Diagnosis doesn’t need to doom love

Dear Dr. Roach: I am 57 and finally divorced my cheating husband a year ago. Now that I am interested in dating again, I went for a consultation and exam with my gynecologist, complete with STD testing. I am in excellent health and all tests were negative except theone I feared: herpes, both oral and genital.

I am not only upset but also confused because neither Inoranyofmypartners have ever had any lesions or cold sores. I have had terrible canker sores since childhood. I have eliminated most trigger foods to avoid the discomfort.

Maybethree times ayear I have a tiny red spot on my labia that I amaware of only whenI urinate. I understand that antibiotics arenoteffective, but has there been no advancement in preventing the spread of herpes? I am not suffering physically. — Anon.

Apositive blood test for herpes is pretty strong evidence of past infection. It could have been from any time in your life when you have had intimate relations. Most people with genital herpes are not aware they have it, and can spread virus even with no symptoms. However, people with active herpes infection, with blisters or ulcers, aremuchmore infectious.

Canker sores are ulcers in the mouth. They are not related to herpesction. However, cold sores are usually caused by oral herpes.

I don’t know if the red dot you have noticed is a genital herpes lesion, but it is certainly possible. Your gynecologist can do a viral culture, which could validate the diagnosis.

There is treatment for genital herpes. Acyclovir and similar drugs are not antibiotics but are specific antiviral drugs for herpes. They are effective at shortening outbreaks when taken immediately at onset of symptoms, and at reducing outbreaks if taken every day.