Asymptomatic HSV2

[Malgirl]

Hello Dr.  
I read a thread where you said most people with asymptomatic herpes are probably those who just don't pay close attention to their genital area or minor symptoms.   Well, I am one of those people who tested Pos for HSV 1&2 (Igg test which I did twice, both testing pos)  and since then have been watching for any sign at all.  It has been 2 years since finding this all out and I have still yet to see or feel ANYTHING.  I have never, to my knowledge, even had a cold sore. It really has negatively affected my emotional state of being (since being diagnosed during a routine screening I decided to have).  I guess my question is, with showing no symptoms at all, how likely am I to spread this virus?  I don't really want to go on meds when I have no signs of infection, ever.  I am a 45 year old mom, single again after a long marriage (husband never had any signs of either HSV 1 or 2 either, but did not get tested)   Now I have to face single life with this stacked against me.

[gracefromHHP]

If it was a type specific test and your hsv2 igg was over 5 then yes it's a positive and no further testing is needed.

Have you ever read the herpes handbook yet?

If you are interested, look into the herpes dating sites.  Perhaps meeting someone you are compatible with who also has hsv2 would be a good start back into dating for you? If nothing else you'd get a chance to talk to others about  herpes and get more comfortable in general talking about it too.

Unfortunately no home shedding tests out there that you can buy and do at home. They don't even have a good real time shedding test for in hospitals yet for when women are in labour who have genital herpes :(   You can keep an eye on clinicaltrials.gov to see if there are any herpes studies going on near you to participate and some of them do offer daily swabbing to see what your rate of shedding is as part of the study. It's still not perfect because shedding differs from day to day and month to month but if you are interested in doing it there are studies out there to participate in.

Trust me when I say you'd rather find out you had herpes via the blood test then after you transmitted it to a partner.  At least now you and any future partners can take precautions together to reduce transmission to them.

grace

[Malgirl]

Thank you for your response, I didn't know you had to pay to post on the dr.'s forum.  

I don't have my numbers anymore, it has been a couple years since I was tested.  But I was tested twice and I remember talking to the 'experts' at the place where I had tested, and they said the antibody numbers were pretty high like.. over 5 or something. (Maybe that doesn't even make sense, like I said, it was a long time ago)  I guess it would make sense, if I have so many antibodies, maybe thats why I never show any signs of the virus?  I just wish there was some sort of daily test to see if I am 'shedding'.  I read somewhere that there are some (albeit very few) people who may never or rarely shed at all.  It would just be nice to know what another persons exposure really is when having relations with me.  I know it sounds so totally selfish, but some times I wish I never had that random screening.  There was no reason to believe I had anything, and I never would have known 'til this day.  I think about how many people are left out there who are like I was, so completely unaware of what they could be spreading.  Given this is not a life/death virus, I wonder if knowing is worth the emotional stress it has ended up putting on me.  Like I said, I know thats a selfish thought.
Do you think they will ever come up with a test you can give yourself to know if you are shedding at the time, or not?

Thanks for your time and input Grace!

Mal

[gracefromHHP]

This is not the doctor's forum - you have to pay to post there.

Can you get a copy of your blood test results to post here for more help? All I need to see is the numerical results - ie hsv1 igg 2. 9 and hsv2 igg 5. 4 or whatever they are. That way we can see if you need additional confirmatory testing or not.

Even though you can't see any symptoms of the virus being active, your odds of transmitting to a partner are the same as someone who does get obvious lesions regularly.

Genital herpes isn't the deal breaker that you seem to think it is.  I've had it myself for 22 years now and only ever had 2 fellows ever decide it was too much for them to risk. It really hasn't been an issue over all. To be honest I've had more men flee from my dogs than I have my herpes.

grace