To the reader:

I just wanted to let you know that I went through this exact dilemma. I was diagnosed with herpes and my sister, who is a doctor, told me to get a second test just to make sure since I never had any symptoms. I know there are asymptomatic cases. The second test came back negative. I did this all within a month. I did have a UTI, which I treated and feel fine now.

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(2)
To the reader:

I was tested for HSV 2 (genital herpes) and had the following results: positive, negative, positive over a five year period. All the while, I NEVER had any symptoms.

Recently I went to a new doctor and she explained that recent studies reveal that the test that I was given previously has a 50% false-positive rate. This is one of the most common tests administered today! She then gave me a test called the Western Blot, which is very accurate and it came back NEGATIVE.

I am thankful for the results, but I am also irritated that I spent 5 years of my life thinking that I had genital herpes. This was something that disturbed me often and made me hesitant to date people.

I'd like to suggest to the woman that wrote on here that she get the Western Blot test and settle this diagnosis once and for all. If she is positive, she has nothing to be ashamed of. It is just a skin disease. The only reason it is stigmatized is because it has to do with sex. Chicken pox isn't stigmatized even though it's also a type of herpes virus.

Take care and good luck!

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(3)

To the reader:

It can happen! I was such a non-believer too! How could I, a mere mortal, challenge a form of science that has been used dozens of times? Well... I got retested because my boyfriend tested negative. We are in a monogamous relationship after all and I trusted him. I received my results and I tested NEGATIVE! False-positive results can happen. I'm not saying that they happen often, but you gotta believe your gut.