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HSV II Concerns

My husband was my first sexual partner. When he had an encounter with someone else, we took STD tests and he tested negative for everything (including HSV I and II) twice, and I tested positive for HSV II twice (3.097 and 3.719). I never had symptoms, neither did he. Earlier this year, I tested negative for both HSV I and II in both IGM and IGg tests.

I had an unprotected sexual encounter (one time, brief) with someone else, and he has been in a stable relationship for many years. Less than 48 hours later, this person tells me that they may have balanitis (he is not circumcised). I'd had a yeast infection before, which may explain things. but worried that I may have put him at risk, I tested myself again and got a 2.85 positive result. I have requested a Western Blot, but I am concerned about the test results. I have had shingles twice and chicken pox twice, btw. What is going on? Is there a chance that his symptoms are HSV II?
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Avatar universal
A month ago, perhaps? I went through your clinic, and Dr. Taulbee said retest in 16 weeks, which I will do...
Helpful - 1
55646 tn?1263660809
This is a very confusing situation.  So before this new partner, your only partner was your husband and he tests negative for HSV 2?  And you tested positive three times?  And the results of your western blot?  are they back yet?  That is certainly the direction I would guide you to.  Let me know.  

And yes, your new partner could have HSV 2 if you do but that seems so unlikely.  Is his rash just on the head of his penis?  Have you seen it?

Terri
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Hsv2 was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
           If I have HSV-1 and HSV-2 and am sexually active with a woman that has HSV-1 and HSV-2 is there a chance that I can catch other strains of HSV-1 or HSV-2?        
          Does HSV-2 refer to just one single virus, or are there several viruses that can be classified as HSV-2?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow, that's definitely a weird situation. You must not shed very often? I got married very young so my husband was my first everything and he doesn't have it (I've seen his labs) so I don't understand the positive IGG's and the indefinite WB. Of course I could have gotten a new infection from this most recent partner. I'll re-test in a few months and see.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have a case similar to mine.  Married 20 years.  Separated and I had 2 unprotected encounters with same man - brief - who said he had been recently tested for "everything" and was good.  Months later I decided to do testing on myself.  No sex with anyone since the 2 encounters months prior. I was shocked to be negative HSV 1 and positive HSV 2 (1.6, 4.2) on Herpes Select and Captia HSV 1 IGG and HSV 2 IGG (not combined).  After I tested positive, my husband of 20 years tested negative HSV 1 and HSV 2 as did my friend I had 2 brief encounters with (I saw lab results on both).  Western Blot was Positive for HSV 2 and negative for HSV 1.  I am asymptomatic.  I'm assuming premarital infection from late 80s or early 90s (8 total lifetime partners).  The incredulous part is that my husband - we have 3 kids together - is negative after 20 years.  I don't understand this situation at all and can empathize with you.....
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
Mostly where I have seen this particularly is in populations whose origins are from India, have no idea why, but have seen this four times now.  

In my opinion, if your husband is negative and you have had only one other partner once, that risk of you being infected is incredibly low.  How long ago was that encounter?

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
In which populations do you see higher false positives?
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Avatar universal
I am mixed-race, and my father is Hispanic.
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
Oh dear, that happens sometimes.  I know how frustrating that is.

Let me ask you - what is your ethnic origin?  Sometimes we see these higher false positives in certain populations.

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The results were indeterminate for the Western Blot... This is so frustrating.
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
Let me know the results.

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you for answering. Yes, before this new partner, my only partner was my husband, who tests negative for HSV 1 and 2. I tested positive 3 for hsv 2 times and negative once. I don't know very much more about his symptoms aside from the potential diagnosis. I'm still waiting (anxiously) on the Western Blot...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'd like to emphasize that aside from this one time encounter with this person, I have never had another sexual partner aside from my husband.
Helpful - 0

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