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HSV-2 antibodies
I recently found out I have HSV-2. I have never had any symptoms and had been only with my husband for 13 years. I believe he was faithful as I was during that entire time. He passed away a year ago and I only recently had one intimate relationship with a man. I had myself tested because I began to worry about this man's intentions. I don't know that he gave it to me or not. I may very well have had this for many years and never knew I had it since I have never had any sores on my genital or discharge and I have only had cold sores on a very infrequent basis. My husband passed away from Melanoma so I know it was not due to an STD and he never had any sores that I recall. My concern is that if I have had this for so many years I have since had a son who is now 7 and I am wondering would he have HSV-2 antibodies and does this mean he could have the virus and pass it on to others. I am thinking I should have him tested to see and am just wondering what the ramifications were if he is positive for antibodies. He will need to know when he is older that he has it and could transmit it if that is possible. Do the HSV-2 antibodies pass onto the fetus during pregnancy if I had had the virus prior to being pregnant? Would he still have those antibodies or not? Please let me know as I am more concerned about his well being than about mine at this time. I can handle it if I have had it for so long. If my son does not have the antibodies would this possibly imply that I could have acquired this from my most recent intimate relationship and not my husband? or could my son not have the antibodies any more? I want to do the right thing by my son and by this other person. I don't want to make accusations since I realize so many people have this and never realize it due to no obvious symptoms or very subtle symptoms. Also I have heard that the actual value of the result if it is less than 3, it could indicate a false positive even in an IGG test and that I should possibly retake the test a few months later to see, is this accurate? I have to find out what the actual value on my test was so it may be a moot point but I do intend to get the actual lab work for my records.
I can't seem to find information on this anywhere, and I've been searching the web for hours now, so I suppose I'll just go ahead and ask here. My mother has HSV2 and contracted it years before meeting my father or giving birth to me. She had a C-section with me, and I'm not at all concerned that I caught the virus from her. Knowing that mothers pass on antibodies to the fetus, my question is this: Would I now (at age 28) have a false positive on an IgG blood test due to the fact that I carry some of her antibodies? Furthermore, wouldn't that mean I could never truly know if I've potentially contracted it from a partner because there's no differentiating between her antibodies and my own? Also, I read somewhere that having a mother's IgG antibodies makes a baby immune to the virus...is that true? Because if I'm actually immune to herpes that would be awesome, but it seems highly unrealistic!
i tested positive for hsv 2 but not hsv 1 i have never had an outbreak and i am scared can you please let me know what i should do.My serum test was 5.5.
I went to a well woman exam last week. I had never been checked for HPV, and in the process, decided to check for everything.
The test results show one thing, and only one thing, HSV2, oddly, I am negative for HSV1. I am married, my husband is negative for HSV2, but he does have oral HSV1. My husband is not at all worried about HSV2, but I am not handling things as well as he is.
I have no real symptoms other than occasional itching that I never really questioned. I am reasonably certain that this is something that I have carried since my college days. I have a son. He is 10. I wasn't aware that I had HSV2 when I was pregnant. Other than ear infections, he was healthy as a baby. Three questions: 1. If he had contracted HSV2 at birth, would I have known? and 2. If I passed antibodies to him, are we certain that they would be gone now? 3. Once every 2 or 3 years I get a cold sore, the test say no HSV1, does that mean my cold sores are HSV2?
I am not worried about having a virus that causes a rash. I am not worried about stigma for myself. My husband is not worried for himself, I married a great guy. My only real concern is my son.
The test results show one thing, and only one thing, HSV2, oddly, I am negative for HSV1. I am married, my husband is negative for HSV2, but he does have oral HSV1. My husband is not at all worried about HSV2, but I am not handling things as well as he is.
I have no real symptoms other than occasional itching that I never really questioned. I am reasonably certain that this is something that I have carried since my college days. I have a son. He is 10. I wasn't aware that I had HSV2 when I was pregnant. Other than ear infections, he was healthy as a baby. Three questions: 1. If he had contracted HSV2 at birth, would I have known? and 2. If I passed antibodies to him, are we certain that they would be gone now? 3. Once every 2 or 3 years I get a cold sore, the test say no HSV1, does that mean my cold sores are HSV2?
