HSV-1.....Chickenpox? I don't think so.

[cgore]

My husband has HSV-1 on his penis as well as MRSA. He says the doctor stated that the HSV-1 is probably tested positive because of childhood chickenpox. What? Chickenpox is a different Herpes family, correct. Herpes 3 I think. He is negative for HSV-2. How do you contract HSV-1 on your genitals other than oral sex or sex? Is there any possible way you can?

[RealisticGal]

My husband has HSV-1 on his penis as well as MRSA. He says the doctor stated that the HSV-1 is probably tested positive because of childhood chickenpox. What? Chickenpox is a different Herpes family, correct. Herpes 3 I think. He is negative for HSV-2. How do you contract HSV-1 on your genitals other than oral sex or sex? Is there any possible way you can?

Some of the less accurate tests can cross-react with the varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus. That is to say, the test can mistakenly identify herpes simplex as being present, when really it is just VZV.

What (brand name) test was used?

The tests they should use are the IgG-based type specific blood tests. The old technology (IgM-only) is unreliable and cannot accurately distinguish between types, and is also the one that will have cross-reactions.

For what it's worth, and you probably already know this, MRSA is of much greater concern than HSV or VZV.

There is some possibility of transmitting HSV-1 to the genital area via auto-inoculation (touching a shedding area on the face, then immediately touching the genitals), but it is considered a low probability, especially after a person has an established infection.

Do you know whether or not you have either type of HSV?

[cgore]

My husband's test results were done by pathological tissue sample, not just blood tests So they swabbed his lesions on his penis. They tested as HSV-1 and MRSA positive. His blood tests were negative for HSV-2 and obviously the tissue was negative for that too. I am negative for each. I have medical issues that do not allow us to be sexually active....hysterectomy complications with prolapses. That in itself is a story. He also had a MRSA lesion last late May in his pubic area. I am beginning to wonder if he is cheating with someone who is HSV-1 positive, both orally and genitally. SO stressed.

[RealisticGal]

Sorry you are so stressed. I'm still a little unsure of your HSV-1 status, and whether or not you have had a Type Specific IgG-based blood test.

Anyway, other than auto-inoculation, the likely means of getting a genital HSV-1 infection is via contact with someone else who has HSV-1.

If that person has it orally, then having contact between the infected person's face/mouth and the uninfected person's genitals would be the means of transmission. If the infected person has a genital infection, it would basically involve genital skin to genital skin contact to pass the virus. That's pretty much the bottom line, I'd say.