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HSV2 positive
Ms.Warren,
A little about my background. I am 37 years old and tested positive for HSV2. It was an IGG test of 3.9. However I have never shown any symptoms at all. I had the test voluntarily along with other STD test. So imagine my surprise when I saw the result. I slept with 4 guys since I was 20 and now been married for 10 years and none of these guys ever said or showed any HSV symptoms including my current partner. After I got the result back of course I feel paranoid and starting to noticed red bumps on my pubic area so I went to my GP and got a swab culture and came back as negative.
Wondering if you can give me some insight about this:
- Is it possible that due to no breakouts/lesions that i have never transmitted this virus to the people that I slept with?
- I understand that 3.9 is a high number and in some websites I read that anything below 4 "could be" a low positive but in other website it said 3.5 or lower. Is this true?
- if I would to get another blood test, which one is a better one? PCR or WB?
- WB is not offered in my clinics and I have called Quest this morning and they said they now only offer PCR or the other one but not WB. Not sure if I asked the wrong question or what the deal with that. I am so clueless.
- I understand your clinic offered WB, if I live in a different state can I do the test through your clinic? What is the process?
I understand that compared to other people here it seems like my issue is not significant since I have never experience the pain/sores and all that. But just knowing that I have HSV2 it makes a total difference mentally. I really appreciate your kind assistance.
Warm regards,
A little about my background. I am 37 years old and tested positive for HSV2. It was an IGG test of 3.9. However I have never shown any symptoms at all. I had the test voluntarily along with other STD test. So imagine my surprise when I saw the result. I slept with 4 guys since I was 20 and now been married for 10 years and none of these guys ever said or showed any HSV symptoms including my current partner. After I got the result back of course I feel paranoid and starting to noticed red bumps on my pubic area so I went to my GP and got a swab culture and came back as negative.
Wondering if you can give me some insight about this:
- Is it possible that due to no breakouts/lesions that i have never transmitted this virus to the people that I slept with?
- I understand that 3.9 is a high number and in some websites I read that anything below 4 "could be" a low positive but in other website it said 3.5 or lower. Is this true?
- if I would to get another blood test, which one is a better one? PCR or WB?
- WB is not offered in my clinics and I have called Quest this morning and they said they now only offer PCR or the other one but not WB. Not sure if I asked the wrong question or what the deal with that. I am so clueless.
- I understand your clinic offered WB, if I live in a different state can I do the test through your clinic? What is the process?
I understand that compared to other people here it seems like my issue is not significant since I have never experience the pain/sores and all that. But just knowing that I have HSV2 it makes a total difference mentally. I really appreciate your kind assistance.
Warm regards,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You are most welcome
Terri
Terri
Thank you so much for your reply. I will certainly call your clinic and order the WB test to double check my HSV status. I agree that it will help me move on with life faster. I will let you know how this turns out. Thank you so much!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is possible that you could have this and not transmit it, yes. Transmission happens more often when people don't know they are infected than when they do (for obvious reasons), but women transmit less often to men than the reverse, given the anatomy of intercourse.
Yes, 3.9 is a number we don't usually confirm, but I have had a few people who test positive with 4.8 on the screening IgG who do not test positive on the western blot, and in this case, I would believe the western blot. If you want to get a western blot, it might help you move on with a life with herpes, if it is positive, rather than wondering forever if it is correct. Our clinic can help you with this yes, or you can order a test kit from the University of Washington to be sent to your health care provider to draw blood and send back to them. It doesn't matter what state you live in for either option.
This isn't a terrific thing to find out, for sure, but if you truly are positive, there are measure that you can take to reduce the risk of infecting someone else, which I would bet matters a lot to you. If you take daily suppressive medicine, you can reduce the risk of infecting someone else by half. You can avoid sex with symptoms, you can encourage partners to be tested to see if they might also be infected and not know it. My book about herpes, The Good News about the Bad News, can help you with how to tell partners about your herpes (if you confirm as positive). I think it might be helpful for you.
Do let me know how this turns out.
Terri
Yes, 3.9 is a number we don't usually confirm, but I have had a few people who test positive with 4.8 on the screening IgG who do not test positive on the western blot, and in this case, I would believe the western blot. If you want to get a western blot, it might help you move on with a life with herpes, if it is positive, rather than wondering forever if it is correct. Our clinic can help you with this yes, or you can order a test kit from the University of Washington to be sent to your health care provider to draw blood and send back to them. It doesn't matter what state you live in for either option.
This isn't a terrific thing to find out, for sure, but if you truly are positive, there are measure that you can take to reduce the risk of infecting someone else, which I would bet matters a lot to you. If you take daily suppressive medicine, you can reduce the risk of infecting someone else by half. You can avoid sex with symptoms, you can encourage partners to be tested to see if they might also be infected and not know it. My book about herpes, The Good News about the Bad News, can help you with how to tell partners about your herpes (if you confirm as positive). I think it might be helpful for you.
Do let me know how this turns out.
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.
