Herpes...I'm the last person to know the effects?!

[slowontheuptake]

I've name changed as I feel so awkward about this. Sorry in tmi.

I've never had reason to look up the side effects of herpes but I've just read another thread which prompted me to fin out more...and now I'm REALLY worried.

When I first met my husband I caught herpes, we were young and didn't know the implications of coldsores/ oral sex. I went to the GP and they told me I had herpes. Was given anti-virals, it took AGES to go away but it hasn't come back since so to be honest I've pretty much forgotten the experience until now. I was so embarrassed about it all at the time I think I denied it a bit and saw myself as dirty so never read up on it (nor was I given info). Obviously I've grown up a lot now and I see at as one of those things, rather than shameful, but as it's never flared up again I've never put much thought into it.

However, I've now read that a mother having herpes can pass it on to her unborn child and I feel sick. I'm 35 weeks. Do I ring midwife/ GP straight away? Wait until the next apppointment (next week)? I'm terrified as to what the implications will be. I'm also upset that if it can be such a serious issue that new mothers are asked at booking in if they've ever been treated for an STD. I mean it's awkward, but just as important as HIV testing etc so the need outweighs the potential offence caused. I also wish that at the time of diagnosis that I'd had more advice, rather than a fob off and dirty look. It was the treatment I received at the clinic that made me feel so ashamed in the first place. I was there with my husband and was asked all sorts of questions relating to sex work etc. (which I understand why) that were met with raised eyebows/ funny looks. They treated me with real disdain and I've tried to block the experience out since. Thet even sent a letter about a follow up check inc. diagnosis to my parents house, despite me asking them NOT to write to this address as I had the same intial and surname combination as my mother and we frequently opened each others post by mistake. Looking my strict catholic parents in the eye was hard for a LONG time after that (unnecessary) letter)

I don't know what to say really, and I can't believe that as an educated older woman I've managed to miss this completely.

This has been a bit of an outpouring, can you tell I've bottled up the feelings this long...

[ExConstance]

Let's all join in and support OP. I got it a little while after my then boyfriend came home from working in the USA for 6 months. GP told me it was very common and if it came back it wouldn't be as bad as the first attack. It hasn't come back in the original site (genital) but if I get very run down it does flare up on my lower back, maybe once every two to three years. I think all the herpes viruses, whether they come from chicken pox or are cold sores or genital live in or around nerves and can come out somewhere along the path of the nerve.
I have two children and as I hadn't had an attack for a year or two by the time of each birth I didn't even mention it. Calm down OP, don't be ashamed, nothing to get excited about as so man people have it in one form or another.

[Crystal15]

Argh zombie thread

[Crystal15]

Unless you have am active outbreak during delivery your baby will be fine. An old friend of mine had an outbreak during delivery and her baby caught Herpes. Surely they have to offer a Csection to ladies at risk like this hmm

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

I know it is just I was going to give advice to OP and she will have had her baby that is all.

[me23]

I'm with moon, didn't realise was old but herpes isn't going anywhere will be loads of women in the same situation. I'm a student mw and genital herpes isn't exactly rare have looked after quite a few women with it.

[mooncupflowethover]

But still very informative and relevant, there may be someone looking for exactly the same info as Me23 has just given.

Just what IS the problem with adding to old threads? I really don't understand it.

[ByThePowerOfGreyskull]

this thread is VERY old.

[me23]

actually the risk is if you have a primary episode in pregnancy here is the royal college of gynae and obs guidelines:

"If you get genital herpes before you become pregnant, your immune system will provide protection to your baby when you become pregnant. Recurrent episodes of genital herpes during pregnancy do not affect the baby.

If you get genital herpes for the first time after you become pregnant, this can be more serious.

If you get genital herpes in the first 3 months of pregnancy, there is a small chance of miscarriage.
If you get genital herpes for the first time late in your pregnancy (within 6 weeks of birth), there will not be time for your immune system to provide enough protection to your baby. If you then give birth vaginally, there will be about a 4 in 10 (40%) chance of passing the virus to your baby.
If a baby catches the herpes simplex virus at birth, this is known as neonatal herpes. It can be serious but it is very rare in the UK (1?2 out of every 100,000 newborn babies).

Neonatal herpes can cause infections in the baby?s skin and eyes. It may also cause infection of the brain (herpes meningitis) and other body organs. The baby may become seriously ill or die in the first 7 days after birth. Treatment with drugs designed to treat virus infections may help prevent or reduce damage to the baby
Will I need a caesarean delivery?
Most women with genital herpes will have a normal vaginal birth.

If you were infected with genital herpes before you became pregnant, you will not need a caesarean delivery.
If you develop genital herpes for the first time in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy, you will be offered a planned caesarean delivery.
If you get a recurrent episode of genital herpes at the onset of labour, you will not normally need a caesarean delivery. Your doctor or midwife will discuss this with you to help you decide how you would like your baby to be born."

[RoxieP]

I think there is only a risk to baby if you have active lesions at the time of the birth. Speak to your GP/midwife when you get the chance but you really should not worry unnecessarily. Oh and btw, I think you can only test for herpes by taking a swab from an active lesion - which is why they don't test for it on an asymptomatic sexual health screening.

[LadyFantastic]

If your DP gave you his coldsore, would he test positive for herpes?