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HSV-2 aB IgG test equivocal
Hi...I had unprotected sex with a woman about seven or eight weeks ago. I believe she has only had a few partners in her life, but I really don't know her history. Anyway, we had sex one night and I decided to end the relationship after that. I am a competitive cyclist and developed a mild rash a week or so ago and wrote it off to a case or rider's rash. I am sometimes bad about lounging around in my wet bike shorts after a ride and figured I just got a bacterial thing.
Still, I started to worry about it and got a canvas done. Everything came back negative except herpes 1 (out of range 1.18H), which I am not worried about, and HSV-2 aB IgG 0.97 equivocal. The center I had it done through told me I should get tested again in a month and that it's possible that the equivocal results could be due to recent exposure that will turn fully positive because my system has not had enough time to develop enough antibodies.
So maybe this is nothing, but it's freaking me out a bit. I have slept with a woman in the past...a long term relationship...and she had herpes II. But I never got symptoms and never worried about it much.
The rash I have does not show the standard blisters I have seen in my online research. It is just a reddish rash in an area of my scrotum that tends to stay moist in my bike shorts...and there was also a bit along the side of my penis - the same side as my testicles.
What's making this all bad is that I have a date this weekend with a woman anticipating we'll sleep together. Do I tell her I just had an equivocal test for herpes II? What if this is nothing and I ruin the relationship right off the bat? It's double stress. Anyone who can give me some advice...including one day testing I can have done tomorrow, I'd appreciate it.
Still, I started to worry about it and got a canvas done. Everything came back negative except herpes 1 (out of range 1.18H), which I am not worried about, and HSV-2 aB IgG 0.97 equivocal. The center I had it done through told me I should get tested again in a month and that it's possible that the equivocal results could be due to recent exposure that will turn fully positive because my system has not had enough time to develop enough antibodies.
So maybe this is nothing, but it's freaking me out a bit. I have slept with a woman in the past...a long term relationship...and she had herpes II. But I never got symptoms and never worried about it much.
The rash I have does not show the standard blisters I have seen in my online research. It is just a reddish rash in an area of my scrotum that tends to stay moist in my bike shorts...and there was also a bit along the side of my penis - the same side as my testicles.
What's making this all bad is that I have a date this weekend with a woman anticipating we'll sleep together. Do I tell her I just had an equivocal test for herpes II? What if this is nothing and I ruin the relationship right off the bat? It's double stress. Anyone who can give me some advice...including one day testing I can have done tomorrow, I'd appreciate it.
I think I made a mistake. My doc must be doing an igm. Sorry about that. That one appears to be useless, though...in the reading I am doing here. Sorry for any confusion. I've, of course, already had the igg and will have another one in four weeks. Thanks all for help on the personal and testing fronts.
to Grace: my answer would be much too complex to post on this forum, but you are correct. Thanks.
"Really this is just as much about your own health as it is hers. And a word to the wise - we gals would rather you were 100% honest with us even if it's about topics like crotch rashes than we would have you avoid us so you don't have to deal with it. A man starts postponing dates too often we really start to get suspicious."
Yes, I hear you. Saturday was just too soon for me after only starting to learn about this yesterday. I would have been a total basket case. I moved it to Wed and I have time to digest advice like this...and to get feedback from my doc, for what it's worth.
"Say you aren't comfortable with things going farther until you've had testing."
Ok, I am a stupid guy, I guess...and I suppose this is a pretty obvious thing to say. I was just thinking it was all me and all my fault for having unprotected sex last time. This makes it much easier for me to get my head around this and talk about it. Thanks.
Yes, I hear you. Saturday was just too soon for me after only starting to learn about this yesterday. I would have been a total basket case. I moved it to Wed and I have time to digest advice like this...and to get feedback from my doc, for what it's worth.
"Say you aren't comfortable with things going farther until you've had testing."