I am not worried about having a virus that causes a rash. I am not worried about stigma for myself. My husband is not worried for himself, I married a great guy. My only real concern is my son.
Thanks and I was not upset about the time it took for you to respond. I realize that this is a volunteer deal I just was not sure if you would overlook my post because I did not put it into the original thread. I have noted in other posts you have sent to others as well as your intro post that you indicate that we should put our posts onto the same original threads so you are not having to look everywhere for all of the information from previous postings. I did not want you to be upset that I had this in two areas on the community site.
your rashes all over your body aren't due to herpes. Sounds more like like irritated skin, heat rash from sweating or even a fungal infection from sweating. next time you have it, try a powder like shower to shower on it and see if that helps. if you continue to get it frequently, see a dermatologist.
Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's herpes or hemorrhoids. If in doubt, see your provider for a proper exam. they get a better angle than we do at home.
once your partner knows his status, you might have better answers.
I did not answer many posts yesterday. I work full time, have a family and sometimes just even need a break from this. As is stated in our read before posting, this is all volunteer for everyone here so we do it when we can.
grace
Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's herpes or hemorrhoids. If in doubt, see your provider for a proper exam. they get a better angle than we do at home.
once your partner knows his status, you might have better answers.
I did not answer many posts yesterday. I work full time, have a family and sometimes just even need a break from this. As is stated in our read before posting, this is all volunteer for everyone here so we do it when we can.
grace
I posted this in another thread because I could not remember what this thread's title was so I apologize for the repeated information in another thread. Please disregard this if you already answered the other thread. I am just posting it here in case you saw the other thread and did not answer it because I had started another thread outside of this one.
Well after some serious thought and reflection about some things that have happened over the last few months I am beginning to wonder if some symptoms I was having were not related to my increase in physical activity and sweating but due to a recent infection to the herpes. About a week after the second sexual encounter with my partner I had some significant burning and pain in the taint region and to the anterior aspect of my anus. I also had felt a little nodule or lump right at the entrance to my anus. I had thought that I may have developed a hemorhoid and that the pain was from too excessive of cleaning after a bowel movement. Now after reviewing some sites about symptoms, I wonder if that may have been an outbreak. It lasted about a week and I tried using hemmorhoidal cream on the area and it made it sting but did not really help anything. Everything eventually resolved. I have never had hemmorhoids except after having my son 7 years ago. I had originally just thought that I was maybe creating a hemmorhoid with pressure from running and bicycling which coincidentally I began doing at the beginning of this new relationship. About a month later I developed what I thought was heat rash. It was under my breasts, extending a bit along my flanks and above my pubic line. It was very itchy, red, and had numerous bumps everywhere. I do not recall any pustules but they did scab over on occasion even though I tried to never scratch or rub the areas. It would take about a week each time for the rashes to resolve and I have had that happen twice in the last couple of months. I used a Eucerin cream on the areas but it stung and did not alleviate the itching at all. I also have noted some mild vaginal itching that seems to take about a week to resolve as well and I just thought that was due to all the working out, sweating, and heat. I can go on 2 to 2 and a half hour bike rides and I just thought that because I was sweating for so long that I was creating friction and irritation to my vaginal area. Most recently I have had the vaginal irritation for a week and then over the weekend I started having some soreness to my neck and shoulder, I had a low grade temperature, and a sore throat but no other URI symptoms that I can think of. I was fatigued for about 3 days, sleeping for 10-12 hours each day, which for me is not usual. I just thought it was depression and maybe associated with all the physical activity I have been involved in. I ride my bike up to 30 miles 3 times a week, run every other day, and swim so with all the extra activity I just thought this was all due to that. I have had "heat rash" in the past but never so prevalently and I usually got it after I was in the sun too long on the beach I felt those few times were possibly even sun poisoning because I am very sensitive to the sun and use high spf. I have pale skin, part Irish, and red hair. I saw that there