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Risk of Transmission HSV2
Dear Nurse Warren,
I have been following your forum - thanks very much for the useful information.
I have some questions re the risk of contracting genital herpes/HSV2.
I am a 32 year-old healthy female who had recently have sex with my (new) partner.
I have been tested for HSV prior to this: HSV Type I - positive, HSV Type II - negative (no values given, test done in Australia).
My partner was 'diagnosed' with genital herpes 4 months ago, prior to us being together.
At that time, he consulted the family physician after developing a single rash (no blister, nor other symptoms) on his penis. The doctor made the clinical diagnosis of herpes based on this sign, did IgG serology and prescribed anti-viral.
IgG results were: HSV Type I - negative, HSV Type II - equivocal. No values are given (test done in Australia).
Surprisingly, the doctor did not advise a repeat IgG serology in a few weeks' time and only suggested a swab if he presents the next time with blisters. My partner & I discussed the vagueness of the 1st test result and he will be getting a repeat IgG done this week.
My questions are:
1. What are the risk of me contracting genital or oral herpes?
We had protection during vaginal sex but not oral sex. He is not on anti-viral since the initial course 4 months ago.
2. Should he get a repeat serology now? In other words, if he is indeed positive for HSV II, wouldn't the IgG serology become positive by now?
3. I understand the importance of obtaining values in the serology tests but for some reason, it isn't provided routinely during testing in Australia. I don't think a western blot is done here as well. If so, would the repeat IgG serology (with no quantitative data) be all that useful? What other alternative & accurate testing can be done then?
Thank you very much for your time & patience!
I have been following your forum - thanks very much for the useful information.
I have some questions re the risk of contracting genital herpes/HSV2.
I am a 32 year-old healthy female who had recently have sex with my (new) partner.
I have been tested for HSV prior to this: HSV Type I - positive, HSV Type II - negative (no values given, test done in Australia).
My partner was 'diagnosed' with genital herpes 4 months ago, prior to us being together.
At that time, he consulted the family physician after developing a single rash (no blister, nor other symptoms) on his penis. The doctor made the clinical diagnosis of herpes based on this sign, did IgG serology and prescribed anti-viral.
IgG results were: HSV Type I - negative, HSV Type II - equivocal. No values are given (test done in Australia).
Surprisingly, the doctor did not advise a repeat IgG serology in a few weeks' time and only suggested a swab if he presents the next time with blisters. My partner & I discussed the vagueness of the 1st test result and he will be getting a repeat IgG done this week.
My questions are:
1. What are the risk of me contracting genital or oral herpes?
We had protection during vaginal sex but not oral sex. He is not on anti-viral since the initial course 4 months ago.
2. Should he get a repeat serology now? In other words, if he is indeed positive for HSV II, wouldn't the IgG serology become positive by now?
3. I understand the importance of obtaining values in the serology tests but for some reason, it isn't provided routinely during testing in Australia. I don't think a western blot is done here as well. If so, would the repeat IgG serology (with no quantitative data) be all that useful? What other alternative & accurate testing can be done then?
Thank you very much for your time & patience!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The risk of you contracted HSV 2, if he is indeed infected, is about 10% in a year, with no condoms and him not taking daily therapy and no sex with symptoms. Oral contraction is unlikely but not impossible.
Yes, he should get another IgG test now. Good that he is not taking antiviral therapy any longer. I would think it would be positive by now if he is truly infected, yes.
Yes, I think it is worth redoing the ELISA. There is a physician named Tony Cunningham in Australia that may be able to help with your questions. He is very good and highly respected, we have known each other for years! I would Google him and see if you can find him for a consult for your partner so you can figure this out. He's a terrific guy, honestly.
There is a value associated with this test, if it i an ELISA. Perhaps the lab just isn't reporting it out, perhaps you can have your physician ask the lab for it?
let me know if I can help more.
Terri
Yes, he should get another IgG test now. Good that he is not taking antiviral therapy any longer. I would think it would be positive by now if he is truly infected, yes.
Yes, I think it is worth redoing the ELISA. There is a physician named Tony Cunningham in Australia that may be able to help with your questions. He is very good and highly respected, we have known each other for years! I would Google him and see if you can find him for a consult for your partner so you can figure this out. He's a terrific guy, honestly.
There is a value associated with this test, if it i an ELISA. Perhaps the lab just isn't reporting it out, perhaps you can have your physician ask the lab for it?
let me know if I can help more.
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Reluctance to test is common here in the US a well. I think health care providers don't know what to do with test results, especially positives in people who have no symptoms.
I sure hope your partner will test once more and get clarity.
Terri
I sure hope your partner will test once more and get clarity.
Terri
Hi Nurse Warren,
Thank you very much for the useful information!
I will wait for the repeat IgG result before deciding on the next step. It was difficult enough trying to convince my partner to get a repeat test. There is social stigma attached to having genital herpes and coupled with his equivocal 1st results - in his mind, he does not have the disease. On the contrary, I would very much prefer to know his status so that we will be well-informed and know what to do, should he develop symptoms, if he is indeed positive.
There seem to be quite a bit of resistance trying to get the GP to do Herpes serology here (I don't know if it's related to the specificity & sensitivity of the tests & I do not know which tests are being performed here). My GP was reluctant to order mine but she subsequently did after we discussed the pros & cons.
Thank you once again for your help! I really hope my partner's results come back a confirmatory negative.
Thank you very much for the useful information!
I will wait for the repeat IgG result before deciding on the next step. It was difficult enough trying to convince my partner to get a repeat test. There is social stigma attached to having genital herpes and coupled with his equivocal 1st results - in his mind, he does not have the disease. On the contrary, I would very much prefer to know his status so that we will be well-informed and know what to do, should he develop symptoms, if he is indeed positive.
There seem to be quite a bit of resistance trying to get the GP to do Herpes serology here (I don't know if it's related to the specificity & sensitivity of the tests & I do not know which tests are being performed here). My GP was reluctant to order mine but she subsequently did after we discussed the pros & cons.
Thank you once again for your help! I really hope my partner's results come back a confirmatory negative.
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.
