Really really struggling with an ongoing genital herpes obsession. I have had no serious sign that I have it and I've been tested multiple times for every other STD but herpes requires either a blood test or the swabbing of symptomatic sores and a lot of doctors recommend against it since it is so common, harmless, and just causes mental distress to know. 5 years ago I messed around with another girl (just kissing and maybe hand contact) and she later told me she had genital herpes but she was on medication for it. It's hard to function thinking I have it and may have passed it on even though I have no reason to think I do. I feel like getting blood tested while having no symptoms would be a bad idea for my recovery but I'm not sure.

Username: JawshJawsh

Date posted: 5y ago

Good news, you didnt put yourself at risk for genital herpes! Sounds like she was on anti virals as well so thats even better. Its true that a lot of doctors advise against it but many doctors would go ahead and do it for you and i wouldnt say its bad for your recovery to test. If i were you, based on what youve said, i wouldnt test (bc you dont have it) but its always option. Ive been tested for it each time ive went in for regular testing.

Username: Grace Grace

Date posted: 5y ago

I know several people with herpes trust me you would KNOW if you have it. The blisters are extremely painful. If it would make you feel better to get tested then do it. The blood test will check for antibodies. So let’s say it shows up that you have type 2 which is the genital. They will prescribe you valtrex and you will most likely never have a breakout. Doctors don’t want you getting tested unless you have a legit breakout. Do whatever gives you peace.

Username: waytooparanoidwaytooparanoid

Date posted: 5y ago

This is really helpful!! Some sites say the symptoms can be extremely mild so I haven't been sure. No pain, I think I'm just finding old bumps from shaving and freaking out over nothing. There's never been anything at all that resembles a sore/blister. I think it's just my skin being human skin because it's always been sensitive and prone to ingrowns/razor burn but OCD is really unkind, you know how it is. Thank you so much. :)

Username: waytooparanoidwaytooparanoid

Date posted: 5y ago

It's great to hear from people with a little background knowledge about this. :) There was no sex but potentially hand to genital contact (I was intoxicated and passed out and didn't even know, she told me when I woke up, yikes, but hey I was really young) and I know there's still a risk for contraction if she had contact with herself prior. I was also cheated on by a guy I was with for several years and I've since been retested multiple times for everything but herpes. I'm terrified to until/unless I develop definite symptoms because I know if I get that result it will feel devastating and I'll feel obligation to disclose if I ever date again. It's amazing how years passed and I never truly worried about it but OCD has a way of making the most random things feel like an emergency hahaha

Username: genericusername

Date posted: 5y ago

After being sexually assaulted I developed a fear of sex and as a protection my OCD became obsessed with STDs and I’ve been tested a million times for everything they will test me for (they strongly recommended against testing me for herpes because everyone has it in some form and if you’re not showing symptoms and using protection it is near impossible to pass on so it doesn’t matter until you want to settle down and there is a big stigma) I’ve always come back clean, even for the random shit I googled like mycoplasma that I begged to be to be tested for. I still freak out. And now since I am starting to believe I am ok I don’t want to have sex with someone else Incase they infect me (even though if we use condoms and they get the routine test for HIV, Hep, Syphillis, Gonnorhea , and Chlymidia) the odds are slim. What do I do!!! And I agonize over whether I should disclose I have HPV even though my gyno says no because everyone has it (literally the CDC says that) and it goes away on its own almost always and dude to the lack of education it would do more harm than good. I think I am just finding reasons to avoid intimacy at this point and my OCD is making me intensely fearful about my sexual health in a very painful way to distract me, and I can’t deal. I’d rather just confront my issues.

Username: Anonymous

Date posted: 5y ago

I'm absolutely terrified now of genital herpes. I've slept with one person and I am in a relathionship with him for 10 years and somehow I still am horribly afraid I might have genital herpes. I've been very weak today because of the level of my anxiety and of course I had to be stupid and google it, so I found out it can be asymptomatic, and now I'm paralyzed with fear. Also I feel "itchy" down there...great...just great. I just need to accept I'll never feel peace in this life again.

Username: Cheeks

Date posted: 5y ago

I have really bad HIV OCD. I had a really low risk "hiv exposure" when I was a kid (16 or 17) with my high school boyfriend. This was 7 years ago and I've taken 2 BioSURE HIV tests since then and both were negative, but I just cannot accept it. Anytime anyone I know gets ill I think it's because I've passed on hiv to them somehow, and it's worse with my brother as we used to rough and tumble all the time as kids/teens. I'm back in that place where everything feels dark and I'm riddled with guilt and anxiety.

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