Question:
I have placenta previa, so my boyfriend and I have not been able to have sex, nor have we had intercourse or has he even touched my vagina in the past two and a half months.

I have never had any symptoms of genital herpes, and neither has he. Well, this past Monday I started to itch down there, then the next day I felt a lump (NOT CLUSTERS OF BLISTERS, THOUGH) and the OB saw me two days later, put a needle in it, withdrew stuff then tested and told me it was positive. At the time of the test, he said it was unlikely herpes because it usually shows within 2-4 wks of initial contact (true that that's the overwhelming norm?) and probably a clogged hair follicle. I even had a short hair come off when I wiped after going to the bathroom. (???) I was crying to the nurse because she just told me I have a chronic disease. They said I could have gotten it from my current bf, him being asymptomatic, or from as far back as endless number of years.

This is my question: Can a culture that's withdrawn directly from the lump show a FALSE POSITIVE? Could they have mixed it up with another person's lab? Am I more likely to have gotten it from my current bf or ten years ago? I am confused and in complete disbelief. I am crying all the time, and scared of breaking out when the baby is born in Oct. Also, even if you have no sores when you deliver, how do you know you won't pass to the baby through shedding of the skin??

ANY HELP I WOULD SO APPRECIATE! THANK YOU!

Answer:
I've heard that if you have genital herpes that your OBGYN will do a c-section and not allow you to deliver vaginally. This is done to protect your baby so that he/she doesn't get it.

Answer:
Colette,

The information I've received from doctors is conflicting. The paperwork says you will have symptoms within 2-4 weeks; howver, if your immune system is good, you may not have outbreaks. My partner has HSV1 and has never had an outbreak. I was also told that herpes can be dormant for a long time. The information is so confusing that you will drive yourself crazy trying to determine where you got it from.

Answer:
I have had HSV 1 and 2 for several years... and I have never had an outbreak... so it is possible to be having your first outbreak due to change in hormones or stress.... have the doctor do a blood test if you are conflicted... and get a second opinion... there are rarely false positives in this world....

good luck to you....