Aa
Hypochondria or Legitimate Concern?
On Feb. 3rd I went to see my gynecologist for my regularly-scheduled pap-smear. While I was there I submitted bloodwork and asked to be tested for STDs (HIV, Syphilis, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis C). On Feb. 7th I got a call from the office's nurse reporting that all the tests came back negative, and the pap was normal. I was relieved, until I realized that I hadn't asked to be tested for HSV-1 & -2. Fortuitously, as I recently switched health care plans, I'd also scheduled a physical with my new general practitioner on Feb. 8th. Along with the physical exam, my GP asked me to submit blood to check my cholesterol and blood pressure levels, etc., and I asked him if he could also request that my blood be tested for HSV-1 & -2, despite not having symptoms. He agreed and I again submitted bloodwork. I haven't heard back from this second round of testing yet, and after looking online at herpes information, I'm a bit nervous.
Here are the facts about my sexual history:
1) I've had 12 sex partners.
2) Three of these 12 were unprotected (ex-boyfriends). In each relationship, we of course started with condoms, but when the relationships got more serious we stopped using them. I thought I was being smart in requesting that all of my exes be tested for STDs before we stopped using condoms, but after recent research I've realized that neither they nor I were blood-tested for herpes (as this is not a test that is included in the regular STD "screen").
3) However, I've never had a partner with visible oral or genital sores. Additionally, I have never personally experienced sores/blisters/lesions on my lips or genitals.
My questions are: taking the above information into account, what are the chances I
a) Contracted HSV-1 or -2 through shedding; and
b) Am asymptomatic, as I've never had reason to suspect herpes in the past?
Should I be concerned, given my lack of symptoms?
Here are the facts about my sexual history:
1) I've had 12 sex partners.
2) Three of these 12 were unprotected (ex-boyfriends). In each relationship, we of course started with condoms, but when the relationships got more serious we stopped using them. I thought I was being smart in requesting that all of my exes be tested for STDs before we stopped using condoms, but after recent research I've realized that neither they nor I were blood-tested for herpes (as this is not a test that is included in the regular STD "screen").
3) However, I've never had a partner with visible oral or genital sores. Additionally, I have never personally experienced sores/blisters/lesions on my lips or genitals.
My questions are: taking the above information into account, what are the chances I
a) Contracted HSV-1 or -2 through shedding; and
b) Am asymptomatic, as I've never had reason to suspect herpes in the past?
Should I be concerned, given my lack of symptoms?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good. I think that's really all you can do.
Terri
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It sounds like that might be the correct test, but we won't know for sure until he gets back the results and you look at them. Let me know.
Terri
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
a. Its possible to contract herpes through asymptomatic shedding, most transmission indeed happens in this way, vs. through sores that are present.
b. If you've never had any recognized symptoms, your chances of having herpes are less, but clearly not zero.
Do you know what type of testing was done, IgG, IgM? Be SURE when you get the results back, if they are positive for either, ask for the index values associated with the positives, and whether it was IgG or IgM, then post those results for me and I will help you if you need help with interpretation.
Terri
b. If you've never had any recognized symptoms, your chances of having herpes are less, but clearly not zero.
Do you know what type of testing was done, IgG, IgM? Be SURE when you get the results back, if they are positive for either, ask for the index values associated with the positives, and whether it was IgG or IgM, then post those results for me and I will help you if you need help with interpretation.
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're most welcome.
Terri
Terri
Thank you so much again, Terri!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The 70% figure at 6 weeks is for HSV 2, not HSV 1. I'm afraid we don't have great numbers on HSV 1 time to serconversion, but I would expect them to be similar. You could test again now and then at 4 months if it help you feel more reassured.
Terri
Terri
*Edit*
"Did not have a cold sore at the time" sounds as if he gets them but didn't have one at the time I kissed him; what I mean is: the last person I kissed had no visible cold sore. I have no idea as to his HSV-1 status.
"Did not have a cold sore at the time" sounds as if he gets them but didn't have one at the time I kissed him; what I mean is: the last person I kissed had no visible cold sore. I have no idea as to his HSV-1 status.
Hi Terri,
I am so sorry to bother you yet again. :( I was reading one of your responses to a patient who wondered if he should test 6 weeks after a possible exposure and you replied that 70% of people who will be HSV positive are so within the first 6 weeks. Upon thinking back on my case, I realized that my HSV-1 IgG test was done only 4 weeks after last coming into contact with a possible carrier of HSV-1 oral. I last kissed someone (who did not have a cold sore at the time) on January 14th and my blood was taken on February 10th. So, while I am no longer worried about the possibility of HSV-2 (as I was celibate for longer than the suggested 3-month antibody-development window), I am now thinking I should be retested for HSV-1 at the 6-week mark to at least be 70% sure. If I was single this would not be an issue, but my romantic relationship recently became serious and I am so afraid of passing on something to my beau. Thoughts?
I am so sorry to bother you yet again. :( I was reading one of your responses to a patient who wondered if he should test 6 weeks after a possible exposure and you replied that 70% of people who will be HSV positive are so within the first 6 weeks. Upon thinking back on my case, I realized that my HSV-1 IgG test was done only 4 weeks after last coming into contact with a possible carrier of HSV-1 oral. I last kissed someone (who did not have a cold sore at the time) on January 14th and my blood was taken on February 10th. So, while I am no longer worried about the possibility of HSV-2 (as I was celibate for longer than the suggested 3-month antibody-development window), I am now thinking I should be retested for HSV-1 at the 6-week mark to at least be 70% sure. If I was single this would not be an issue, but my romantic relationship recently became serious and I am so afraid of passing on something to my beau. Thoughts?
Well, alright. I guess I'll just have to be satisfied with this.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Since the sensitivity of the test for HSV 1 is only about 91%, I'm not clear that testing more is going to help you get clearer about your HSV 1 status.
Terri
Terri
Also, I called the doctor's office back to ask which type of test the diagnostic center used, and it was type-specific IgG.
So how many times, in your opinion, should I take the HSV-1 blood test to be certain I'm negative?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Grace, as always, is correct. Testing again later might not help with that, we just don't know. If you are indeed HSV 1 positive, you will join the 56% of the US population between 14 and 49 who have this, too. Perhaps a more sensitive test for HSV 1 is the western blot. You could pursue that, but I'm not clear that that is necessary. Yes, people can have HSV 1 orally without recognized symptoms, very common indeed.
Terri
Terri
Hi Terri,
I just got the call from my doctor's office that my results for both HSV-1 & -2 are negative! I'm so happy! My only lingering questions is: from what I've read of Grace's responses in the Health Forum, supposedly 1 of every 10 blood tests for HSV-1 is inaccurate (a false negative). Should I be retested for HSV-1 in a few weeks or months, or trust this negative result? Thank you!
I just got the call from my doctor's office that my results for both HSV-1 & -2 are negative! I'm so happy! My only lingering questions is: from what I've read of Grace's responses in the Health Forum, supposedly 1 of every 10 blood tests for HSV-1 is inaccurate (a false negative). Should I be retested for HSV-1 in a few weeks or months, or trust this negative result? Thank you!
Thank you. Another question: From what I've read, genital herpes (whether it's HSV-1 or -2) doesn't always present with noticeable sores, but is this the same with HSV-1 oral?
Thanks. I don't know the name of the test they're using, but what I can tell you is my doc uses Quest Diagnostics for his patients' bloodwork. I also know that of the three options on the sheet he filled out (HSV-1, HSV-2, or HSV-1 & -2), he chose the third. Does this help narrow it down? Which is the more accurate test?
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.
