners for an STD, if one of them is positive. I think you should talk to him. If he says that he is clean then there should be no harm in getting tested.

I wonder, what was his reaction when you told him that you have genital herpes? Did he confront you or ask you, how did you got it? You can sure judge a bit from the way he reacted? To be XXXXXXX if he dismisses it by saying that you got it from medicines then either he is unaware of herpes or he is just trying to ignore it. His reaction will tell you a lot.

I am sure you both understand each other very well since you have been married for so long and I am sure he would present himself for testing

Let me know if I can help you further

Regards

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