Had An Outbreak Of Genital Herpes Type1. Blood Test Was Negative. How Did I Get This?

Posted on Sun, 13 Oct 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 13 Oct 2013 Answered on

Tue, 5 Nov 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : I just had my first outbreak of genital herpes type 1. I have not been with nyone but my partner in over 8 months and his blood test came back negative. Now I am confused. How did i get this

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
DETAILED BELOW

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.
Genital herpes is always transmitted sexually.
This would involve vaginal / anal / oral intercourse ( cunnilingus and fellatio both ) as well as kissing.
There is no way that genital herpes can be transmitted by toilet seats/ tubs etc.
So the route has to be sexual / sex related activities.
Also herpes might lie dormant without breaking out for months or even years.
So you may have acquired the infection from an older partner ( if you were involved with anybody else before 8 months ).
This is the only possibility here.
Please do write back with more details.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar