HERPES

My School Health Clinic Said it was Herpes

Dear Dr. Tom:

I was diagnosed with herpes about 16 months ago. I went to my school health clinic and they said it was herpes; I had all the signs. What confuses me is that they never did a test to prove it; they just looked and said it was herpes. My problem is, I have never had another "outbreak" since, and my boyfriends have never gotten it, and I have had unprotected sex and have been given oral sex. I am wondering if it was a false diagnosis, and I can’t get tested again, because I never have outbreaks. The last one; if it was; was that long ago. Please help.
Anonymous in Michigan

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Dr. Tom’s Response:

Dear Anonymous in Michigan:

The person who examined you in your school clinic probably has seen sufficient cases of HSV infection that the visible signs were obvious and typical, and that no test was necessary to establish what appeared obvious. While the possibility exists that yours was a false diagnosis, the fact that you have not had more recent outbreaks or seemingly have not transmitted the infection through your sexual activities does not mean you do not have herpetic infection. Asymptomatic cervical recurrences can occur in women. Rather than undergo anguish over your situation I suggest that you seek medical help from someone with whom you are comfortable and who is most likely to have thorough knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases. Such a doctor can draw a blood sample for antibody level determination and can take exocervical swab samples for possible viral isolation if that is what s/he thinks may be necessary.

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