Ok, I am a stupid guy, I guess...and I suppose this is a pretty obvious thing to say. I was just thinking it was all me and all my fault for having unprotected sex last time. This makes it much easier for me to get my head around this and talk about it. Thanks.
no one I know offers an iga test for herpes. They do offer iga tests for checking on general immune system function though. NO idea what iga testing you are talking about though but it has nothing to do with herpes.
grace
grace
"Did you say you both already went through an STD panel of testing? "
Only I did full panel, of my own accord. All negative except for the equivocal igg.
This is a whole other part of the conversation we'll be having before we sleep together.
I actually think there's a good chance I'm ok. I'd really like to understand, though, if there is any other reason an igg can register as mine did and for there to be no hsv-2 antibodies. In other words, was I exposed to HSV-2 for sure, if I registered equivocal? That's one of my larger questions at this point.
Only I did full panel, of my own accord. All negative except for the equivocal igg.
This is a whole other part of the conversation we'll be having before we sleep together.
I actually think there's a good chance I'm ok. I'd really like to understand, though, if there is any other reason an igg can register as mine did and for there to be no hsv-2 antibodies. In other words, was I exposed to HSV-2 for sure, if I registered equivocal? That's one of my larger questions at this point.
Waring gf I am with you on this one!!!
Yes I can understand if this is too new of a relationship to be comfortable talking about this whole situation yet that you want to avoid it but you can avoid it without avoiding her. You could even use your next date as the opportunity to say something like - hey you know all that hot and sweaty stuff we were doing the last time really got me to thinking - it's probably a good idea if we both have std testing before things go much farther. Say you aren't comfortable with things going farther until you've had testing. You can even say that you realized that you still really need to wait a little more before your own hiv and herpes testing from your last partner would be accurate so you really prefer not to put her at any risk until you confirm your own status. Don't hesitate to ask her when she last had sex too so you know if her own std testing will be accurate or not. Condoms are not 100% protection either. A yearly pap test isn't std testing either. Really this is just as much about your own health as it is hers. And a word to the wise - we gals would rather you were 100% honest with us even if it's about topics like crotch rashes than we would have you avoid us so you don't have to deal with it. A man starts postponing dates too often we really start to get suspicious.
As waring said - if you have even jock itch or even skin irritation you don't want to be having sex anyways until it's cleared up.
grace
Yes I can understand if this is too new of a relationship to be comfortable talking about this whole situation yet that you want to avoid it but you can avoid it without avoiding her. You could even use your next date as the opportunity to say something like - hey you know all that hot and sweaty stuff we were doing the last time really got me to thinking - it's probably a good idea if we both have std testing before things go much farther. Say you aren't comfortable with things going farther until you've had testing. You can even say that you realized that you still really need to wait a little more before your own hiv and herpes testing from your last partner would be accurate so you really prefer not to put her at any risk until you confirm your own status. Don't hesitate to ask her when she last had sex too so you know if her own std testing will be accurate or not. Condoms are not 100% protection either. A yearly pap test isn't std testing either. Really this is just as much about your own health as it is hers. And a word to the wise - we gals would rather you were 100% honest with us even if it's about topics like crotch rashes than we would have you avoid us so you don't have to deal with it. A man starts postponing dates too often we really start to get suspicious.
As waring said - if you have even jock itch or even skin irritation you don't want to be having sex anyways until it's cleared up.
grace
Did you say you both already went through an STD panel of testing?
Well, peens don't always perform on demand, do they? :-) (I date men over age 50, so I know what I'm talking about!) :P
But then, neither does the vadge. :( Women have stuff going on too, like the yeast infections, or just having a monthly cycle can put a woman out of the mood. (Not me, but you get what I'm saying here.) Everybody has stuff they are dealing with.
Well, peens don't always perform on demand, do they? :-) (I date men over age 50, so I know what I'm talking about!) :P
But then, neither does the vadge. :( Women have stuff going on too, like the yeast infections, or just having a monthly cycle can put a woman out of the mood. (Not me, but you get what I'm saying here.) Everybody has stuff they are dealing with.
