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Can Genital Herpes Be Asymptomatic And Go Unnoticed?
Question: Question: If I had a herpes outbreak this week would I have likely contracted it recently from my partner or could I have had a latent case of herpes that just happened to erupt at this point in time?
Background:
Hi, I might have had a herpes eruption this past week near my genitalia. I went to the doctors but he could not conclusively say it was herpes so he treated it as an ingrown hair infection and prescribed Keflex. If this was my first herpes infection, which I believe it was, I have a couple questions about when I might have been infected. I am sexually active with one partner who has had another partner recently and based on me and my last partner being last active more than 2 months ago I am interested to know what is the probability that I contracted herpes from my current partner.
I understand that I should wait 2-4 weeks to test for herpes because antibodies after a first eruption take 2-4 weeks to appear in the blood. I have an appointment with a urologist in 3 weeks to review my situation and test for herpes. I will also be suggesting to my current partner to get tested for herpes.
I am not concerned with who is at fault, although that is someone I will attempt to identify. I am interested in finding the chain of this infection and communicate my observations to them.
Question: If I had an outbreak this week would I have likely contracted it recently from my partner or could I have had a latent case of herpes that just happened to erupt at this point in time?
My current partner is only the second partner I have had in the last six years.
Thanks,
Background:
Hi, I might have had a herpes eruption this past week near my genitalia. I went to the doctors but he could not conclusively say it was herpes so he treated it as an ingrown hair infection and prescribed Keflex. If this was my first herpes infection, which I believe it was, I have a couple questions about when I might have been infected. I am sexually active with one partner who has had another partner recently and based on me and my last partner being last active more than 2 months ago I am interested to know what is the probability that I contracted herpes from my current partner.
I understand that I should wait 2-4 weeks to test for herpes because antibodies after a first eruption take 2-4 weeks to appear in the blood. I have an appointment with a urologist in 3 weeks to review my situation and test for herpes. I will also be suggesting to my current partner to get tested for herpes.
I am not concerned with who is at fault, although that is someone I will attempt to identify. I am interested in finding the chain of this infection and communicate my observations to them.
Question: If I had an outbreak this week would I have likely contracted it recently from my partner or could I have had a latent case of herpes that just happened to erupt at this point in time?
My current partner is only the second partner I have had in the last six years.
Thanks,
Brief Answer:
It could be a past or a recent infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
It is not really possible to know whether it is from your current partner or from your previous partner.
The reason being that primary genital herpes (first infection) can be asymptomatic and therefore can go unnoticed. Therefore, when it first manifests, that does not necessarily mean that it is a recently acquired infection.
Testing might help in resolving this confusion. You can undergo testing earliest at 2 weeks with ELISA (type 1 & 2 HSV), for both IgM and IgG antibodies.
If testing reveals only IgM antibodies then most likely it is from your current partner because IgM is the first antibody to appear against virus and later it gets replaced by IgG.
Whereas if the test shows presence of both IgG as well as IgM antibody types, it could be either recent or past infection.
Regards
It could be a past or a recent infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello. Thank you for writing to us at healthcaremagic
I have gone through your query and I have understood it.
It is not really possible to know whether it is from your current partner or from your previous partner.
The reason being that primary genital herpes (first infection) can be asymptomatic and therefore can go unnoticed. Therefore, when it first manifests, that does not necessarily mean that it is a recently acquired infection.
Testing might help in resolving this confusion. You can undergo testing earliest at 2 weeks with ELISA (type 1 & 2 HSV), for both IgM and IgG antibodies.
If testing reveals only IgM antibodies then most likely it is from your current partner because IgM is the first antibody to appear against virus and later it gets replaced by IgG.
Whereas if the test shows presence of both IgG as well as IgM antibody types, it could be either recent or past infection.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
2 additional questions:
1 - If I had asymptomatic herpes (have herpes but don't know that I have herpes) and had taken a herpes test before my recent outbreak would it have indicated that I had asymptomatic herpes?
2 - If my partner and I both have genital herpes is there additional risk by continuing to have the same normal sex life we had in the past?
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
1 - If I had asymptomatic herpes (have herpes but don't know that I have herpes) and had taken a herpes test before my recent outbreak would it have indicated that I had asymptomatic herpes?
2 - If my partner and I both have genital herpes is there additional risk by continuing to have the same normal sex life we had in the past?
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Testing for herpes is advisable for both you and your partner.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
1. Yes, it would have showed up in blood test.
2. Yes, you two can continue to have the same normal sex life.
I would suggest testing both of you for a confirmatory diagnosis of herpes.
Regards
Testing for herpes is advisable for both you and your partner.
Detailed Answer:
Hi
1. Yes, it would have showed up in blood test.
2. Yes, you two can continue to have the same normal sex life.
I would suggest testing both of you for a confirmatory diagnosis of herpes.
Regards
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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