[Cassy2007]

I recently was tested for STD's which I do about every 6 months. I was recently positive on the IgG for Herpes 2 with an index of 3. I have never shown symptoms of anything, I am typically the one that with any illness, I get the extreme side of it. I have been reading other blogs and have noticed that some people are testing positive after getting the HPV vaccine. Could that be causing a positive result? I've contacted my past partners and they all are negative. The nurse who gave me my results said that I was recently infected in the last month. I tried to explain to him that I had not been sexually active in the last 6 months, but he swore I got it in the last month not sure how that is possible.

[twinkiedooter]

You are going to think I'm crazy but believe it or not you could have gotten genital herpes from a toilet seat. Yep. Not making this up. A friend of mine who had no sexual contact in over 3 years got herpes from a toilet seat. Seems one of her female coworkers went to Japan and must have brought it back with her as my friend came down with a very nasty case of genital herpes shortly after the coworker's return. This is one reason they sanitize toilet seats in airports almost hourly over in Russia and other countries. And no, this is not an urban myth or legend here as it actually happened here in this country in Ohio and an outbreak of some pretty nasty herpes was prevalent in Japan at the time the coworker went there. If the nurse insisted you just came down with it, I'd believe her. But think back, what public pottys have you used in the past month or so that would raise your suspicions on this happening to you? Are you showing any symptoms such as the feeling of paper cuts on your privates?

[Cassy2007]

I asked him if it could have been from a toilet seat, he swore not that it was from sexual contact with someone in the last month. I'm a high school teacher so I use public toilets on a regular and at the school I just transferred to I use the same restroom as the female students (HS girls). I never sit on the seat without putting toilet paper on the seat first but I guess that may not have been enough. I don't have any symptoms of herpes, no blisters, itching, or tingling.

[Wondergirl]

I'd fault the vaccine in some way and would investigate that possibility further.

[J_9]

It's highly unlikely that one can get it from a toilet seat as it is spread from skin-to-skin contact. See here.

t's very unlikely that you would get genital herpes from a toilet seat. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) spread by skin-to-skin contact. In most cases, the virus enters your body through mucous membranes — the type of skin found in your mouth, genitals or anus. The virus can also enter your body through skin that has tiny scrapes or tears.

Found at Genital herpes: Can you get it from a toilet seat? - MayoClinic.com

[J_9]

I'd fault the vaccine in some way and would investigate that possibility further.

I would tend to agree as the vaccine gives you immunity by putting the antibodies in your blood stream.

[Wondergirl]

And from Herpes Resource Center - Myths vs. Facts - herpes, genital herpes, cold sores, herpes simplex, type 1, type 2, myths, facts, cold sores, toilet seats, symptoms, asymptomatic shedding, viral shedding, HIV --

Fact: The genital herpes virus dries out when it is exposed to air, and is quite fragile. There have been no proven cases of genital herpes transmission from a toilet seat.

[twinkiedooter]

J9 and WG your source said "it's very unlikely" not stating it is not possible. My friend got herpes from a toilet seat and NOT from any sexual or other personal contact period. What you can research on the internet is fine and dandy but try and tell that to my poor girlfriend. How do you explain how she got it then? She never had contact sexually or otherwise with another person, did not have any HPV vaccinations, etc. Sorry to disagree with you two but why does Russia and other countries scrupulously clean the toilet seats in airports? For just this reason and no other.

[Wondergirl]

My source said there are no proven cases. Was it proven that your friend got herpes from a toilet seat that had been used by a coworker who had been to Japan? How did she know the herpes was a Japanese version?

I'd definitely check the vaccine and how it was made, the ingredients, and other variables.

[Cassy2007]

Thanks for the advice, I will definitely look into the vaccines components and possibly getting a Western Blot done to be on the safe side.

[twinkiedooter]

Because it was so virulent and quickly onconing. How else would this poor woman get herpes? The other woman went to Japan. She was an escort here in Ohio a lot before she left as well. The virulent and quick oncoming of that Japanese srain was all over the health news over there (and on the net in certain places)

I'm thinking that the HPV vaccine could definitely be the culprit in the OP's case.

[J_9]

Twinkie, I tend to believe The Mayo Clinic over your "friend." Just sayin'

[Wondergirl]

I would surely retest. If you're squeaky clean otherwise, I'd guess it's a false positive.

[Cassy2007]

Ok, to help with the toilet debate. I just did a quick search on that and the University of Maryland Medical Center states that there is a chance of transmission from a toilet seat as well as towels. Even though the chance is low they recommend wiping seats off and not sharing towels.

http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/how_herpes_simplex_virus_transmitted_000052_3.htm

[Wondergirl]

Yeah, but how big of a chance? You'd have to get lucky and zoom onto a toilet as fast as possible after an infected person had rubbed her nether quarters all over it. Seems pretty unlikely, especially if you take some precautions.

I can't wait to hear what you find out in the future! This could become vital research! My money is still on a false positive.

[Cassy2007]

I hope so, I plan to order the Western Blot kit tomorrow and hopefully by next week I have a definitive answer. I've been carefully sex wise with all the things outs there not sure how this came about. I'm sort of glad it wasn't something a little more scary like HIV antibodies.

[J_9]

I'm confused here. Western Blot? We only use that in my facility for HIV.

[Cassy2007]

The University of Washington's Medical Center specializes in Herpes testing and they do the Western Blot

[Wondergirl]

I do hope you'll come back to let us know what resulted.

[Cassy2007]

I will from my recent readings it states that close to 85% of people with readings between 1.1 and 3.5 are false positives. This was found in the study done before making it the standard test which makes me wonder why is it the standard test?
Obtained from article published by the CDC