"I guess where you lost me is why you feel the need to cancel the entire date just because something's going on with your peen."
Gotcha...my head is still in a bit of a whirl and I'm probably not explaining myself very well.
I just moved the date so I could have a chance to get feedback from my doctor and other sources, like this. There are just too many unknowns for me to go out with her tomorrow night...hell, at this point, I'm so upset my "peen" probably wouldn't work anyway, even if called upon. :-)
Gotcha...my head is still in a bit of a whirl and I'm probably not explaining myself very well.
I just moved the date so I could have a chance to get feedback from my doctor and other sources, like this. There are just too many unknowns for me to go out with her tomorrow night...hell, at this point, I'm so upset my "peen" probably wouldn't work anyway, even if called upon. :-)
I guess where you lost me is why you feel the need to cancel the entire date just because something's going on with your peen.
FWIW, you're probably negative based on everything you've said.
FWIW, you're probably negative based on everything you've said.
"If you can't handle it in a mature and respectful manner, you probably shouldn't be dating. Leaving your partner out of the loop is disrespectful."
I kind of see what you are saying here, but really don't understand the tone of what you are saying about me here. My point is that *I don't know what's going on*, so I don't know what to say. If I could honestly tell her exactly what my status is, I would in a second. I hope you understand that.
I did not cancel for no reason. I just told her something has come up and I'd like to move our time together to another day. No problem. That gives me time to get a more accurate picture of my status so I can paint a a fuller picture for her...so she can make informed decisions about me. It appears that my doctor has given me bad advice, which is rather depressing. This may all be old news to you, but I am the one who has only just found out yesterday that I might have this virus.
In my view, I am being honest with my new prospective partner. If it turns out I do have HSV-2, you can bet everything in your account performing oral sex on her will be one of my first suggestions. I, with all respect, think you might be attributing traits to me I don't really have. I never said it's all intercourse or nothing. I just need advice on how to figure out what my condition is so I can tell her exactly what's going on.
It's kind of a bummer having to defend myself here. I'm just trying to learn and then do the right thing.
I kind of see what you are saying here, but really don't understand the tone of what you are saying about me here. My point is that *I don't know what's going on*, so I don't know what to say. If I could honestly tell her exactly what my status is, I would in a second. I hope you understand that.
I did not cancel for no reason. I just told her something has come up and I'd like to move our time together to another day. No problem. That gives me time to get a more accurate picture of my status so I can paint a a fuller picture for her...so she can make informed decisions about me. It appears that my doctor has given me bad advice, which is rather depressing. This may all be old news to you, but I am the one who has only just found out yesterday that I might have this virus.
In my view, I am being honest with my new prospective partner. If it turns out I do have HSV-2, you can bet everything in your account performing oral sex on her will be one of my first suggestions. I, with all respect, think you might be attributing traits to me I don't really have. I never said it's all intercourse or nothing. I just need advice on how to figure out what my condition is so I can tell her exactly what's going on.
It's kind of a bummer having to defend myself here. I'm just trying to learn and then do the right thing.
Actually, I'll qualify my above post (sorry) :-) by saying that you should probably wait for both of you to get tested for a full battery of STDs before proceeding sexually anyway. I can't recall if you said you both did this already?? And you are now having this situation post bilateral testing? Anyway, if you were planning to be sexual at some point with this person, you should be discussing STDs and birth control with her before any sexual stuff begins anyway. Has she been tested and for what? When was she last tested? etc. etc.
So I'd qualify the oral sex thing there. Unless you've both been tested already, which I can't remember. :-/
So I'd qualify the oral sex thing there. Unless you've both been tested already, which I can't remember. :-/
An IgA test is not something I've ever heard about for diagnosing herpes. I'd go with the advice grace gave you above. Believe me, the woman knows her sh*t. :-) You are wasting your time with any other testing except IgG. Your doc is off-base on this one; sorry. Many docs are familiar with the workings of the IgG; yours apparently isn't.
