Question:
Im hoping someone can help me with this very stressful matter. I have been with my husband for 4 years, married for 2, with a 19 month old son. I have been faithful to my husband and have NEVER displayed any symptoms of an STD. I have been routinely tested for STD's and have always heard a negative result.

About 3 years ago my husband started to develop "water blisters" under the head of his penis, and on the shaft, that would come and go. They last for about a week or so and they go away. He told me that they get worse in the shower, and when they do pop, a clear fluid (like water) comes out. They eventually crust over and go away. He gets them every now and again. They mostly come when friction is involved. He has no pain with urination, no discharge, no pain anywhere else, only when the blister is present until it pops and goes away. They are flesh colored and not red. He has no fever or any other typical symptom of Herpes.

I am so scared that this is Herpes. He has not been to a doctor for this problem yet, and I have been trying to get him to go since the problem surfaced. I just had a Herpes blood test on Tuesday 6/12, and I am anxiously awaiting my results. Like I said previously, I have NEVER had any sores, or symptoms of Herpes or any STD in my life. My OBGYN didn't think it was necessary to give me a Herpes blood test, considering I have never had any sores or symptoms, and it has been so long since my husband has had this problem. She felt if I had Herpes, the symptoms would have shown by now.

I know that Herpes can lay dormant in your body for years, and so on.....but still I have never had symptoms of anything. I have been tested for everything when I was pregnant for my son. Could this be some other logical explanation for what my husband is experiencing? I know that he needs to be checked out by a doctor, but I hope you can help shed some light for me. Im going crazy!!! :confused:

Answer:
if he wont go and get checked then i bet he knows already exaclty what they are....

Answer:
if he wont go and get checked then i bet he knows already exaclty what they are....
The reason he hasnt been to the doctor is that he has a very demanding job and normally works 6 days a week, sometimes 7.

Since Herpes could be potentially dangerous to an unborn baby, wouldnt it have been necessary to test for Herpes when I was pregnant? He had this problem before I got pregnant....which means that if it is Herpes, I would already be infected and my son could have been at risk. My son is a perfectly healthy baby boy.

They tested me for IGM and IGG HSV I and II. Does anyone know what kind of test the IGM and IGG is? What is the most effective test, and should I trust the result of my test when I get them? Thanks!

Answer:
Just because your husband may have hsv does not guarantee that you have been exposed or even have contracted it.

Yes he may have it in his body and yes it is contagious but he needs to either have an active ob or asymptomatic shedding at the same time you have sexual contact with him in order for you to contract it. (assuming he only has a genital infection) If you have not contracted it from your husband I would consider you to be a very lucky lady.

As for testing during pregnancy. I do not know that it is required for dr's to test for hsv during pregnancy and if you did not indicate a risk of having contracted it the dr would have no reason to suspect this risk.

The most reliable herpes specific blood test is the Western Blot (WB). The average blood tests I've seen are the Elisa tests. Blood testing outside of the WB seem to have a high rate of false negatives. You want to look at the results of the IgG and your dr should have included tests for both strands.

The other that I would trust is the swab culture. With the culture if you get a positive result you can rely on the result because it is difficult to grow in the lab.

Answer:
Caliope, thank you so much for your opinion!! You are very knowlegdable! Just waiting it out :)