was a symptom called eczema herpetiform that the "heat rash" I most recently had could have been. All of these symptoms are new and I have not had any past incidents, prior to my relationship with this man, that I can recall that are similar. I find it interesting that I have had all of these symptoms appear either within a week after having a sexual relationship with this man or in the last couple of months after the relationship began. I have told him of my recent diagnosis and he is going to get tested. So pending what he finds out and assuming he is positive is it more likely that I could have recently got herpes and not had it for years? I did read on a couple of sites that someone could have herpes for years, have no symptoms, and then have intercourse with someone who is also positive for herpes and is unaware, then this new introduction of the herpes can trigger an initial outbreak? Is that possible as well. I am not looking to pin the blame on this man since I honestly believe he was not aware he was positive if he does test positive. I am trying to determine what my symptoms may be a result of and if I have had an initial outbreak in the last 3 months so therefore are my symptoms going to decrease at this point? I have not had any significant pain except for the first "hemmorhoid incident" and mostly the itchy "heat rash" and the vaginal discomfort is minor. The rash if it is eczema herpetiform I guess will reappear again and will be lifelong is that correct? and is there anything that triggers it besides gluten, like sweating, sun exposure, and if so how can I reduce the incidents. I am training for a triathlon and a 1/2 marathon so stopping my work outs is not an option and I live in Florida so it gets hot throughout the summer as well as humid. I have started wearing more cotton clothing during my bike rides to see if that would help reduce my developing the rash again though that seems to have had minimal effect since I did get some rash areas even after that. Can my son or anyone else get the herpes if they touch the sites when they appear? I am very concerned about passing this on to anyone else assuming any of these symptoms are even herpes related. This is just stuff that has occurred in the last 3 months and I originally thought they were all associated with my working out and sweating and now I am not so sure. Please let me know. HHPGrace was the person who dealt with my initial questions regarding herpes antibodies so she would be the one to remember the summary of my situation.
Well after some serious thought and reflection about some things that have happened over the last few months I am beginning to wonder if some symptoms I was having were not related to my increase in physical activity and sweating but due to a recent infection to the herpes. About a week after the second sexual encounter with my partner I had some significant burning and pain in the taint region and to the anterior aspect of my anus. I also had felt a little nodule or lump right at the entrance to my anus. I had thought that I may have developed a hemorhoid and that the pain was from too excessive of cleaning after a bowel movement. Now after reviewing some sites about symptoms, I wonder if that may have been an outbreak. It lasted about a week and I tried using hemmorhoidal cream on the area and it made it sting but did not really help anything. Everything eventually resolved. I have never had hemmorhoids except after having my son 7 years ago. I had originally just thought that I was maybe creating a hemmorhoid with pressure from running and bicycling which coincidentally I began doing at the beginning of this new relationship. About a month later I developed what I thought was heat rash. It was under my breasts, extending a bit along my flanks and above my pubic line. It was very itchy, red, and had numerous bumps everywhere. I do not recall any pustules but they did scab over on occasion even though I tried to never scratch or rub the areas. It would take about a week each time for the rashes to resolve and I have had that happen twice in the last couple of months. I used a Eucerin cream on the areas but it stung and did not alleviate the itching at all. I also have noted some mild vaginal itching that seems to take about a week to resolve as well and I just thought that was due to all the working out, sweating, and heat. I can go on 2 to 2 and a half hour bike rides and I just thought that because I was sweating for so long that I was creating friction and irritation to my vaginal area. Most recently I have had the vaginal irritation for a week and then over the weekend I started having some soreness to my neck and shoulder, I had a low grade temperature, and a sore throat but no other URI symptoms that I can think of. I was fatigued for about 3 days, sleeping for 10-12 hours each day, which for me is not usual. I just thought it was depression and maybe associated with all the physical activity I have been involved in. I ride my bike up to 30 miles 3 times a week, run every other day, and swim so with all the extra activity I just thought this was all due to that. I have had "heat rash" in the past but never so prevalently and I usually got it after I was in