I understand the emotionality of it all seeing as it's new, but I have to stand by what I posted. Sh*t happens in life no matter where we are in the dating situations we are in. If you can't handle it in a mature and respectful manner, you probably shouldn't be dating. Leaving your partner out of the loop is disrespectful. Unilateral decisions that benefit only you are not only disrespectful of your partner, they indicate a lack of maturity in handling difficult situations. The beginning of a dating situation is actually an ideal time to be dealing with this, because it's going to indicate to your partner the strength of your character, your honesty, and your ability to protect her emotions, as well as her physical health. Canceling on her for no reason (or did you just lie to her about the reason?) would be really lame.
If you can't engage in any genital stuff with this woman because of your anxiety around it, or any symptoms, just perform oral on her. I doubt she'd turn that down. Give her a nice back massage. See where I'm going here? Stop thinking about "all intercourse/all genital or nothing." You won't get very far with that attitude in a long-term relationship, anyway.
I understand the emotionality of it all seeing as it's new, but I have to stand by what I posted. Sh*t happens in life no matter where we are in the dating situations we are in. If you can't handle it in a mature and respectful manner, you probably shouldn't be dating. Leaving your partner out of the loop is disrespectful. Unilateral decisions that benefit only you are not only disrespectful of your partner, they indicate a lack of maturity in handling difficult situations. The beginning of a dating situation is actually an ideal time to be dealing with this, because it's going to indicate to your partner the strength of your character, your honesty, and your ability to protect her emotions, as well as her physical health. Canceling on her for no reason (or did you just lie to her about the reason?) would be really lame.
If you can't engage in any genital stuff with this woman because of your anxiety around it, or any symptoms, just perform oral on her. I doubt she'd turn that down. Give her a nice back massage. See where I'm going here? Stop thinking about "all intercourse/all genital or nothing." You won't get very far with that attitude in a long-term relationship, anyway.
waringblender
Sorry if I am coming across as shallow or immature. It's just that I discovered this between the time we last saw each other and the time I learned that I am equivocal. It was unexpected, is new to me and just feels awkward...that's why I am posting here and asking for advice.
I guess I am just a bit too emotional about this now. And I did not know really how to deal with it. Clearly, last time we saw each other, the intention was taking our relationship to another level sexually...and it's just plain difficult for me to have to say what I have to say now.
Bottom line, I won't ever take a risk of infecting anyone for any reason. So I hope I pass on at least that score. :-)
Emotional issues aside, I will post my iga results here and hope that others can gain from my experience, handled well or poorly on my part.
Sorry if I am coming across as shallow or immature. It's just that I discovered this between the time we last saw each other and the time I learned that I am equivocal. It was unexpected, is new to me and just feels awkward...that's why I am posting here and asking for advice.
I guess I am just a bit too emotional about this now. And I did not know really how to deal with it. Clearly, last time we saw each other, the intention was taking our relationship to another level sexually...and it's just plain difficult for me to have to say what I have to say now.
Bottom line, I won't ever take a risk of infecting anyone for any reason. So I hope I pass on at least that score. :-)
Emotional issues aside, I will post my iga results here and hope that others can gain from my experience, handled well or poorly on my part.
I just checked with Labcorps and indeed they do not offer a IgA secretory test for Herpes.
Why are you canceling dates because of this? Doesn't that seem a little irrational to you? You don't even know if you have herpes, so why the hell would you bring it up to your date?!? You can color me confused on this one. Oh, I guess she's not worth spending time with otherwise unless you can bang her? I don't understand people making unilateral decisions in their partnerships. She has no say in this? It's all about what YOU want?
If you have anything going on in your genital region, like redness, irritation, or rash, it's safer to put off having sex for the time being. That is not a big deal, and it happens all the time for all kinds of reasons: women get yeast infections, men get jock itch, people with herpes have outbreaks or symptoms, ad nauseam. Why dont you just tell her the truth? Can't you just say you've got some skin thing down there, could be cycling, could be something else, but you want to play it safe and until you figure it out, you shouldn't be boning her?
