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HSV-1 & HSV-2 both positive
Hello, I had an outbreak in mid-August, didn't know what it was until things progressed and various symptoms appeared. Tested on Sept 16. The vaginal culture stated 'Herpes Simplex Type II DNA detected'. Blood results HSV Type 1 IgG positive, HSV Type 2 IgG - Equivocal, HSVTypes IgM 1/2 negative, Varicella Ab, IgG positive. Was tested for Varicella as I had rash on my lower abdomen & scattered spots up forearm. Another outbreak occurred quickly after, maybe 7 days. Same locations, including inside my mouth; sores are on the roof of my mouth, red blotches & sores inside the cheeks. However, my nose has been tingling and my lips almost feel chapped. I have never noticed or observed any oral sores (except rare cancer sores) or vaginal lesions-sores prior to these recent events. If you can refer me to locations with in-depth information on these topics, greatly appreciated & may save you from having to answer some of the questions. 1) Given the positive-equivocal blood results of the 2 HSV's, how likely is it that my HSV -1 is also actually a recent infection? How likely would it be that the HSV-2 is not a recent infection (could I have acquired this prior to early May)? 2) What are the chances I have both HSV-1 & HSV-2 at the same location? I am experiencing much activity in the mouth and I need to determine which I have orally. 3) As only HSV-2 was detected from the genital lesion, can I be sure I dont have HSV-1 genitally also? Can shed at different times etc.4) For genital HSV shedding, if one only had HSV-2 genitally, will the virus only shed from genital skin & vaginal fluids? Can it shed in any other location being it is within the body -such as from itchy skin on the body, can it also shed at the same time in saliva, the mouth? 5) In your book you tell about percent risk, for HSV-2 activities. Do you know where I can read this type of information regarding HSV-1, like oral sex if not on suppressive, compared to suppressive etc. Thanks for your time.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, I don't think it would be anywhere near 100%, but certainly higher than when people are aware of infection.
Terri
Terri
Yes, I understand about not being able to do that type of study. I was just curious how great that risk could be, given people could be having outbreaks and not be aware of it. Didn't know if it would be near 100% chance of transmission etc. (given the information on how so many are not aware of symptoms).
Thanks for your answers Terri.
Thanks for your answers Terri.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Shedding occurs from genital skin and anal skin, but not from your mouth(unless you are infected orally), and not from your other body parts.
Oral shedding of HSV 1 occurs on 9-18% of day (you can find these articles on PubMed) not on suppressiver therapy.
There are also not numbers that I know about of risk of sex when having an outbreak and not on suppression - that isn't something we would ethically be able to study, really. We would always caution against sex when outbreaks are present
Terri
Oral shedding of HSV 1 occurs on 9-18% of day (you can find these articles on PubMed) not on suppressiver therapy.
There are also not numbers that I know about of risk of sex when having an outbreak and not on suppression - that isn't something we would ethically be able to study, really. We would always caution against sex when outbreaks are present
Terri
So, for genital HSV shedding, if one only had HSV-2 genitally, will the virus only shed from genital skin & vaginal fluids? OR, can it shed in from other locations such as from itchy skin on the body, from saliva-mouth?
In your book you tell about percent risk, for HSV-2 activities. Do you know where I can read this type of information regarding ORAL HSV-1, such as % risk associated with performing oral sex on someone if not on suppressive (but partner has HSV-1), compared to suppressive etc.
Lastly, your book informs of the % risk associated with genital and certain situtions. I haven't read anywhere what the % risk is to an uninfected person having sex with a person who has genital herpes who is not on supressive therapy & they were having a breakout.
Thanks for writing the herpes book.
In your book you tell about percent risk, for HSV-2 activities. Do you know where I can read this type of information regarding ORAL HSV-1, such as % risk associated with performing oral sex on someone if not on suppressive (but partner has HSV-1), compared to suppressive etc.
Lastly, your book informs of the % risk associated with genital and certain situtions. I haven't read anywhere what the % risk is to an uninfected person having sex with a person who has genital herpes who is not on supressive therapy & they were having a breakout.
