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HSV IgG 1/2 Negavtive but with HSV symptoms
Hi there,
So three years ago I had sex with my girlfriend who says she was clean but has never proved it (and had a sketchy character she slept with before). Our first time having sex, the condom broke. I had symptoms two weeks later of a burning sensation on the tip of my penis and an inflamed urethral tip with burning in the last 2 inches of my urethra. I went to the local clinic, she said it wasn't HSV and tested me for gon./chl. which came back negative. This happened once again about 12 months later. This year it's happened four times with two of those times presenting a red piece of skin (about the size of a pea) on my shaft with a very well defined border and no weeping. I mistakenly had a PCR blood test done which was negative but then had an IgG test which came back negative for both HSV 1 and 2, Is it possible that this is HSV or something else? It's somewhat concerning that these things started up after we had sex and I haven't had any partners since. If it isn't HSV what could it be?
So three years ago I had sex with my girlfriend who says she was clean but has never proved it (and had a sketchy character she slept with before). Our first time having sex, the condom broke. I had symptoms two weeks later of a burning sensation on the tip of my penis and an inflamed urethral tip with burning in the last 2 inches of my urethra. I went to the local clinic, she said it wasn't HSV and tested me for gon./chl. which came back negative. This happened once again about 12 months later. This year it's happened four times with two of those times presenting a red piece of skin (about the size of a pea) on my shaft with a very well defined border and no weeping. I mistakenly had a PCR blood test done which was negative but then had an IgG test which came back negative for both HSV 1 and 2, Is it possible that this is HSV or something else? It's somewhat concerning that these things started up after we had sex and I haven't had any partners since. If it isn't HSV what could it be?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is possible that you have HSV 1 and the test has missed it, yes. However, these symptoms don't sound that similar to herpes to me though I couldn't say for certain. The fact that Lamasil helped is more suggestive of a fungal infection, as you seem to already know.
A typical herpes sore breaks the skin and from what you describe, this is not the case with you.
You could do a western blot for herpes as it is far more sensitive for HSV 1 than the ELISA test you would normally have as a screening test. However, if it was positive, it could not tell you that the symptoms that you are describing are genital herpes.
One thing you could do is to ask your health care provider for a PCR swab test kit that you could use to gather your own sample at home the next time you have these symptoms. You would then drop off the sample either at the medical office or the lab itself, depending upon your arrangement with your health care provider. That's what we would do with you if your western ablot was positive for HSV 1. But that is the order in which we would do that - western blot, if positive, then PCR swabs sent home.
Hope that is helpful
Terri
A typical herpes sore breaks the skin and from what you describe, this is not the case with you.
You could do a western blot for herpes as it is far more sensitive for HSV 1 than the ELISA test you would normally have as a screening test. However, if it was positive, it could not tell you that the symptoms that you are describing are genital herpes.
One thing you could do is to ask your health care provider for a PCR swab test kit that you could use to gather your own sample at home the next time you have these symptoms. You would then drop off the sample either at the medical office or the lab itself, depending upon your arrangement with your health care provider. That's what we would do with you if your western ablot was positive for HSV 1. But that is the order in which we would do that - western blot, if positive, then PCR swabs sent home.
Hope that is helpful
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Depends on how much you can relax and accept the biopsy report.
Terri
Terri
Hi Terri,
My results from the biopsy came back negative for HSV. My dermatologist said there may be a few other things it could be but the biopsy showed no signs of HSV. I had the sample taken 24 hours after I first saw it (although. it might have been there a bit longer as it was on the bottom of my shaft and I may not have noticed it) Any thoughts? Should I still get a Western Blot or would that just be for peace of mind at this point? I've had random pain in the skin in certain areas on and around the penis for a few minutes that goes away randomly lately.
Thank you for your help.
My results from the biopsy came back negative for HSV. My dermatologist said there may be a few other things it could be but the biopsy showed no signs of HSV. I had the sample taken 24 hours after I first saw it (although. it might have been there a bit longer as it was on the bottom of my shaft and I may not have noticed it) Any thoughts? Should I still get a Western Blot or would that just be for peace of mind at this point? I've had random pain in the skin in certain areas on and around the penis for a few minutes that goes away randomly lately.
Thank you for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
OK
Two days ago had small red area appear.
Got into Dermatologist next day and had a biopsy done.
Will post results.
Got into Dermatologist next day and had a biopsy done.
Will post results.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Great plan.
Terri
Terri
Thanks Terri,
You're right, I just need to put this behind me and get on with my life.
I will be speaking with my dermatologist in December and get the Western Blot done to be 100% sure and then go from there.
Thank you for your help.
You're right, I just need to put this behind me and get on with my life.
I will be speaking with my dermatologist in December and get the Western Blot done to be 100% sure and then go from there.
Thank you for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Prostatitis does not explain the skin lesions that you have described, which you already know.
People ask me often, who should I see? Honestly, there is just no specialty that has tons of knowledge about genital herpes. Derm, ID, GP all have some info but there is a huge amount of variability between clinicians rather than specialties.
