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Blood negative but breakouts
Hello,
I've recently was diagnosed with genital herpes about 2 to 3 months ago . I first had a breakout I thought maybe it was an irritation to me taking baths with tea tree oil . I was wrong .I went to the doctor and he took a swab of the sores and even took blood . The swab came back positive however the blood was negative . Every since then I've been having break outs 2x's a month . I'm extremely confused because my boyfriend who I have been with for almost a year . Has no signs of it . No breakouts of any sorts . Prior to me being diagnosed I went to get check ups regularly everything came out negative and as well as him . I don't understand how I'm having breakouts and he isn't ? Should I go take a blood test to see what the results are ?
I've recently was diagnosed with genital herpes about 2 to 3 months ago . I first had a breakout I thought maybe it was an irritation to me taking baths with tea tree oil . I was wrong .I went to the doctor and he took a swab of the sores and even took blood . The swab came back positive however the blood was negative . Every since then I've been having break outs 2x's a month . I'm extremely confused because my boyfriend who I have been with for almost a year . Has no signs of it . No breakouts of any sorts . Prior to me being diagnosed I went to get check ups regularly everything came out negative and as well as him . I don't understand how I'm having breakouts and he isn't ? Should I go take a blood test to see what the results are ?
assume nothing about your bf. he needs a type specific herpes igg blood test to see what his status is. a lack of symptoms in him is meaningless as far as his status. You need to both know who has what in order for you to make educated decisions about what precautions to take in your relationship from this point on.
Definitely call monday and find out what testing you had done and if it's hsv1, hsv2 or just + for herpes and assumed to be hsv2 since it's genital.
Also you need to be seen again. Get properly tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally to see either if an issue. bv especially can be present without obvious discharge or odor and cause herpes to be more active as well as it can mimic recurrences so you think you are having herpes ob's when you aren't.
are you treating your herpes at all?
grace
Definitely call monday and find out what testing you had done and if it's hsv1, hsv2 or just + for herpes and assumed to be hsv2 since it's genital.
Also you need to be seen again. Get properly tested for yeast and bacterial infections vaginally to see either if an issue. bv especially can be present without obvious discharge or odor and cause herpes to be more active as well as it can mimic recurrences so you think you are having herpes ob's when you aren't.
are you treating your herpes at all?
grace
While true this can point to a recent infection people do flucate with IgG levels. Again HSV-1 would is still one of the less sensitive tests. I agree though it is strong evidence to recent infection but there is still just no way to know if it was or not. Now if in 4 months she chooses to test and is negative she will still know her positive culture was correct and shes not at the detectable antibody level which is a low percentage of people. (This is being stated as a previous poster has commented that I leave such facts out).
The same still applies that the BF should be checked just to know his own status and to find out what if any precautions need to be taken.
The same still applies that the BF should be checked just to know his own status and to find out what if any precautions need to be taken.
I think she means that her swab was positive but her blood test was negative when she first went to her provider. So that could happen if her body hasn't had time to show IgG.
lovemichelle... IF you had a positive swab you should get an IgG blood test 4 months past exposure. If you haven't already had one, get one now. Have your boyfriend get one too. Sorry if we're confusing you with too much info.
lovemichelle... IF you had a positive swab you should get an IgG blood test 4 months past exposure. If you haven't already had one, get one now. Have your boyfriend get one too. Sorry if we're confusing you with too much info.
To clearify my first paragraph should read:
The only time a swab test comes back positive and is negative is due to a clerical error. Possible could happen? Yes. However, when dealing with blood testing (IgG) depending on the type such as HSV-1 the test out are not as sensitive to it just yet. Something that could be looked at if all of your IgG tests come back negative is the Western Blot. That test is considered a Gold Standard test and those that other tests are compared too as well. It is more sensitive to detecting IgG AB.
The only time a swab test comes back positive and is negative is due to a clerical error. Possible could happen? Yes. However, when dealing with blood testing (IgG) depending on the type such as HSV-1 the test out are not as sensitive to it just yet. Something that could be looked at if all of your IgG tests come back negative is the Western Blot. That test is considered a Gold Standard test and those that other tests are compared too as well. It is more sensitive to detecting IgG AB.