the sun too long on the beach I felt those few times were possibly even sun poisoning because I am very sensitive to the sun and use high spf. I have pale skin, part Irish, and red hair. I saw that there was a symptom called eczema herpetiform that the "heat rash" I most recently had could have been. All of these symptoms are new and I have not had any past incidents, prior to my relationship with this man, that I can recall that are similar. I find it interesting that I have had all of these symptoms appear either within a week after having a sexual relationship with this man or in the last couple of months after the relationship began. I have told him of my recent diagnosis and he is going to get tested. So pending what he finds out and assuming he is positive is it more likely that I could have recently got herpes and not had it for years? I did read on a couple of sites that someone could have herpes for years, have no symptoms, and then have intercourse with someone who is also positive for herpes and is unaware, then this new introduction of the herpes can trigger an initial outbreak? Is that possible as well. I am not looking to pin the blame on this man since I honestly believe he was not aware he was positive if he does test positive. I am trying to determine what my symptoms may be a result of and if I have had an initial outbreak in the last 3 months so therefore are my symptoms going to decrease at this point? I have not had any significant pain except for the first "hemmorhoid incident" and mostly the itchy "heat rash" and the vaginal discomfort is minor. The rash if it is eczema herpetiform I guess will reappear again and will be lifelong is that correct? and is there anything that triggers it besides gluten, like sweating, sun exposure, and if so how can I reduce the incidents. I am training for a triathlon and a 1/2 marathon so stopping my work outs is not an option and I live in Florida so it gets hot throughout the summer as well as humid. I have started wearing more cotton clothing during my bike rides to see if that would help reduce my developing the rash again though that seems to have had minimal effect since I did get some rash areas even after that. Can my son or anyone else get the herpes if they touch the sites when they appear? I am very concerned about passing this on to anyone else assuming any of these symptoms are even herpes related. This is just stuff that has occurred in the last 3 months and I originally thought they were all associated with my working out and sweating and now I am not so sure. Please let me know. HHPGrace was the person who dealt with my initial questions regarding herpes antibodies so she would be the one to remember the summary of my situation.
even the best blood tests we have still miss 1 out of every 10 hsv1 infections. you know you have a history of cold sores, assume you have hsv1 orally regardless of your test results.
your 2nd husband's genital issues sound EXACTLY like genital herpes. odds are he was never tested for herpes in his all too short lifetime.
if you are still involved with this newest partner, definitely talk to him about your recent diagnosis and get him tested. If he tests negative then you know there was no way you contracted hsv2 from him.
should you treat your hsv2 or not? that's totally between you and your partner's. If you do nothing but avoid sex any time you have anything going on genitally ( itching, discharge, frequency of urination etc ), he is 96% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. If you take daily suppressive therapy and always use condoms, he is 99% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you.
no special precautions to take with your child as far as hsv2. http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm is a terrific link about oral herpes for more reading .
Genital herpes is not a reason to stay single and to avoid sex!!! it's very common and you can keep your partner's risk minimum with just basic precautions.
grace
your 2nd husband's genital issues sound EXACTLY like genital herpes. odds are he was never tested for herpes in his all too short lifetime.
if you are still involved with this newest partner, definitely talk to him about your recent diagnosis and get him tested. If he tests negative then you know there was no way you contracted hsv2 from him.
should you treat your hsv2 or not? that's totally between you and your partner's. If you do nothing but avoid sex any time you have anything going on genitally ( itching, discharge, frequency of urination etc ), he is 96% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you. If you take daily suppressive therapy and always use condoms, he is 99% likely each year NOT to contract hsv2 from you.
no special precautions to take with your child as far as hsv2. http://www.ashastd.org/herpes/herpes_learn_oralherpes.cfm is a terrific link about oral herpes for more reading .
Genital herpes is not a reason to stay single and to avoid sex!!! it's very common and you can keep your partner's risk minimum with just basic precautions.
grace
The result was >5.0 for HSV 2 IGG and 0.19 for HSV 1 IGG. It was done by Quest so I assume it was the ELISA select (one of the more accurate tests).
