Question:
Can anyone tell me how men are tested for H2 and is it different than women? My bf and I were intimate two times and then I found out that I was positive. (It was a complete shock because I had no clue that I had the virus and had never had any symptoms) Anyway, I had a culture taken of the outbreak and also a blood test. The culture was negative, but my blood work showed high levels of anitbodies for H2. My bf on the other hand told me that they did the whole stick in the dick test, but no blood work. He then had follow up six weeks later - same thing, still no blood work and he claims all is okay with him, no H. Can you really test for herpes doing the stick thing - even if there is no break out? This doesn't make sense to me and I'm starting to wonder....

Answer:
well if he has no obvious sores, he gets a blood test (like anyone else who doesnt have anything visible)
if he does have a visible sore> culture test (they scrape the sore for a little bit, and then the lab trys to "grow" it)

Answer:
that's what I thought...something just seems off to me about his explanation of his visit to the doc 7 months ago (we haven't had sex since). Now he says his dr had him schedule another follow up and that they will have to test this way again. I just don't understand why the dr would do the stick test. It almost makes me feel like I wasn't given the whole story and that something else is going on...do i sound paranoid or what!

Answer:
that's what I thought...something just seems off to me about his explanation of his visit to the doc 7 months ago (we haven't had sex since). Now he says his dr had him schedule another follow up and that they will have to test this way again. I just don't understand why the dr would do the stick test. It almost makes me feel like I wasn't given the whole story and that something else is going on...do i sound paranoid or what! I'm guessing the doctor did the stick test just in case there were herpes sores in the urethra. But no, using the stick test if there's no breakout would not lead to a positive culture. If you really want to know if he has HSV2, just ask him to get a type-specific herpes bloodtest and ASK to see the lab results.

Until then, if he really is negative, you need to discuss protection with him so that he doesn't get it (unless he knows the risks and is willing to accept them). Also consider antivirals if you're going have fun unprotected.