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Do I have herpes for sure or is it a false positive?
Hi Doc,
Recently, I got tested for STD's, I didn't have any symptoms, but just as a precaution.
The only thing that came out positive was HSV-1 Neg and HSV-2 IGG at 3.83.
I know that this is beyond the range of a normal false positive however please consider my history:
I have only had ONE partner ever (I was a virgin before him). And anytime we had sex it was ALWAYS PROTECTED. We even check the condoms every-time to ensure that they had not broken.
The only thing that was unprotected was oral sex and one episode of anal sex. I am getting him to go get tested. He was tested before we started dating and was negative for everything.
My questions are:
1. What are the possibilities that this is a false positive?
2. Should I get a Western Blot to make sure?
3. Is there a possibility that my partner could test negative and I could still have herpes even though I was a virgin before him and what should I do in that case? How could I have gotten it then?
4. If it is truly positive, is my infection most probably only oral since genital sex was always protected?
Hi Doc,
So apparently my partner came back as negative. I took the test and the first time, my number was 3.81 and the second time my number is 4.46. I do remember receiving oral sex with one another person which I read online that it is possible to get it from there. However, that was about 6 months ago, and if I contracted it then, my current partner that I have been seeing of 8 months, should have contracted genital herpes by now. However, he came back negative. I honestly don't know what to make of this? Should I get a western blot?
So apparently my partner came back as negative. I took the test and the first time, my number was 3.81 and the second time my number is 4.46. I do remember receiving oral sex with one another person which I read online that it is possible to get it from there. However, that was about 6 months ago, and if I contracted it then, my current partner that I have been seeing of 8 months, should have contracted genital herpes by now. However, he came back negative. I honestly don't know what to make of this? Should I get a western blot?
Can someone tell me if this is a low reading and what does this mean? Should i get retested?
Herpes 1 Ig G Antibodies- Positive up to 1:200 dilutions. Negative in 1:400 and further dilutions.
(IFA Test)
Herpes 11 IgG Antibodies- Positive up to 1:100 dilutions. Negative in 1:200 dilutions and further dilutions.
(IFA Test)
Is this like a low positive and i should retest?
Herpes 1 Ig G Antibodies- Positive up to 1:200 dilutions. Negative in 1:400 and further dilutions.
(IFA Test)
Herpes 11 IgG Antibodies- Positive up to 1:100 dilutions. Negative in 1:200 dilutions and further dilutions.
(IFA Test)
Is this like a low positive and i should retest?
I have herpes for sure. I got a second test and the HSV2 IGG came out to be 4.46. I'm still waiting on my partners results. I don't know if he has it yet or not. If hes negative, I'm not sure what to think or where I could have gotten it from or if I have had it since all my life. If that is the case, why haven't I had any symptoms or outbreak for the first 22 years of my life. If my partner is positive, I know where I got it from.
I'm not sure how long it takes to see symptoms or outbreak from when I was infected. Is there a way to tell when I have been exposed, I know that it takes at least three months for the antibodies to show up, but I've assumed my anal sex encounter is when I got it which was 8 months ago.
Now that I think about it, I do remember the the outside of my lips have been acting up, I haven't gotten any blisters or sores, but really dry skin, burning and itching, and peeling of the skin around my lips. Could this be my first outbreak? If not, could I be asymptomatic since I haven't seen anything for 8 months? I heard that 80% of the people who have it are asymptomatic?
I heard that as years pass by, the outbreaks aren't as bad and that sometimes people never have outbreaks.? If I am asymptomatic, how would I affect future partners even though condoms only protect 30% of the time. How do I prevent them from getting it?
How would me having it affect my body when I decide to have a child? If I am asymptomatic would it be passed on to the child?
I'm not sure how long it takes to see symptoms or outbreak from when I was infected. Is there a way to tell when I have been exposed, I know that it takes at least three months for the antibodies to show up, but I've assumed my anal sex encounter is when I got it which was 8 months ago.
Now that I think about it, I do remember the the outside of my lips have been acting up, I haven't gotten any blisters or sores, but really dry skin, burning and itching, and peeling of the skin around my lips. Could this be my first outbreak? If not, could I be asymptomatic since I haven't seen anything for 8 months? I heard that 80% of the people who have it are asymptomatic?
I heard that as years pass by, the outbreaks aren't as bad and that sometimes people never have outbreaks.? If I am asymptomatic, how would I affect future partners even though condoms only protect 30% of the time. How do I prevent them from getting it?