I am thinking that that is pretty definitive for HSV2 positive. Since I have such a high result does that mean anything like whether I may have been recently infected versus I have had it for awhile?
My first husband was unfaithful to me and I contracted Chlamydia from him due to it. I checked my medical records and found that only the Chlamydia, Gonnorhea, and HIV tests were done at that time and no other STD tests were done. I have been in a monogamous 13 year marriage with my second husband, who recently died of melanoma, and I do not doubt his fidelity. I only recall him having a couple of incidents where he thought he had nicked his penis and felt a small sore which I looked at and it did not even appear like anything significant, certainly not like a pustule or canker sore. That was in a 13 year relationship too. I only recent had an intimate relationship with someone since my husband died last year and I became worried about his actions/intentions and went to get a full STD work up due to that. Since then though I have found out his odd behavior was due to some significant family issues that were going on and not that he was being disrespectful on purpose. I am just wondering if I have had this for a long time would that explain the high antibody level or does that mean it is my body reacting to a recent exposure. I am concerned as well because of my 7 year old son and I if I have herpes do I need to be concerned about using my saliva or any other body fluids other than genital ones on him. I have like many mothers wiped dirt off his face with a quick bit of my saliva and can my blood if he has any contact with that will he contract it? I am guessing that he does not have HSV2 due to antibodies being passed through the placenta to him during my pregnancy if I had this when I was pregnant. I understand that it is more of a concern if I contracted it during pregnancy but I know that antibodies are passed from mother to child and I am just wondering if that is the case for HSV2 as well? If my high level of antibodies suggest I may have been recently infected I am not blaming the man I was involved with and I intend to contact him about my results so he can get tested. If he is negative it would rule him out for giving it to me. I have had no symptoms this entire time if I have had it for a long time. IF I do develop symptoms all of a sudden is that suggestive of a recent infection though? Also would you recommend I go on treatment to reduce the shedding of the virus? I was in a monogamous relationship for so long and just never really had to worry about all of this but I now that I am back in the dating arena I am just so discouraged about this because even though I know it is not a life threatening virus it still has this stigmata that makes me just want to remain single so I don't have to deal with all of this. It is bad enough I have to go and tell this guy about these results.
Another question: I find it interesting that I test negative for HSV 1 since I have had cold sores infrequently throughout my life. I even had some show up a couple of weeks after my blood work was drawn as a matter of fact. They initially tingle and if I don't treat them with camphophenique during that time period then they actually become full fledged sores in the corners of my mouth. Could the HSV-2 be oral since I have read that it is rare to have them orally? I just wonder if that would explain my mouth cold sores that I have had. I guess I may have started having cold sores as a teenager and I did have couple of intimate long term relationships through high school. I cannot say that with 100% certainty that I only started getting cold sores around that time. I do know that my Varicella titer was 2.77 in 1993 while I was in the Navy and my mother says she never recalled me having chickenpox so I must have had contact with someone with chickenpox and just never had symptoms but developed antibodies. 2.77 according to the lab range is a high level positive and allowed me the ability to work with patients who were affected with Varicella. I also had mono when I was in high school and was sick with that for a month. I don't know that any of that makes any difference as to the HSV-2 results. I know those are from the herpes family though. I am just trying to figure out how I can have cold sores and not have a positive HSV-1 result and why wouldn't it reflect anything when I even ended up incidentally getting cold sores just a couple of weeks after the lab draw ( I am sure it was the stress of worrying about the STD results)?
I am thinking that that is pretty definitive for HSV2 positive. Since I have such a high result does that mean anything like whether I may have been recently infected versus I have had it for awhile?