You're an adult (presumably). If you can't talk openly with your "prospective partners" about sexual issues, that's a bad sign. A really bad sign. I'm not talking about baring your soul and giving her a detailed rundown. I'm talking about a "need to know" basis. At this point, it appears that what she "needs to know" is that you can't have genital sex (if the issue even gets raised). And you can't genital have sex because you have a skin condition that needs to be checked. And you can leave it at that, unless she asks more about it.
My god, people. I'm so disheartened by the poor communication skill sets I read about on this forum. Is it that hard to have open honest communication with your partner?
If you have anything going on in your genital region, like redness, irritation, or rash, it's safer to put off having sex for the time being. That is not a big deal, and it happens all the time for all kinds of reasons: women get yeast infections, men get jock itch, people with herpes have outbreaks or symptoms, ad nauseam. Why dont you just tell her the truth? Can't you just say you've got some skin thing down there, could be cycling, could be something else, but you want to play it safe and until you figure it out, you shouldn't be boning her?
You're an adult (presumably). If you can't talk openly with your "prospective partners" about sexual issues, that's a bad sign. A really bad sign. I'm not talking about baring your soul and giving her a detailed rundown. I'm talking about a "need to know" basis. At this point, it appears that what she "needs to know" is that you can't have genital sex (if the issue even gets raised). And you can't genital have sex because you have a skin condition that needs to be checked. And you can leave it at that, unless she asks more about it.
My god, people. I'm so disheartened by the poor communication skill sets I read about on this forum. Is it that hard to have open honest communication with your partner?
I am not sure if the IgA test is even available commercially. There have been some studies looking at secretory IgA levels in lacrimal and cerivical fluids. So far this is just research data . Condom protection may be the best answer for you untill you test again.
I told the doc I had an igg test done. he said that that will not tell me much of this is an initial outbreak...that the iga test will be off the charts if i have herpes-2 and this is an initial outbreak. i showed him my igg results. he took a look at my rash, said it's almost certainly nothing, and tole me to do the iga, too.
Why is the iga test bad? My IgG says I am 1.18 for hsv-1 and .97 equivocal for hsv-2. I just cancelled my date for this weekend on a pretense... If the iga test will tell me nothing and I can't do another IgG for a month (and that may even be inconclusive) what am I supposed to say? "Sorry, but I might have herpes-2." I suppose so, but that just sucks. Sorry to mix the sociological with the scientific, but that's my life. :-) Bottom line: I will do the right thing both for my new prospective partner and myself...it might mean a personal loss though.
Why is the iga test bad? My IgG says I am 1.18 for hsv-1 and .97 equivocal for hsv-2. I just cancelled my date for this weekend on a pretense... If the iga test will tell me nothing and I can't do another IgG for a month (and that may even be inconclusive) what am I supposed to say? "Sorry, but I might have herpes-2." I suppose so, but that just sucks. Sorry to mix the sociological with the scientific, but that's my life. :-) Bottom line: I will do the right thing both for my new prospective partner and myself...it might mean a personal loss though.
The iga test is not what you want for herpes. give them a call back and ask if it's the iga test or the igg test. YOu want the herpes igg blood test or don't get any done at all.
grace
grace
Ok, I just did an IGA test..my doc told me that, if this is an initial outbreak, this test should register very positive. I've heard the IGA test is not so good, but I'm not going to question the guy. He says the rash looks totally normal, especially for me as a cyclist. And I don't have any other symptoms, such as tender lymph nodes...no fatigue, aches, etc. I'll post results here. Still nervous as hell, but hoping I am ok.
I would put off sex until you find out what is going on. Did you see your provider to have this rash looked at or just get the herpes blood test done?
You need to wait and repeat the blood test 3 or 4 months after the encounter you are worried about.
grace
You need to wait and repeat the blood test 3 or 4 months after the encounter you are worried about.
grace
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
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