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Outbreak! Is it 1 or 2?
A month ago I gave unprotected oral sex. 10 days later, I went to STD check to get checked. No symptoms but scared. All my labs came back normal except HSV1 and HSV2.
I know igms are inaccurate but maybe helpful Igg hsv -1 57.90
Igg hsv -2 2.29
So, knowing I already had hsv-1 from cold sores. I thought the 2.29 was a false pos. So I retested with IGM same scores. Dr said I have had 2 for along time because it takes longer than 2 weeks to make igg antibodies. Didn’t know I even had it!
3rd test
Immunoblot. Had no numbers but only read
Previous exposure to both I and 2.
During this time, I had what I would consider an internal outbreak with hot flashes occurring at different parts of my body. Also, the point of tongue and lips felt like I kissed a hot pan.
I did have a cold sore that tried to show, but never really blistered it just lasted a for a few weeks. Also, no rash or sores ever on my body.
So, what type did I have?
How can I tell since there were no blisters to test? If, I’ve had hsv 1 most my life, then why did I feel like I had an outbreak?
I’ve read about viral shedding but since there were no external signs, what is the chance of shedding?
If exposure happens, will their symptoms be rash or soreless too? As
When will it be safe to kiss again? :(
I know igms are inaccurate but maybe helpful Igg hsv -1 57.90
Igg hsv -2 2.29
So, knowing I already had hsv-1 from cold sores. I thought the 2.29 was a false pos. So I retested with IGM same scores. Dr said I have had 2 for along time because it takes longer than 2 weeks to make igg antibodies. Didn’t know I even had it!
3rd test
Immunoblot. Had no numbers but only read
Previous exposure to both I and 2.
During this time, I had what I would consider an internal outbreak with hot flashes occurring at different parts of my body. Also, the point of tongue and lips felt like I kissed a hot pan.
I did have a cold sore that tried to show, but never really blistered it just lasted a for a few weeks. Also, no rash or sores ever on my body.
So, what type did I have?
How can I tell since there were no blisters to test? If, I’ve had hsv 1 most my life, then why did I feel like I had an outbreak?
I’ve read about viral shedding but since there were no external signs, what is the chance of shedding?
If exposure happens, will their symptoms be rash or soreless too? As
When will it be safe to kiss again? :(
COMMUNITY LEADER
So first, the IgM is never helpful. It's so unreliable that we can never know if it's accurate or not. Ignore that you had it done. Just ignore it and the results.
Your hsv1 IgG score is definitely an established infection. Since childhood? I don't know, but definitely for awhile. It takes time to get numbers that high. I'll give you some info on oral herpes at the end of this.
Now, for your hsv2 IgG. It is possible that this is a new infection. The minimum time to develop antibodies is 2 weeks. I tested positive at 2.5 weeks, though I didn't get an index value. (I didn't need it, either - I had a positive culture and a partner with hsv1 and hsv2, so I just needed to see which one I had.)
It could also be a false positive. Anything under a 3.5 needs to be confirmed. Getting oral hsv2 from giving oral sex is uncommon. It's not impossible, but it's not likely, especially if your partner didn't have any sores.
The Immunoblot isn't that reliable either.
So what now? Test with another IgG at 6 weeks, and again at 12 weeks.
If you got infected with something orally, your symptoms would be oral. You wouldn't have hot flashes on different parts of your body. That could be anxiety.
Viral shedding - or asymptomatic viral shedding - gives you no symptoms. You don't know when it happens. People with oral hsv1 shed, on average, about 25% of days a year. Shedding doesn't last the entire 24 hours, and most shedding episodes don't result in transmission.
Don't let this info panic you. Hsv1 is INCREDIBLY common. Globally, 67% of people under 50 have hsv1. As you get older, the numbers go up. Overall, probably 80% of the population has hsv1, hsv2 or both.
https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/oral-herpes/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
Your hsv1 IgG score is definitely an established infection. Since childhood? I don't know, but definitely for awhile. It takes time to get numbers that high. I'll give you some info on oral herpes at the end of this.
Now, for your hsv2 IgG. It is possible that this is a new infection. The minimum time to develop antibodies is 2 weeks. I tested positive at 2.5 weeks, though I didn't get an index value. (I didn't need it, either - I had a positive culture and a partner with hsv1 and hsv2, so I just needed to see which one I had.)
It could also be a false positive. Anything under a 3.5 needs to be confirmed. Getting oral hsv2 from giving oral sex is uncommon. It's not impossible, but it's not likely, especially if your partner didn't have any sores.
The Immunoblot isn't that reliable either.
So what now? Test with another IgG at 6 weeks, and again at 12 weeks.
If you got infected with something orally, your symptoms would be oral. You wouldn't have hot flashes on different parts of your body. That could be anxiety.
Viral shedding - or asymptomatic viral shedding - gives you no symptoms. You don't know when it happens. People with oral hsv1 shed, on average, about 25% of days a year. Shedding doesn't last the entire 24 hours, and most shedding episodes don't result in transmission.
Don't let this info panic you. Hsv1 is INCREDIBLY common. Globally, 67% of people under 50 have hsv1. As you get older, the numbers go up. Overall, probably 80% of the population has hsv1, hsv2 or both.
https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/oral-herpes/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus
2 Comments
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. It’s been a month since contact, if I were going to have sores in or on my mouth or body, I would have had them by now right?
Also, when do you think it would be safe to kiss my partner again?
Also, when do you think it would be safe to kiss my partner again?
You'd only get sores in/on your mouth or nose since you gave oral sex. They won't appear on your body. They usually appear within 2-12 days. Since it's uncommon to get oral hsv2, and you're outside the typical window to get symptoms, I wouldn't worry about it.
You have an established oral hsv1 infection. You can transmit that by kissing. You had that before, though. The risk isn't higher or lower now. If your partner already has it, you can't transmit it to her - you can't give her what she already has.
It's really likely that your hsv2 IgG test is a false positive.
You have an established oral hsv1 infection. You can transmit that by kissing. You had that before, though. The risk isn't higher or lower now. If your partner already has it, you can't transmit it to her - you can't give her what she already has.
It's really likely that your hsv2 IgG test is a false positive.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
