HERPES

How Accurate is the Herpes Culture Test?

23 March, 2014

Dear Dr. Tom: About a year and a half ago I went for an OB/Gyn visit and everything was normal. The nurse who performed the procedure was in a rush and I remember (or at least I’ve convinced myself that I remember) her pinching me. The next morning I awoke with one small blister on […]

I had Unprotected Sex with a Woman who has Genital Herpes

Dear Dr. Tom: I recently had unprotected sex with a woman who has genital herpes (several times within the past week). I am currently showing no symptoms. I do not believe that she had any sores or blisters. What are my chances of contracting the virus; and is there anything that I can do in […]

Are Symptoms for Herpes 1 Milder than Herpes 2?

Dear Dr. Tom: I have had the herpes virus for approximately 6 years. In that time, I have had only 2 outbreaks since the primary infection. The second outbreak just occurred after 4 years of being dormant. In addition, the outbreaks are very mild. Would this be likely because I have acquired the HSV-1 rather […]

Do Herpes Symptoms Fluctuate?

Dear Dr. Tom: I have read that the symptoms of herpes (headaches, etc.) are the worst during the first occurrence, but my recurrences sometimes are barely noticeable, and then some of them I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck (aches, fatigue, headache, etc.). Are they supposed to fluctuate like that? Feeling like a […]

Can Herpes be Spread in a Swimming Pool?

Dear Dr. Tom: Can herpes be spread in a swimming pool without direct contact? Dr. Tom’s Response: Dear Anonymous About Swimming Pools: Spread of herpes in a swimming pool is most unlikely. If the pool is maintained as pools should be, proper chlorine level, filtration, etc., such a physical environment outside a human body is […]

What Aborts Asymptomatic Viral Shedding?

Dear Dr. Tom: Help! I desperately need to know if Valtrex and Famvir are equally effective in aborting asymptomatic viral shedding. First I am thankful that these medications are available to us today. But my main concern is that I do not want to be shedding virus around my home – I seem to have […]

Blood in Stool with Herpes Outbreak

Dear Dr. Tom: I am a heterosexual 40 year old male living a mobile life as a professional travelling around Australia. I believe that I have had herpes 2 for about 10 years now which always manifests itself when I am under stress, as a pain either in my testicles or rectum before, within 2 […]

Does my Male Friend Have Herpes?

Dear Dr. Tom: I am wondering if my male friend has herpes. Here are the symptoms he exhibits. On Day 1, burning sensation while urinating – right near the tip of penis. On Day 2 and 3, pain becomes worse – but no blood or blockage. On Day 4, friend goes to the doctor, who […]

If I’ve got Antibodies, I’ve got Herpes, right?

Dear Dr. Tom: Your opinion, please. I recently was diagnosed (via a Western Blot Test) with HSV2. In other words, I have antibodies in my blood to the HSV2 virus. I have never had any symptoms of herpes-no outbreaks, blisters, anything, anywhere on my body. I have talked to four doctors since then two of […]

Do Herpes Symptoms get Worse?

Dear Dr. Tom: The only symptom I have had since being diagnosed with genital herpes is a small bump or two between my vagina and buttocks. Do symptoms get worse after awhile? Dr. Tom’s Response: Dear Anonymous: One cannot generalize too widely about worsening of future herpetic outbreaks. However, HSV1 infections tend to be less […]