Before we go into transmission here folks lets start with the basics.
The only time a swab test comes back positive and is negative is due to a clerical error. Possible could happen? Yes. However, depending on the type such as HSV-1 the test out are not as sensitive to it just yet. Something that could be looked at if all of your IgG tests come back negative is the Western Blot. That test is considered a Gold Standard test and those that other tests are compared too as well. It is more sensitive to detecting IgG AB.
It is and would be best if you follow the advice of Dance_In_the_Rain and get with your doctors office to find out what exactly was done and report back to us. Testing can be read and interpreted by grace (note: her posting on the weekend is limited usually because that is her family time).
Also it won't hurt to have your boyfriend get tested. If he has ever had cold sores or fever blisters he has HSV-1 orally. It will help you to know what precauations if any you need to take. IE: If you both have HSV-1 you really don't need to have many precuations as you both have antibodies to the virus in your system.
Yes the virus does shed with no signs or symptoms from the body. I would HIGHLY recommend you read the Herpes Handbook found at Terri Warren's Clinic website. She is the Herpes Expert here at MedHelp. If you look over her site she has some videos as well.
http://westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/view_the_chapters.html
The only time a swab test comes back positive and is negative is due to a clerical error. Possible could happen? Yes. However, depending on the type such as HSV-1 the test out are not as sensitive to it just yet. Something that could be looked at if all of your IgG tests come back negative is the Western Blot. That test is considered a Gold Standard test and those that other tests are compared too as well. It is more sensitive to detecting IgG AB.
It is and would be best if you follow the advice of Dance_In_the_Rain and get with your doctors office to find out what exactly was done and report back to us. Testing can be read and interpreted by grace (note: her posting on the weekend is limited usually because that is her family time).
Also it won't hurt to have your boyfriend get tested. If he has ever had cold sores or fever blisters he has HSV-1 orally. It will help you to know what precauations if any you need to take. IE: If you both have HSV-1 you really don't need to have many precuations as you both have antibodies to the virus in your system.
Yes the virus does shed with no signs or symptoms from the body. I would HIGHLY recommend you read the Herpes Handbook found at Terri Warren's Clinic website. She is the Herpes Expert here at MedHelp. If you look over her site she has some videos as well.
http://westoverheights.com/genital_herpes/handbook/view_the_chapters.html
If you had a positive swab you most likely do have herpes. It's useful to know what type. You should be able to call the doctor and find out the typing and the blood test they took. If you can't, get another blood test.. the IgG test. Make sure your boyfriend gets the test too. He may not have it yet, he may have transmitted it to you. You may have transmitted it to him. Some people get very mild OBs and never know they have it until they transmit it to someone else.
I can't tell you what the swab came back positive with or what blood test they took . The nurse explained to me that it was something recent I contracted . I know for a fact every time I would go to the doctor prior to that I would request a HSV screening and everything came back negative . My boyfriend has no breakouts or anything . I read that you can still pass it and not even have a breakout . Could that be the case ?
Was the swab that came back positive typed? (HSV I or II)
Did you do an IgM or IgG blood test? (IgM is useless).
Your blood test - if IgG - may have been negative due to being recently acquired & sometimes it takes 3 months or more for the body to develop antibodies.
If your last blood test was 2-3 months ago, you could return & get another blood test (IgG) to see if it returns +. It is definitely imperative for your bf to get tested, as well.
As for everything coming up negative prior to this, HSV screening isn't typically included in routine STD exams; often you have to ask for it. It's possible you two may not have been tested for it during regular check ups.
Did you do an IgM or IgG blood test? (IgM is useless).
Your blood test - if IgG - may have been negative due to being recently acquired & sometimes it takes 3 months or more for the body to develop antibodies.
If your last blood test was 2-3 months ago, you could return & get another blood test (IgG) to see if it returns +. It is definitely imperative for your bf to get tested, as well.
As for everything coming up negative prior to this, HSV screening isn't typically included in routine STD exams; often you have to ask for it. It's possible you two may not have been tested for it during regular check ups.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
