what does it mean about the severity of the case if it takes a year and a half for symptoms to show

09/02/08

greentree

Topics:delayed onset of symptoms and primary outbreak

I had unprotected sex with a guy a year and a half ago. He didn't tell me about his herpes until he had an outbreak at which time I was very angry and never saw him again. I thought I was fine but now a year and a half later I have sores, itchiness in genital area as well as I had a fever and achiness for about 2 days. Its very painful and what started as one (what I thought was an ingrown hair) became many red spots all over. I have been with my boyfriend for the last year with no problems and and unprotected sex on a daily basis. I told him I thought I had either a yeast infection or razor burn but the symptoms are looking more like herpes. If it took a year and half to develop does that mean that this is a mild case and can I go back to my normal sex life with my boyfriend?

Report Abuse

Answers (1)

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

DvW

Hello Greentree,

I'm thinking the answer to your question is no. First I would encourage you to go to the doctor and get tested, either by a sample from the "blister", or if they're healed, by a blood test that looks for antibodies for the virus. I would recommend that your current boyfriend get tested as well. This type of virus can lay dormant in your nerve fibers...you had no overt symptoms for quite some time, which is fairly typical for most people, and thus he may already be infected with no symptoms either. Everyone's physiology is different and people respond differently to infection, drugs, weather, etc.

The problem, it seems, with herpes is that you can shed active virus with no blisters, itching, etc. Thus anytime you engage in unprotected sex (condom) there is the possibility of transmitting it to others. Another unfortunate reality with herpes: condoms are only effective if they actually cover the affected area. If you're presenting blisters below the vagina (towards the anus) a condom will not completely protect your boyfriend's testicles. I have read accounts, however, of one partner being infected, and the other partner remaining herpes-free for years without using condoms. I'm not sure about the statistics on this...obviously, if he's not infected, he should know the risks. If it were just as simple as not having sex during an outbreak, life would be better for us, but the shedding factor with no symptoms complicates things a bit.

Also, it is possible, though not likely, that you contracted herpes from your current boyfriend, who has shown no symptoms and may not know he has it. Either way, you should both be tested. Just remember, this is not the end of the world for you. You can still enjoy an active sex life, you just have to educate yourself and take more precautions than before. One in five people has this, and as a result, you're not alone.