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I am worried, what exactly does an HSV IgM Equivocal result mean?
Hello. About five weeks ago I wound up having unprotected sex with a close friend, and after she was tested for STD's only to come back positive for HSV 1 and 2, in addition to IST. Before that point I know I had no STD's, having been tested previously, but after going back to get tested again, I did fin I had caught IST from her. Easily treatable, so I was not as worried. However, I have been increasingly worries about HSV, and today I just went back to get tested again, only where the last two times I had been tested (once before exposure, one two weeks after), this time I got and equivocal result. I know that it means the result is dubious, but considering the timing, I am really very worried. Up until this point I have only ever slept with one other woman, though that time it was protected, and a year ago, so I am quite confident I caught nothing from that occasion. Either way, I am really not sure what this means, in a bit part because I live in China, and the language barrier is a problem, but I am very worried now. They also did an IgG test which was negative, but I know its far too early for accurate results there anyways. If anyone can please tell me what an equivocal result at this point may or may not mean, I would very much appreciate it. On a final note, I have had no symptoms that clearly indicate HSV 2, that could not equally be associated with IST.
Those are definitely not hsv symptoms
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Discomfort while urinating, I meant to say. I apologize, still learning how to use this board, which is why my posts are all over the place. This site is very different from the kinds of places I usually visit. Anyways, I appreciate the information, and will remember that. This conversation has been very reassuring, thank you!
I know this is all confusing and frustrating. Igm is simply very unreliable and false reading are extremely common. Yes the virus sheds but even then the majority of exposures do not lead to transmission of the virus. It's not super contagious.
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Understood, thank you again!
I will be happy to help. Igm testing is absolutely useless. This test is so unreliable that the cdc recommends against it and no std expert values this test at all. You can totally disregard this test completely. I understand your anxiety. Any single unprotected sexual exposure with a known positive partner is a low risk. Your odds of contracting the virus from this is about 1 in a 1000. Low odds indeed. Having no symptoms is a great sign as well. You can test at 12 weeks with the igg test only. Given the odds and two weeks with no symptoms I would say you are going to be fine.
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Thank you. My friend has told me she has never experienced any symptoms at all, but I had read that symptoms could be very mild, or even nonexistent, which has not been helping with the paranoia, to be honest. I had been told that as long as it was not active, it was not contagious, but today discovered that such a claim is simply not true, with viral shedding. Anyways, the doctor suggested I go back in a month and a half to get tested again to be sure, but I was not sure if that would be too soon. Either way, thank you very much for the reassurance and information.
Oh, a final note. I have had symptoms, but only itching (no rash), and very mild discomfort, both also associated with Mycoplasma, which I did catch and have been treating.
Just an update, last week I got tested just a week past the three month mark, and tested completely negative. At this point my Chinese doctor is rather insistent that I do not have HSV, and I guess based on the information I hae read, I am inclined to agree, though I know I should get tested at six months just to be sure.
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No need to test at 6 months. Put hsv out of your mind and go live your life.
Thanks. You've been a big help, and I appreciate it.
You're very welcome!!
You will read that all this can be hsv online. However in my experience I have never had a person with these symptoms be hsv positive. Burning while urinating means there is lesions in the urethra and that is REALLY painful. It is also very rare to have lesions in the urethra and none on the outside of the penis as well. The problem with reading random info like this is the context of the symptoms. Plus your on and off symptoms for five weeks is not hsv. I bet the farm on it. Relax your mind and you will feel yourself go back to normal.
No need to apologize. You can ask as much as you like. It really is hard to weed through facts and half truths
No need to apologize. You can ask as much as you like. It really is hard to weed through facts and half truths
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Alright, that is very helpful! None of what I have felt matches that, and I had suspected that on and off again symptoms, though consistent, are not symptoms of HSV as well. I can rest much easier with this information, thank you!
Hello again! So last night when I was using the bathroom, I noticed a small area in the center left side of my penis that had what looked like a very small cluster of paleish spots, maybe 5-7 total. All of them very small, and several appearing directly under individual hairs. Only one of them did not seem to appear from a hair follicle, and seemed to have a very slight white, pus filled aspect to it, and ust like the rest, it is also very small (about the same as the small injury that remains after a needle injection to draw blood). I noticed the spots were more notable after I had been drinking, but then I have also seen similar from a few other paleish spots that I know are not HSV. The rational part of my mind is fairly confident that this isn't a sign of an outbreak, there still is nothing like a rash, it's not particularly itchy at all, and the one spot with pus is so small I'm not even sure I should call it a pimple. Still, it seems like something new, and it's enough to have me somewhat worried again.
Correction: 8-9 spots.
The spots you describe are not typical of hsv at all. Keep an eye on them and see if they progress. That's to be safe, I really doubt hsv in what you describe
Alright. I have not seen any sign of worsening from last night, perhaps they are a little harder to see, but I will keep watching over the next few days.
No need. If they were hsv lesions they would've progressed by now. Not gotten harder to see. Your all good
Awesome! I just saw your message now, but I went to see my doctor this morning, and he also said it isn't HSV. Whew!
Congratulations!!! Good news
You can absolutely continue to date. Practice safe sex and test at twelve weeks.
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Okay, I know at this point I am getting into the territory of being annoying, and I apologize, but I have felt mild discomfort sometimes while urinating, sometimes while not, and sometimes no pain at all. Ultimately its very inconsistent. You have told me that itching with no rash and mild discomfort while urinating are not symptoms of HSV, but some sites I have been reading state they are (though again, it is inconsistent, varying from site to site). I will admit I have felt this one and off for most of the five weeks, so I cannot say that it means anything. I will get results on my second test for Mycoplasma tomorrow. However, considering the inconsistent information out there, I guess I am looking for some clarification.
I'm sorry, but I guess I do have one final question. When I got the result I was ready to put my life completely on hold, and avoid any kind of dating until I knew for sure. But based on what you've told me, I am starting to wonder if it would be safe for me to continue dating, but to proceed with caution until I get an IgG test?
I do want to apologize, I have been reading and found that many people have brought this up in the past, though the situations all seem a little different. I am just very stressed and anxious about all of this, and until I found this board I was having a very hard time finding any reliable data. Honestly, I'm a bit scared right now to tell you the truth.
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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.
