HSV 2 positive?

[eva214]

I am entering a new relationship and recently went to get tested for all STD's---figured I was being responsible! I received my test results and my Dr. informs me that I tested positive for history of HSV2 with IgG levels of 1.17. Mind you, I have never had an outbreak or symptoms so this came as a bit of a shock. She recommended I get on Valtrex if I am interested in trying to reduce transmission and outbreaks to future partners. My questions are:

1. Do I definitely have genital herpes?
2. SHould I take the medication?
3. What are the chances of my partner performing oral sex and then contracting the disease orally? Obviously I dont know when or if I am having an outbreak so I am jsut concerned over when to abstain, best practices, etc.

Also, since I have never had an outbreak, what is the likelihood that I will ever in life?

My only "symptom" I can rack my brain for is discharge...sometimes I get more than normal but i always just chalked this up to being the week before my period or something liek that?!
    
Thanks for your help

[Fleetwood20]

This is suggestive of being infected in the days leading into the bumps emerging. Hence your current boyfriend may well have an oral HSV1 infection that has just been transmitted to you.

[eva214]

Thank you and yes, the breakout started
With 1 red bump inside the vagina and then quickly escalated to about 7 on thevagina.  Does this help tell us anything?

[Fleetwood20]

If you are sure from the documentation that it was properly typed for HSV1, then that will be definitive.

An explanation may be that as commercial tests miss 1 in 10 infections you are one of those people. Hence you could have had HSV1 for a while.

This would mean your HSV2 reading would more likely be a false positive; you just one of those people that due to cross reactivity and other stuff in your blood triggers a HSV2 test.

Another explanation is that you have just become infected with HSV1, was it a breakout with more than one patch of cold sores?

If your boyfriend has HSV1 then the chances of a genital infection are very, very slim. Those with established HSV1 infections shed 5-15 days a year. Hence there is marginal benefit in taking a daily suppressive. If your partner already has HSV1, then I don't see the benefit.

[eva214]

Can someone answer my transmission question?  Thanks much!

[eva214]

And yes it was a swab...i thought they were one in the same but it was definitely a.swab.

[eva214]

They were conclusive about the test though...they let me know it could.distinguish between the two.  I just found it odd that the results simply said type 1 positive, nothing about type 2.  Either way, if my partner has oral type 1, can they contract it genitally as well from me?

[Fleetwood20]

Believe it or not, rapid culture tests for HSV 1 and 2 will often not provide the type. If they could not be conclusive about the type then it probably wasn't typed. Many doctors have a 'doesn't matter' attitude.

It may be a PCR swab test you are thinking of, which is not a culture, but much more accurate and type specific.

[eva214]

This makes no sense to me...isnt the culture test supposed to be the most accurate?  Everyone says you never know for sure until that is done.  I asked them for type specific before they even did it.  Plus, even if it wasnt type.1 genitally seems like an odd assumption.  Please help explain, this is ridiculous!

[Fleetwood20]

I think at this point you need to assume that the swab was not typed at all. I would think it doesn't say anything about type 1 or 2 for that matter. One thing you can do is return to them immediately and request that the sample be correctly typed for HSV1 and HSV2.

Given previous blood testing and the potential for this to be a recurrent outbreak, even though you didn't have one or identify a primary outbreak, then the assumption that this is HSV2 is the most probably just for now.

Hence if you are sexually active and wish to enhance protection for partners, then yes start the suppressive until you have a clearer perspective.

[eva214]

I had a true blue outbreak 2 weeks ago and was finally able to get a culture.  Turns out it came back positive for hsv 1, genital region. this was at a planned parenthood so when i asked what type or if.it said anything about hsv 2, their response was "it says nothing about hsv 2 here".  Previous blood tests from years ago had shown 1.1 levrls of hsv 2, negative for 1.  Herpes select tests...is this possible?  I assume.culture is best bet but just wanted to make sure.

Additionally, they put me on zovirax, 400mg for suppressive therapy and to get rid of the initial outbreak...should i continue the year with this dosage?  Ive seen mixed reviews on suppressive therapy for genital hsv 1.  Also, if my partner has oral hsv 1, can i pass this to his genitals through regulat sex or is he immune elsrwhere?  Lastly, we obviously kissed, how is it that i received type 1 genitally and not orally first?  Perhaps you can have it in noth, i guess it just goes back to my previous question about localized transmission.  Appreciate your response and any feedback, recommendations, etc is welcome!