My first husband was unfaithful to me and I contracted Chlamydia from him due to it. I checked my medical records and found that only the Chlamydia, Gonnorhea, and HIV tests were done at that time and no other STD tests were done. I have been in a monogamous 13 year marriage with my second husband, who recently died of melanoma, and I do not doubt his fidelity. I only recall him having a couple of incidents where he thought he had nicked his penis and felt a small sore which I looked at and it did not even appear like anything significant, certainly not like a pustule or canker sore. That was in a 13 year relationship too. I only recent had an intimate relationship with someone since my husband died last year and I became worried about his actions/intentions and went to get a full STD work up due to that. Since then though I have found out his odd behavior was due to some significant family issues that were going on and not that he was being disrespectful on purpose. I am just wondering if I have had this for a long time would that explain the high antibody level or does that mean it is my body reacting to a recent exposure. I am concerned as well because of my 7 year old son and I if I have herpes do I need to be concerned about using my saliva or any other body fluids other than genital ones on him. I have like many mothers wiped dirt off his face with a quick bit of my saliva and can my blood if he has any contact with that will he contract it? I am guessing that he does not have HSV2 due to antibodies being passed through the placenta to him during my pregnancy if I had this when I was pregnant. I understand that it is more of a concern if I contracted it during pregnancy but I know that antibodies are passed from mother to child and I am just wondering if that is the case for HSV2 as well? If my high level of antibodies suggest I may have been recently infected I am not blaming the man I was involved with and I intend to contact him about my results so he can get tested. If he is negative it would rule him out for giving it to me. I have had no symptoms this entire time if I have had it for a long time. IF I do develop symptoms all of a sudden is that suggestive of a recent infection though? Also would you recommend I go on treatment to reduce the shedding of the virus? I was in a monogamous relationship for so long and just never really had to worry about all of this but I now that I am back in the dating arena I am just so discouraged about this because even though I know it is not a life threatening virus it still has this stigmata that makes me just want to remain single so I don't have to deal with all of this. It is bad enough I have to go and tell this guy about these results.
Another question: I find it interesting that I test negative for HSV 1 since I have had cold sores infrequently throughout my life. I even had some show up a couple of weeks after my blood work was drawn as a matter of fact. They initially tingle and if I don't treat them with camphophenique during that time period then they actually become full fledged sores in the corners of my mouth. Could the HSV-2 be oral since I have read that it is rare to have them orally? I just wonder if that would explain my mouth cold sores that I have had. I guess I may have started having cold sores as a teenager and I did have couple of intimate long term relationships through high school. I cannot say that with 100% certainty that I only started getting cold sores around that time. I do know that my Varicella titer was 2.77 in 1993 while I was in the Navy and my mother says she never recalled me having chickenpox so I must have had contact with someone with chickenpox and just never had symptoms but developed antibodies. 2.77 according to the lab range is a high level positive and allowed me the ability to work with patients who were affected with Varicella. I also had mono when I was in high school and was sick with that for a month. I don't know that any of that makes any difference as to the HSV-2 results. I know those are from the herpes family though. I am just trying to figure out how I can have cold sores and not have a positive HSV-1 result and why wouldn't it reflect anything when I even ended up incidentally getting cold sores just a couple of weeks after the lab draw ( I am sure it was the stress of worrying about the STD results)?
In our read before posting post it's stated that we don't answer pm's. all replies need to be posted here in your post for follow up.
grace
grace
I sent you an email answering your question about my results and asked some follow up questions. I am not sure if you received it and am still waiting for a response. I can post it on this forum if necessary so let me know. Thank you.
We do not have tests for children his age that are accurate. He doesn't need tested anyways. If he had contracted hsv2 from you when he was born, he would've been visibly ill and needed hospitalization and treatment. You have no worries at all about your son.
I fyou can call and get your actual numeric test results to post here I can better help you. That way we can be sure you were properly tested and if you are in the false positive range and need additional testing done or not. All I need to see are the numeric results - ie hsv1 igg 6.6 and hsv2 igg 3.2 or whatever they are.
grace
I fyou can call and get your actual numeric test results to post here I can better help you. That way we can be sure you were properly tested and if you are in the false positive range and need additional testing done or not. All I need to see are the numeric results - ie hsv1 igg 6.6 and hsv2 igg 3.2 or whatever they are.
grace
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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.