How would me having it affect my body when I decide to have a child? If I am asymptomatic would it be passed on to the child?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you are partner has a low positive, they need a confirmatory test also. Preferrably a western blot. The chances are high that he will be positive.
Condoms have been show to reduce transmission by about 30% in an analysis of multiple studies that have been done. You can probably locate this study on pubmed.
Sometimes people have outbreaks when they get infected and sometimes they don't.
Let's first get confirmed that you are positive. If you have herpes, you've hardly been cheated out of life, I think that's a bit extreme, don't you? You aren't dead, you simply have a viral infection of the genital area. You can either make this a managable situation in your head or make it the worst thing in the world. That part is very much up to you.
Terri
Condoms have been show to reduce transmission by about 30% in an analysis of multiple studies that have been done. You can probably locate this study on pubmed.
Sometimes people have outbreaks when they get infected and sometimes they don't.
Let's first get confirmed that you are positive. If you have herpes, you've hardly been cheated out of life, I think that's a bit extreme, don't you? You aren't dead, you simply have a viral infection of the genital area. You can either make this a managable situation in your head or make it the worst thing in the world. That part is very much up to you.
Terri
1) What if my partner is low positive? What does that mean? Should I still get the western blot? If he turns out to be negative, what are the chances of me being negative since I have not been with anyone other than him?
2) I read that usually when people have protected sex it is not a risk factor for herpes and that condoms when used effectively reduce transmission up to 99% so how come it reduces the risk by only a third?
3) I do admit to having anal sex, although I know it causes a higher risk, it was only once and that was 8 months ago. This was done after he told me that he tested negative for everything before he met me. I feel as if I should have seen an outbreak or symptoms or at least my partner should have seen outbreaks or symptoms after 8 months and yet neither of us had any such things.
4) If I am positive, I'm not sure how to cope with it. I understand that a lot of people have it however, I still feel as if I'm in denial and I know stuff happens but because this was my first experience, I feel as if I've been cheated out of life. I am getting him tested right now, and the waiting part is killing me already, I don't know how to handle it if he comes back positive.
2) I read that usually when people have protected sex it is not a risk factor for herpes and that condoms when used effectively reduce transmission up to 99% so how come it reduces the risk by only a third?
3) I do admit to having anal sex, although I know it causes a higher risk, it was only once and that was 8 months ago. This was done after he told me that he tested negative for everything before he met me. I feel as if I should have seen an outbreak or symptoms or at least my partner should have seen outbreaks or symptoms after 8 months and yet neither of us had any such things.
4) If I am positive, I'm not sure how to cope with it. I understand that a lot of people have it however, I still feel as if I'm in denial and I know stuff happens but because this was my first experience, I feel as if I've been cheated out of life. I am getting him tested right now, and the waiting part is killing me already, I don't know how to handle it if he comes back positive.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
1. What are the possibilities that this is a false positive?
I think the possibilities are very slim, but I would never say never.
2. Should I get a Western Blot to make sure?
First, get your partner tested. If your partner is negative for HSV 2, then I would recommend a western blot, definitely.
3. Is there a possibility that my partner could test negative and I could still have herpes even though I was a virgin before him and what should I do in that case? How could I have gotten it then?
If you have a positive western blot for HSV 2, and your partner is negative, the only options that I think are possible is some kind of molestation when you were small or infection at birth that went unnoticed by your parents.
4. If it is truly positive, is my infection most probably only oral since genital sex was always protected?
Condoms only reduce transmission by about a third. You also reported having an episode of unprotected anal sex which could certainly transit herpes.
Let me know how this turns out, OK?
Terri
I think the possibilities are very slim, but I would never say never.
2. Should I get a Western Blot to make sure?
First, get your partner tested. If your partner is negative for HSV 2, then I would recommend a western blot, definitely.
3. Is there a possibility that my partner could test negative and I could still have herpes even though I was a virgin before him and what should I do in that case? How could I have gotten it then?
If you have a positive western blot for HSV 2, and your partner is negative, the only options that I think are possible is some kind of molestation when you were small or infection at birth that went unnoticed by your parents.
4. If it is truly positive, is my infection most probably only oral since genital sex was always protected?
Condoms only reduce transmission by about a third. You also reported having an episode of unprotected anal sex which could certainly transit herpes.
Let me know how this turns out, OK?
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
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.
