My partner and I are hsv2+, help!!

[horsegirl999]

Hi y’all! So this past year has been a mind f*%# and emotionally taxing, especially since my partner and I found out we’re both hsv2 positive (I took a blood test and it came back as hsv1 and hsv2 positive), in august. It came as a huge shock and it’s taken a toll on our intimacy and sex life, because we’re just not really sure how to approach sex again with this diagnosis. If anyone has advice for feeling comfortable and safe to be intimate again, please share! Obviously we want to have our intimacy back but have been feeling stunted in that area. The doctor that diagnosed us did not give us any information at all about how to move forward. Would really appreciate some help with this.

[WilsoInAus]

Hello @horsegirl999 and welcome to the website!

I’ll start by saying that if a couple both have HSV-2 then bonanza! They can have all the sex they want and they will not reinfect each other etc. - they are herpes concordant can have an early night, every night!!!

However things do not seem very convincing around you and your partner’s status.

The only credible test is the IgG antibody blood test type specific for HSV-1 and HSV-2. Do you have you and your partner’s results for these tests (4 results all up!)

If not then you don’t really have a confirmed diagnosis I would suggest. Try to obtain these results and report back, it will help a lot.

[horsegirl999]

10 hours ago, WilsoInAus said:

Hello @horsegirl999 and welcome to the website!

I’ll start by saying that if a couple both have HSV-2 then bonanza! They can have all the sex they want and they will not reinfect each other etc. - they are herpes concordant can have an early night, every night!!!

However things do not seem very convincing around you and your partner’s status.

The only credible test is the IgG antibody blood test type specific for HSV-1 and HSV-2. Do you have you and your partner’s results for these tests (4 results all up!)

If not then you don’t really have a confirmed diagnosis I would suggest. Try to obtain these results and report back, it will help a lot.

Hi WilsolnAug! Thank you for your response!  My partner had it confirmed by a doctor when he had an outbreak and then I went and got the IgC blood test for them and came up positive for both. Should my partner get a blood test as well to confirm it? I read that blood tests or testing in general were not very accurate to begin with. That’s why they don’t test for it unless you have symptoms. 
 

we had specific concerns about the spread of the virus in other places that’s why we’ve hesitated to be intimate for so long. It’s not going to spread to the eyes or mouth once you already have it right?

And when we do have sex, we just need to avoid friction because that causes breakouts right? I did a lot of google search but it feels good to hear from a real person haha!

[WilsoInAus]

Hello again @horsegirl999

In terms of your concerns regarding spreading the virus, you can rest easy. Once an infection is established, it is virtually impossible to spread further. You will not spread it to your eyes, mouth or any other body part. You can safely have sex this regard. Some people find friction an issue for outbreaks, others don't. I'd suggest some lube never hurts so to speak!

What appears to have happened is that you have infected your partner with HSV. I assume it was his first outbreak and he was swabbed positive?

I do think it is probably a good idea to confirm what HSV types you have as it isn't 100% clear which of the following is true:

* You have both types (HSV-1 and HSV-2) and infected your partner recently with HSV-2.

* You have oral HSV-1 only and infected your partner with HSV-1 during oral sex.

* If your partner didn't have a swab there's a small chance he has been misdiagnosed.

It sounds like you had a combined IgG HSV 1/2 test? This test is not an AND test, its an OR/AND test and you don't which. Maybe you had a test that just had positive/negative? Or a low positive figure for HSV-2?