What is my probability of having oral (or genital) HSV2?

[banksjaso]

I am a 24 year old male. Within the last 6 months I've had two sexual encounters with two different women. One both vaginal and oral (March 11, ill-advised unprotected) and one just oral (April 29th, I performed on her). On May 5th I started having a sore throat (white blotchy spots on my tonsils), night sweats, fatigue, and 102+ degree fever. I went to my doctor and all bacterial tests (3) came back negative, I was placed on amoxicillin, and shortly after went back to the doctor (antibiotic was ineffective, but symptoms had nearly all but subsided) and was prescribed Prednisone for safe measure.

I have shown no signs of having the virus genitally at all nor have I had any sores on my lips or mouth. I got a STD screening (blood test) and tested negative although I had the screening on May 10th, which from my understanding would not reflect either encounter yet.

Is it possible I have the virus genitally if I am not experiencing symptoms since my last vaginal encounter on April 29th?

Is there a specific test I should take to determine if I have the virus orally, would I just return to my regular doctor? Any at-home tests that would add clarity? Would it be able accurately reflect results in this time frame?

Is there a possibility I just encountered a virus that isn't sexually transmitted that would have the same symptoms?

[auntiejessi]

It sounds like a non-STD virus to me, but if you are concerned about herpes, you can ask for a type specific IgG blood test. Get one now, and again at 4 months post-encounter. If it's negative now and positive later, it's a new infection. If it's positive now, you have no way of knowing if it's an old infection, or a new one and you have already developed antibodies. (Some do earlier than others.) You can ask your doctor for this.

Getting oral from performing oral is rare - not impossible, but rare. I wouldn't worry about this.

[banksjaso]

Thanks for responding! I went back to my doctor today (my tonsils are swollen and appear to have sores on them) she said it didn't strike her as herpes. I took the blood test anyway and also was tested for mononucleosis (which came back negative).

With ruling out both strep and mono, is there anything else that could be the cause of this besides herpes?

Also, what would happen if I were to get my tonsils out? If I in fact have been infected with the virus and it has only appeared on my tonsils would I just not have breakouts anymore or would the virus emerge from another outlet (throat, tongue, lips, etc.)

[banksjaso]

Is it possible one of them could've had a yeast infection that led me to having these symptoms?

[auntiejessi]

If you google "sores on tonsils", you'll find that there are any number of causes. It's called tonsillitis, and can be caused by viruses or bacteria. It's good that your doc tested you for mono and strep - those are common causes for it, but a cold can cause it, as can a number of other infections. Herpes isn't likely one of them. You'd likely also have sores on your gums, etc. If it is herpes (and it's so unlikely that it is), getting your tonsils out won't be a cure. Herpes infects nerve groups, so if you have oral herpes, it infects the trigeminal ganglion, so you'd still have it in that area (mouth and nose).

I don't know about getting your tonsils out for other reasons. If you don't get infections a lot, it's probably not worth it as an adult, but talk to your doctor.

It could be yeast, but your doctor would know best. She examined you. By now, you probably know what the cause is, and I sure hope you are feeling better. :)

[banksjaso]

Thank you so much for your help Jessi, greatly appreciated!

[banksjaso]

Hey Jessi, apologies for writing back. I received some results from an IgM test and the HSV-2 specific came back negative >.91, but the IgM I/II combination test came back positive at 4.04 evidently. The test was 3 months post encounter. I was told to retest in 6 weeks, and there is still a possibility that I contracted herpes type II. I know my only way to know for sure is to retest, but could you help me make some sense of these results. I've been tested for type 1 in the past and those results were always negative.

[banksjaso]

By the way thank you for all you do on this site. I believe I speak for myself and others that this helps put all of our minds at ease.

[banksjaso]

Correction* the hsv-2 specific test was an IgG test.

[auntiejessi]

So the IgM came back positive?

Ignore it. It shouldn't be done on adults at all, and if it worked as designed, it should only be done looking for new infections, and you are well beyond that date. It's terribly unreliable, and is just as likely to be wrong as it is right.

You can read more about that in the Herpes Handbook - https://westoverheights.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Updated-Herpes-Book.pdf

At 3 months, with no other symptoms than the tonsillitis, I'd move on if I were you. If you feel a burning desire to retest, ask for a type specific IgG again.

[banksjaso]

Thanks Jessi! The test was 3 months post vaginal sex, but only 40 days post oral (sorry I should've clarified), which is of where my symptoms occurred. I will be retesting, but does that change your opinion at all?

I'm sorry for continuing to right back, and excuse my paranoia. I really appreciate your taking time to volunteer on this site, I'd be lost without your advice.

[auntiejessi]

Nope, it doesn't change my mind. Getting oral herpes from performing oral is not likely, so my opinion doesn't change at all.

[banksjaso]

Hi again Jessi, I just wanted to let you know that I did in fact re-test and again the IgG was negative. The bumps still persist to be on my tonsils (more towards the bottom of them) and there is a much larger protrusion sticking out of the side of my mouth behind one of my tonsils. It is slightly difficult to swallow and I have a consistent hoarse voice. I will be seeing a doctor in two days, hoping for the best. Didn't know whether or not to further comment, but figured you and others on this site may want to know the conclusion. Thank you again for all you do on this site.