Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Question
Published: June 11, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have had one sex partner my entire life, and we were both screened and deemed ok for STDs before and during the time we had sex. They did not do a blood test for herpes at either of those screenings. I was my boyfriend's first sex partner as well. I went back to the doctor because I was having pelvic pain and she did 6 different pelvic exams at different times, over a course of about 2 months. She originally thought that I had an interuteral infection and gave me antibiotics. The antibiotics did nothing. She did some additional blood work on the last exam and called me to tell me that I had herpes that had showed up on the blood test. She prescribed Acyclovir and Zovirax. I went back 2 weeks later because I was still having pelvic pain. She finally ordered a pelvic ultrasound. The US showed that I had cysts. She never got a positive herpes swab from me, and the only symptom that I had was the pelvic pain. My mom had a herpes outbreak when I was still nursing, and so I am wondering if the antibodies could have been passed thru her breast milk, causing a positive blood test on me? My partner has been re-screened and does no have herpes. Did I get a misdiagnosis, since the pain was caused from the cysts?
Signed: Diagnosed With Herpes
Dear Diagnosed With Herpes,
TeenHealthFX cannot diagnose your pelvic pain over the Internet or say whether you were misdiagnosed or not. However, FX does recommend that you get this straightened out.
The pelvic pain you were experiencing could have been due to the cysts found on your pelvic ultrasound. However, an FX doc did not see you to get this diagnosis. FX recommends that you communicate with your doctor to get the results of any diagnostic workup you had previously.
To answer you herpes question:
The herpes virus cannot be transmitted through breastfeeding although newborns can be infected passing through the birth canal. This is usually avoided by delivering via cesarean section. Genital herpes is transmitted during sexual activity by rubbing and touching the infected area. A diagnosis is made by swabbing the painful blisters that rupture and become tender sores. Condoms are your best protection against infection. Having sex with only one partner who has not had sex with anyone else is the most desirable way to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, next to abstinence.
For more information on herpes, check out FX's answers to What's Herpes?, Herpes: An Oral Outbreak and Is This Herpes.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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