My 21 year old son dx with Herpes

[Spudster]

Hello,

Thank you for your responses in advance.   My son had been with approx four partners prior to his current relationship.  He wanted to make sure he was "clean" so he went to the doctors and requested an STD panel.   He found out yesterday he is positive.   He has never had any outbreaks and he has contacted previous partners who all say they are clean.   He is devastated and believes his life is over.   I have read other sources which indicate males may show symptoms such as flu like symptoms after sex.  The doctor told him that based on the results it looks like he has had it for awhile.    What does that mean?   I don't know what type of blood test was done or the range.   We will be getting that information today.   What is the gold standard with respect to testing?   Is it the Western Blot test?    Can that test specifically be requested when going through a docs office?   Is there a better way to get tested than going through the PC docs office?    What are your recommendation (s) to have the highest level of confidence regarding his status?    Thank you.  

[gracefromHHP]

if you have hsv2, it periodically sheds regardless of the numeric result. There are false positive issues which is why knowing the numeric results is helpful so we can advise whether to seek out additional testing to confirm status or not.

it's being sexually responsible to discuss herpes status with potential partners. the other partner will need tested to know their status too so the two of them can make educated decisions together as far as what precautions to take.

if he really does have hsv2 and his female partner doesn't, he can get her risk down to 2-3%/year which is lower than her risk of becoming pregnant while only using the birth control pill ( 8%/year risk ).

once he has better test results back, I can better help you with his results and what they mean.

[Spudster]

Hello,

My son had an appointment with his physician today.  The doc confirmed the test that was done is worthless as far as distinguishing between 1 and 2.  Then it got interesting.  He agreed to order the Western Blot test or something similar that will discriminate between the two, but seemed clueless regarding what implications the results will have.   He was completely focused on whether or not my son has had any skin outbreaks.  When he was told no, he acted like that is the only real issue.  I even asked him what he would say if my son was dating his daughter.  Would he expect my son to disclose a positive IgG even though he has never had a skin outbreak.  I asked him twice and he was truly unable to answer.    He said he needed to do some research.   His initial attitude was very nonchalant like we are all in the soup together so it's really not a big deal.    So he ordered about every blood test known to man kind and we should know something in 2-5 days.   My question is what are the health and ethical issues in play when the results come back?    Is there a level cut off for the IgG when it's not considered serious or transmittable?    Thank you.    

[gracefromHHP]

thanks for the good words water :)  most folks who know me would say legend in her own mind...he he he

I am in the medical field but I am here as a herpes patient advocate - one patient to another. I have spent the past 15 years educating myself about herpes and keeping up to date on it to help others online on forums :)  Beats getting out of bed and putting on real clothes to volunteer in my community at something :)

[waterwater]

Grace is a herpes legend who gives her time to share her wealth of expertise and knowledge. she knows her stuff.

[Spudster]

Grace... may I ask what your credentials are?   Thank you.  

[gracefromHHP]

your son can ask for a print out of his test results to know for sure but since it was non-type specific testing, it really doesn't matter at all anyways. he needs to repeat the testing with the right test since at this point he knows absolutely nothing about his herpes status from the testing he had done :(

[Spudster]

Not to be disrespectful toward the physician, but he is a foreigner and I had difficulty understanding what he was trying to say.   He did seem at loss when I asked him if the test discriminated between 1 & 2 and I believe he said it didn't.   If by "22" he meant 2.2 for the IgG what are the implications?   Thank you.    

[gracefromHHP]

correct - the flu like symptoms don't usually appear in most folks as it is but when they do have them, it's only with a newly acquired herpes infection.  

if he's getting sick every time he has sex, it's something non-std going and he should be following up on it with his providers.  

[Spudster]

Your patience is appreciated.    So the flu like symptoms only occur after the very first infection, not every subsequent sexual encounter?   In other words, if he recalls having flu like symptoms after sex two years ago, should he expect to have those same symptoms again?   He tells me that he gets sick every time he has sex, but not when he masturbates.   Now my head is spinning.   Do you believe these subsequent flu like episodes are potentially related to herpes or is there something else going on?    Thank you.  

[gracefromHHP]

also your son had the wrong testing done. he had a non-type specific test which is a total waste of his time and money. he'll need to repeat his testing with the proper type specific herpes igg blood testing.

[gracefromHHP]

to answer your question from the other post.

why no flu like symptoms with masturbation? Because it's not sex that causes the flu like symptoms - it's the initial infection causing those symptoms along with the body reacting to the infection that causes them. they don't occur any time other than the initial infection time.

grace

[Spudster]

I just spoke to the Dr's office and, based on what I have read on this and other sites, I am amazed at his responses.   Here is a summary:

1.  IgM level is "minimal"  Didn't have the chart in front of him.
2.  IgG level is "22" (whatever that means) and indicates that he had the anti-bodies in the past, but probably not now.
3.  The test didn't differentiate between HSV1 and 2, but simply indicated the presence of HSV1/HSV2.
4.  When asked whether my son has a transmittable disease or not, he said probably not, but if there are open lesions he should not engage in sex.   If he doesn't have open lesions he said its really not even necessary to advise a sex partner.
5.  He did not know what kind of test was used.
6.  All in all he acted like it wasn't a big deal and that it was some historical event with minimal current and future implications.

While I would like to share his "no big deal" attitude, I have a kid who is crushed and he has a responsibility to anyone in the future to properly disclose accurate information.   He has an appointment to see a different physician tomorrow at 9:30 and I will accompany him.   He will have the results from this test in front of him when we meet.    Any and all thoughts/recommendations/questions are welcome as we prepare for this meeting.    

[bobrope45]

First of all, ask for a copy of your son's results. There are issues regarding false-positive in the current tests for herpes. Then we can better advise you.

You want a type specific test for hsv1 and hsv2, igG - not igM. But let's check his results and go from there, ok?