How will our life change?

[DiagnosedType2]

Hello. To my amazement I was recently tested positive for Type 2 Genital Herpes (also test positive for Type 1). I am happily married for 5 years. I contacted my exwife (divorced 7 years) and she confirmed she was diagnosed in 2005. After investigating the symptoms, I now recall the first outbreak in 2002. It wasn't severe, but some nagging irritation at the base of my penis on the left side. The wife (now exwife) commented weeks before that she had a infected hair from shaving. I actually though I was getting a combination of razor burn and some yeast. After these 2-3 times in 2002, I really do not recall additional outbreaks, but if I had them they were small and I would have assumed just an irritation.

I told my wife immediately upon diagnosis and she seems okay, but we are both new to this. We are going to have her tested before we have any sexual contact. There was a time a few years back when she asked me to look at this "infected hair" she had down there. Thinking back and knowing what I know now, I think it is very likely she will test positive. Although it would be a challenge to prevent transmission, I am hoping she tests negative.

Now my questions: Assumming my wife tests positive 1) Does our sex life need to change? 2) Is it likely that we could have or contract HSV2 in our mouth from performing oral sex on each other and if so can we be tested? 3) We have two small children. Do we run any risk of transmitting it (HSV2) to them by kissing them ect.? Can we transmit it to them from bath towels, soap, ect?

Thank you,
Brad

[Mistakeguy789]

Quest does all the work needed to get the blood and send it to UW for the testing to be done.  The UofW is the only one that does the actual test.

[DiagnosedType2]

I am pursueing the WB test. Does the Quest Diagnostics test just as effective as the one supplied by the University of Washington. In some of the post by DR. Handsfield, he seems to specifically mention that UW should be the one to run the test.

Thanks

[petal130]

Indeed, it very much can be a false positive. Here's a great post by Dr. Handsfield on the  topic:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusing-Igg-Test-Results/show/771141

You can get the Western Blot through Quest Diagnostics. The code is 34534.

[DiagnosedType2]

I thought the breakpoint was .9? Are there really people who have a false positive around 3?

Is the WB a Western Blot test? Where do I get one?

Thanks

[gracefromHHP]

your hsv2 igg is a low positive and might be a false positive. since you don't have a lesion culture to confirm your status, a herpes WB blood test would be the best way to confirm that you really do have hsv2.

[DiagnosedType2]

HSV1 IgG 3.86
HSV2 IgG 2.96

[DiagnosedType2]

In 2002 I had what looked like an infected hair that kept reocurring in that spot. There was one point when the skin kind of opened and I remember it watered like I had a yeast infection. I think I recall having the tissue turn red in that area over time, but I associated most of it with razorburn (I have always kept thing trim down there.

The recent outbreak did have three bumps. They did not look like the blisters you see in some of the photos, but did have a watery center. I kept telling myself - "You idiot you don't have Herpes you just have razorburn." Unfortunately, I wasn't worried over nothing.

When I was got the test results I was just floored. I called my exwife for the first time since 2003 (during our divorce she had admitted to me that she had been with a lot of men prior to us meeting - she had always told me just the opposite). I told her I just tested positive for Herpes 2 and I needed to know if she had ever been tested. I could tell by the silence on the other end of the phone what the answer was going to be. She told me she had been diagnosed in 2005 and very likely had it while we were together. She apologized and offered to speak with my wife if she needed to know where I had contracted it.

Back to your original question. I never have had what I see photos of as a "blister". They have always been almost pimple like or looked like an infected hair that is irritated. I keep reading "there is a reason 80% of people do not know they have it". I can totally agree with that.

[gracefromHHP]

can you post your hsv2 igg results for me to look at? thanks! all I need to see are the actual numeric results - e.g. hsv1 igg 4.3 and hsv2 igg 1.3 or whatever they are.

[scott417]

You never had any blisters or lesions??  

[DiagnosedType2]

Thank you for the quick response. As for my diagnosis - I got that slight rash/irritation after shaving in the area about 3 weeks ago. I am admittedly bit of a Hypochondriac and when It seemed to hange on for a few days - I did what most Hypochondriacs do - I got on the internet. When I saw some of the pictures and then read that you could have it for years without symptoms I began to freak out. So i went and got tested. The type of test was a blood test I believe Herpselect. I tested positive for 1 and 2.

Thank you,

[gracefromHHP]

how were you diagnosed as having hsv2?

once you know who has what, you can make educated decisions about what precautions to take together. I can help you much more with what precautions to take once you have both your test results back.

genital herpes is not a risk to your children. the virus is easily killed with soap and water. everyone in a household should have their own towel, washcloth, toothbrush, razor and body puff, sharing them can transmit many germs very easily.

grace