Get a western blot. You can do that through our clinic or directly from UW. Go with those results to live your life. The days are passing by and you are living in limbo. Get this REALLY behind you.
Terri
People ask me often, who should I see? Honestly, there is just no specialty that has tons of knowledge about genital herpes. Derm, ID, GP all have some info but there is a huge amount of variability between clinicians rather than specialties.
Get a western blot. You can do that through our clinic or directly from UW. Go with those results to live your life. The days are passing by and you are living in limbo. Get this REALLY behind you.
Terri
No but I have been in multiple times and very clearly described the lesions I had. I even showed him on my own penis the white marks left by the lesions (not scars but just the border of where the lesions were present with slightly lighter skin).
It's also my understanding HSV-1 very rarely has recurrent episodes, if at all, when genitally contracted. Let alone 5 times in the third year for no reason (although I may just be abnormal). Being an engineer, I also have to mostly believe a test with 90% accuracy. (I will be performing the Western Blot, just to be sure I'm not infectious to my current girlfriend when we become sexually active though). My numbers were also only 0.34 and 0.08 respectively for 1/2 with a 0.90-1.10 being the equivocal range. I was told by my practitioner that these were as low as she sees.
I have also seen a urologist who is treating me currently for prostatitis with 45 days of antibiotics. Could this possibly just be a low-grade bacterial infection hiding out in my prostate and rearing its head every once in a while? That still doesn't seem to explain the skin issues I've had, although maybe? He diagnosed me on the state of how my prostate felt. When he pressed on my prostate, the same feeling in the end of my urethra was present.
Also, I am seeing the other dermatologist in my regular practice who is specialized in Dermatopathology this December. I will probably perform a Western Blot as well but was wondering, is there any other type of doctor such as infectious diseases that I should see? This worry is eating me up and preventing me from being sexual at all with my current long term relationship who I might marry one day. I would like to put this behind me and am looking for steps to pursue doing so...
It's also my understanding HSV-1 very rarely has recurrent episodes, if at all, when genitally contracted. Let alone 5 times in the third year for no reason (although I may just be abnormal). Being an engineer, I also have to mostly believe a test with 90% accuracy. (I will be performing the Western Blot, just to be sure I'm not infectious to my current girlfriend when we become sexually active though). My numbers were also only 0.34 and 0.08 respectively for 1/2 with a 0.90-1.10 being the equivocal range. I was told by my practitioner that these were as low as she sees.
I have also seen a urologist who is treating me currently for prostatitis with 45 days of antibiotics. Could this possibly just be a low-grade bacterial infection hiding out in my prostate and rearing its head every once in a while? That still doesn't seem to explain the skin issues I've had, although maybe? He diagnosed me on the state of how my prostate felt. When he pressed on my prostate, the same feeling in the end of my urethra was present.
Also, I am seeing the other dermatologist in my regular practice who is specialized in Dermatopathology this December. I will probably perform a Western Blot as well but was wondering, is there any other type of doctor such as infectious diseases that I should see? This worry is eating me up and preventing me from being sexual at all with my current long term relationship who I might marry one day. I would like to put this behind me and am looking for steps to pursue doing so...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The regular screening test for herpes is not terrific for HSV 1. A western blot would at least provide better results for the HSV 1 thing.
Has the dermatologist actually seen you when you had the red area on the shaft?
Terri
Has the dermatologist actually seen you when you had the red area on the shaft?
Terri
Is there anything else this might be in the infectious? I'm really at a loss here...
Just went over my results with my nurse practitioner and she basically told me there is no chance I'm hsv 1/2 positive.
Just went over my results with my nurse practitioner and she basically told me there is no chance I'm hsv 1/2 positive.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your dermatologist won't be able to order a western blot through regular lab channels, but you can order a test kit through the University of Washington to be sent directly to you and you can have your doctor draw your blood and send it to the University
It could be trich I supposed though I doubt that would be intermittent as you describe your symptoms to be.
terri
It could be trich I supposed though I doubt that would be intermittent as you describe your symptoms to be.
terri
Sorry, forgot to include you in the tagline.
I am starting to think this isn't a form of HSV. I'll look into the western blot next time I see my dermatologist but is there anything else I should look into such as Trich, etc? I'm just really baffled on what's going on down there. I just feel like HSV just wouldn't occur more often all of a sudden (especially HSV 1, I know it rarely has recurrences). Every doctor I've been to is baffled as well (up to four or five now).
Is it possible this is an HSV1 infection that just wasn't picked up? I've read that the sores they can have are similar to what I've been having.
I might also add that on the latest occasion my urethra was swelling with some pain on the right side of my shaft (as though it was raw).
I also had one of these occurrence this year where I put Lamasil on the end of my penis. The burning got worse the next day but after another application the next night, was completely gone by morning except for my urethra.
I also had one of these occurrence this year where I put Lamasil on the end of my penis. The burning got worse the next day but after another application the next night, was completely gone by morning except for my urethra.
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.