Thanks for writing the herpes book.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You do have HSV 2 genitally, and it appears to be a new infection, based on your blood antibody tests. You also have HSV 1 infection, but without a history of cold sores, hard to know exactly where your HSV 1 infection is, though statistically, it is probably oral. As for having HSV 2 orally - no way to know that except to have a lesion from the mouth swab tested, should you get one. If you happen to have HSV 2 orally, it will likely recur very infrequently, and shed on about 1% of days.
Terri
Terri
Hi Terri,
I was sexual 1 person (about 6 times, genital & oral ) from late May to late August when we stopped seeing one another. It was unprotected even though he assured me he was tested. After everything I have learned NOW when it's too late, well I was extemely uneducated in the the herpes & STD field!! After the few genital lesions appeared in early Sept I finally figured it out. I told the person, he then decided he maybe did have sypmtoms but just didn't know it. I got tested, told him results & I urged him to get tested, he kept delaying,then said he did but I never saw nor heard his results.
The only culture done was vaginal from one spot. There were no oral lesions at the time. I do recall something inside my cheek initially when the other symptoms appeared, it went away. Oral spots have reappeared 2 times since. Wish that a culture of my skin lesions had been done at the time but no one thought of it. My docotor thought shingles on the skin and vaginal herpes. I didn't know enough at the time to ask for more testing.
I can't determine what type of test I had done. Culture says EDT HSV by PCR but at the bottom says testing determined by Mayo etc. and not cleared by USFDA. Nothing has numbers; positive, negative or equivocal with a reference range of 'negative' for the blood tests. It was done at Mayo Clinic labs.
Going from not knowing about any herpes to having HSV-1 & 2 is a bit discerning. All I know is that I have 2 vaginally. Given no further cultures, I'm trying to figure out my chances of where both 1 & 2 can be in my body and possible shedding sites of each.
Thank for any help you can provide.
I was sexual 1 person (about 6 times, genital & oral ) from late May to late August when we stopped seeing one another. It was unprotected even though he assured me he was tested. After everything I have learned NOW when it's too late, well I was extemely uneducated in the the herpes & STD field!! After the few genital lesions appeared in early Sept I finally figured it out. I told the person, he then decided he maybe did have sypmtoms but just didn't know it. I got tested, told him results & I urged him to get tested, he kept delaying,then said he did but I never saw nor heard his results.
The only culture done was vaginal from one spot. There were no oral lesions at the time. I do recall something inside my cheek initially when the other symptoms appeared, it went away. Oral spots have reappeared 2 times since. Wish that a culture of my skin lesions had been done at the time but no one thought of it. My docotor thought shingles on the skin and vaginal herpes. I didn't know enough at the time to ask for more testing.
I can't determine what type of test I had done. Culture says EDT HSV by PCR but at the bottom says testing determined by Mayo etc. and not cleared by USFDA. Nothing has numbers; positive, negative or equivocal with a reference range of 'negative' for the blood tests. It was done at Mayo Clinic labs.
Going from not knowing about any herpes to having HSV-1 & 2 is a bit discerning. All I know is that I have 2 vaginally. Given no further cultures, I'm trying to figure out my chances of where both 1 & 2 can be in my body and possible shedding sites of each.
Thank for any help you can provide.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I will be happy to answer your questions, as much as I can. However, first, I have a couple more questions for you.
What about sexual partners? Did you have a partner in August or early September? Has that partner been tested, if you had one?
Did you have any swab testing done of the mouth when you did from the genital area? Were you the giver of oral sex to any partners in August or September?
What kind of test was done, do you know? Immunoblot, western blot? Were there any numbers associated with your test results?
Terri
What about sexual partners? Did you have a partner in August or early September? Has that partner been tested, if you had one?
Did you have any swab testing done of the mouth when you did from the genital area? Were you the giver of oral sex to any partners in August or September?
What kind of test was done, do you know? Immunoblot, western blot? Were there any numbers associated with your test results?
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.