[eva214]

thanks i have an appt. tomorrow.

are these true possible symptoms though--one singular dot that doesnt hurt and chapped lips?

[gracefromHHP]

if you see something that concerns you, go and be seen tomorrow and have it looked at.

follow up with the herpes WB so you can get answers for once and for all!

[eva214]

eventually i will stop writing on this board!

I have yet to go back for additional testing but have an appt this week to ask for a mote definitive test in determining HSV 2 results since mine came back 1.1 in August and a year or 2 before that.  Initially I thought thsi was an issue with false positive but have not received confirmation through additional testing.

My question lies in the fact that while shaving around my pubic region yesterday i noticed a small, red circular dot in pubic hair  line around the vagina.  it doesnt hurt and I wouldnt have notice it if I didnt shave the hair off it honestly.  It is nearly gone from yesterday to today as well.  I was obviuosly freaking out because I read that herpes can appear in just one singular dot in that area, doesnt always hurt, etc.  it hasnt blistered, isnt tender--literally looks like a slight discoloration in a perfect circular.  I also believe that I have HSV1 and read that these types of outbreaks can often be missed and seen in the form of chapped lips.  Is this true?  I was experiencing a tingly feeling in my lips last week and my lips got extremely chapped (like peeling practically).  I am just wondering if these are symptoms that go hand in hand.


I know I jsut need to get tested again to be sure but I am wondering what your thoughts are or if I am way off base with some of this.

Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

not everything is as cut and dry as it could be. there are some issues with all tests. we focus on herpes testing here.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724#post_5968138  is a poll/post we have here on the forum with more info in it too.

grace

[eva214]

ahhhh i see...thanks Grace---it is ridiculous how interpreting results can change from provider to provider-they cannot jsut go around misdiagnosing people and medicating them!  After doing some research I found that some people even say something like 3.5+ is positive for hsv2 while others are in my boat!  I really hope this becomes more clear in the future or providers make an effort to learn more before clearly diagnosing people with something like this.  in the meantime, I will thank YOU for your advice :)

I will plan to retest in October and keep you posted...thanks much!

[gracefromHHP]

some providers erroneously think that it takes that long for igg to show up :(

most providers aren't as up to date on herpes testing as they could be.

grace

[eva214]

This has put me in less of a panic so I appreciate the feed back and hope for the best!   One last question, why would my dr. say that this was an exposure that occured more than 6 months ago, while my dr. 2 years ago wanted me to get retested with basically the same reading?  Obviously 2 different Dr.'s so just wondering...it just concerns me that my dr. was adamant that this was due to a prior 6 month occurence?

[Mistakeguy789]

Eva you are in great hands.  

Thanks grace.  I figured the timing would be the same and that WB being gold standard would be best but was curious as well.  You know me always learning.

[gracefromHHP]

I'd go with the WB myself.

you need to wait until 4 months post encounter.

http://depts.washington.edu/rspvirus/herpes.htm  has all the info you and your provider need to order it.

grace

[eva214]

So to be safe, should I just do the western blot and call it a day?  How long should I wait before taking that test and any information on cost, how to get a hold of it, etc. would be great!

thanks for your help!

[gracefromHHP]

a biokit  can be used but you still have to wait until 4 months for it.

[eva214]

thanks Mistakeguy789---your comments have been helping to calm the nerves!  :)

I honestly didnt realize these results were almost identical to 2 years ago...if I were indeed positive 2 years ago, would be number go up significantly over the past 2 years?

[Mistakeguy789]

Hang in there Eva.  I know you are freaking out but you will get the answer.  I have a pretty darn good feeling it will be negative and this mess will blow over.

Grace if I may just for my own learning and not to sound out of line.  Would a Biokit not be useful in this case at all?  Or again would the poster still need to wait the full 2 months again?

[eva214]

aahh..sorry I didnt realize you guys are that good and chek both!  can you tell ive reached my freaking out point?!?! haha

This relationship is new so only had sex once with a condom/oral without but I had taken the test BEFORE any contact with this partner so that is a wash.  My last encoutner before that was a one night stand type thing (2 months ago) and was part of the reason I thought to get tested.  i figure there has to be some sort of connection between my two tests though unless the two month ago partner is the cause of this.  Jsut seems odd I get close to the same reading 2 years after my first blood test.