I really need some help figuring this s**t out

Sexual health
1

Hey. I want to warn you that this post will be seriously long as I want to write every single detail possible. So let's start from the beginning 

I'm 17 years old and in my first real relationship for 7 months now. I was always so careful about intimacy I was a virgin before and I wanted to wait till I'm ready. My boyfriend was very understanding so we waited for 6 months. We've done some stuff before but it never included vaginal or oral sex.

So first time we had sex I was sick like 3 days before and there is an option that I had weakened immunity. We had  oral and PROTECTED vaginal sex with a condom and I did not feel any discomfort after. Exactly week later we had oral and protected vag sex again. After a day or two I started getting symptoms. I woke up because my vagina was so itchy. after I put jeans on it started to burn, also burned a little when I peed but it wasn't far as bad as other woman describe it. I immidiately told my mom and we assumed that it's a yeast infection or an infection of some other kind. In the evening I looked inside my vag but it was just a little light so I didn't see it detailed but I saw white sheet all over, when I washed it went away.

She made me an appointment with my gynecologist right the next day so we went there. he started to examine me, opened my vag and said that he is seeing blisters and that it's herpes. He could not tell me what should I do with it, how to treat it etc. He also took a swab but it wasn't for HSV but for infections and told us that he doesn't think there will be some infection and it can't be anything but herpes. The same day we were send to another doctor who drawn my blood and prescribed me medication, Farmvir to be exact. I never even heard of herpes as in my country we barely have some sex ed if not none. So of course my blood test which was igg and also igm came back negative. taking the medicine I got so better that after 2-3 days I didn't have any symptoms just the itching sometimes.

Here comes the interresting part. My swab for infections came back for candida albicans and also some bacteria called e.coli. This was the first time my gynecologist started to doubt his diagnosis. he told my mum that he ordered a swab test for hsv and we can do it on monday but the thing is that on monday I would have my period so we had to do it on friday afternoon but he could send it to laboratory only on monday. So he did a swab test friday afternoon and put it in a refrigerator. On wendesday evening he calls my mum that the test came back negative. I was so confused as I read that the culture accuracy drops quickly after 48 hours so I told him that I want to see my results so I know what kind of swab it was. He gives me the test and what I see is a PCR SWAB TEST. This test is a lot more accurate than a culture but I don't think he should store it for so long so maybe that could affect it. So now my gynecologist is convinced that it was just from infection because this test is "authoritative". He gives me a prescription on some cream for infections but I start to use it only week after my period. Also I don't have any symptoms anymore. My herpes symtoms lasted for probably 4-5 days, then just itching. The pain was not so unbearable from the beginning

I am so depressed it's not even possible. In one hand I don't see how could I contracted it as my bf never had symptoms also never had a coldsore and had only one partner before me AND we used condom. In the other hand all of my symptoms lined up with herpes and the prescribed medicine immidiately helped me. seems too much of a coinsidence. I just need answers because It's slowly killing me. I am afraid to get intimate with my bf even now I don't have any symptoms. 

Also I need to write that He claimed to see blisters and he told us that my whole labia majora was full of blisters. The next day or the day after I tell my mum to check my vag and she can't see any blisters or anything. Is it possible to disappear so quickly? also I was checking my vag in the mirror w a proper light and couldn't see "blisters", bumps at max but it was very hard to see too I don't even know if it wasn't just the normal look of my vag. Also the doctor who prescribed me my medicine is making me to take 250mg of Famvir twice a day till my next blood test which is in one month so basically I have to take it for 2 months. She seems to think that it will "kill the virus" and it's ridiculous.

I don't know what to do anymore, I'm so afraid, worried and thinking about it every single second. It's a month now since my ymptoms started and everything and I just can't get it out from my head. All I need is to know it and to be sure. I don't know how is it possible to be so unlucky. It was my first time, It was full of love and it was gentle. We have that "real love" and this just complicates everything so much. I am so sorry for the lenght of my post just wanted to reveal all the details. thank you for reading and please tell me your opinion on this. Also, I am not from English-speaking country so forgive my the mistakes.

2

A pcr swab is the best test for herpes. I would trust the test. If you still don't, then stop taking the meds after the initial course and test for IgG in three months. And, no, herpes blisters/sores do not disappear overnight.

3

I see that the pcr test was done late. That makes it less certain, but pcr tests can be done on older lesions than viral culture swabs, so it may still be okay. Refrigeration is fine for dna swabs, up to a week no problem. But since you aren't reassured, just do the igg test at three months, but there's no point if you continue with the meds daily until then. It won't kill the virus, but it will postpone antibody production.

4

Hey, thank you for reading! yes that's exactly what's bothering me, the meds but the dr said I have to so I probably can't do anything else till my next blood test which is in 2 weeks or so. I just really want to believe that I'm negative because I just can't lead normal life since the diagnosis. Also the doctors can't even tell me anything about it I had to google it all by myself, like cmn I'm 17 years old, never  even heard of herpes... so in your opinion I should trust my PCR result? If my blood will be negative in my next checkup I'll stop taking the meds and then do it again in like 3 months? what is your recommendation?

5

The only thing that makes your pcr swab a little less definitive is how late it was done. Pity the doctor didn't do the swab earlier together with the other one.

What I would do if I were you is stop taking the meds once you have cleared up, only taking them again if you have another presumed outbreak, then wait at least 2-3 months before doing the IgG test for each HSV type.

If you take the meds daily until the point of testing, there's a very strong possibility that you will test negative, even if you are actually infected (which, of course, you may not be). That does not mean the virus is killed or eradicated from your body, only that your body was prevented from developing antibodies. Once you stop the meds, your body's defences will kick-in and produce antibodies, if you have the virus.

So, the only way to know for sure is to *not* be on the meds constantly, then test for IgG after the recommended test window.

Hope that helps, and happy holidays in spite of the subject matter!

6

Okay, will do, and the igg test is reliable in 3 months after stoping my meds? Also I wanted to ask (because only possibility is probably the oral sex) wouldn't the outbreak be also outside my genitals, because that's mainly where he performed it, but thi all happened on the inside. Also wanted to ask you if you think the combination od those 2 infections could create an intense reaction like this, maybe allergy? I've never had a yeast infection so I really don't know what does it feel like. The PCR was done I think 5-6 days after my symptoms started but I read everywhere that it's supposed to pick up the virus no matter what. I really am lost. If there will be no outbreak until those 3 months, is it a good sign?

7

oh, and happy holiday to you too! I very appreciate your answers and they helped me, not just in my discussion. I will sure keep you updated because you seem to know much about this stupid depressing thing

8

Yes, the IgG test at 3 months is pretty reliable, especially is you have only been on the meds for a short period of that time. The test does have its flaws, some kits more than others, but it's the most reliable mainstream test in the absence of lesions to swab. Do not waste your time or money with the IgM test, which is considered worthless for herpes testing.

The pcr swab can be done on older lesions, but it depends on how well healed yours were at the time and how much virus was present. It detects virus over a certain threshold only.

Mucous membranes are susceptible to herpes, not regular unbroken skin, so if you received oral sex in the area generally, then your mucosal skin is what would be affected. However, this is true for many infections, as mucosal skin is a common weak point.

Regarding how you reacted, that is hard to say, as everyone is very different. Some people never get recognisable symptoms of herpes, others only mild cases, and others yet severe outbreaks. Same for other issues like yeast, UTIs and whatnot. Some people get it bad, others only ever mild.