Aa
Contracting GHSV1
Hello Doctors! I've posted in the community forum (where Grace and everyone else have been wonderful) but I just need a little more peace of mind.
The cliff notes version of my story is that the last time my ex and I had unprotected oral and vaginal sex was 6 weeks ago. Ten days later he finds some blisters in his public hair area (nothing on penis/shaft). All he had was itching and the two tiny blister clusters. He gets a swab done and it comes back GHSV1. His doc says he basically got it from me. I can never recall having a fever blister in my life. I was with my last partner for 14 years and neither of us had anything that would have screamed herpes.
I got the IgG type specific blood testing done and an IgM at 3 weeks post exposure. IgG tests were negative and IgM was reactive. If I was truly HSV free at the time of exposure, would I more than likely have had a classic outbreak? Is genital to genital HSV1 transmission more likely if I have no antibodies at all? I haven't had any symptoms besides the ones I have convinced myself of in my head. I did "think" I had some bumps which were cultured within 24 hours and were negative. They actually disappeared within a day on their own.
I guess it just seems like everyone that is with someone that has HSV gets it. I know that isn't the case because there are couples that are together for years that never transmit to each other. I'm trying to remain calm for another 6 weeks so I can test at 12 weeks.
The cliff notes version of my story is that the last time my ex and I had unprotected oral and vaginal sex was 6 weeks ago. Ten days later he finds some blisters in his public hair area (nothing on penis/shaft). All he had was itching and the two tiny blister clusters. He gets a swab done and it comes back GHSV1. His doc says he basically got it from me. I can never recall having a fever blister in my life. I was with my last partner for 14 years and neither of us had anything that would have screamed herpes.
I got the IgG type specific blood testing done and an IgM at 3 weeks post exposure. IgG tests were negative and IgM was reactive. If I was truly HSV free at the time of exposure, would I more than likely have had a classic outbreak? Is genital to genital HSV1 transmission more likely if I have no antibodies at all? I haven't had any symptoms besides the ones I have convinced myself of in my head. I did "think" I had some bumps which were cultured within 24 hours and were negative. They actually disappeared within a day on their own.
I guess it just seems like everyone that is with someone that has HSV gets it. I know that isn't the case because there are couples that are together for years that never transmit to each other. I'm trying to remain calm for another 6 weeks so I can test at 12 weeks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Those results mean a) for sure you didn't have genital (or oral) herpes before the exposure 6 weeks earlier; and b) almost certainly you didn't acquire either virus during that event. Most people with new HSV infections have positive blood tests by 6 weeks; even though it can take 12 weeks, given the nature of the exposure and your symptoms, you can be very confident you weren't infected with either HSV-1 or HSV-2. Feel free to be tested again if you must, but you can definitely expect the results to remain negative.
That will conclude this thread once and for all. Take care and stay safe!
That will conclude this thread once and for all. Take care and stay safe!
Dr. H,
I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I received the results for my HSV 1 and HSV 2 IgG tests that were taken at 6 weeks post exposure. I was negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2.
I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I received the results for my HSV 1 and HSV 2 IgG tests that were taken at 6 weeks post exposure. I was negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Let's cross one bridge at a time, please. There is no point on speculating about interpretation of a positive test result before you even know it. Let me know the current test result and we'll take it from there.
Dr. H,
I have a quick question that I'm sure has been asked numerous times. I got tested again on Tuesday and am awaiting the results of my 6 week type specific blood tests. Because there is a chance that my first HSV1 test may have been a false negative, if HSV1 does pop positive now, I really won't be able to tell if I already had an oral infection (assuming since I never had a genital OB) or if this is a new genital infection? The numbers really aren't going to tell me that, right?
I'm almost 7 weeks past exposure now with no symptoms and trust me...Ive been looking for anything and everything. I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I've been to my doc or an urgent care to be checked. This is totally not me at all!
I apologize for such a common question. I'm still trying to figure all this out. Me having a previous oral HSV would have made sense based on the timing of the ex's outbreak or maybe it was just luck of the draw and he had an recurring OB after we were together.
Thank you again!
I have a quick question that I'm sure has been asked numerous times. I got tested again on Tuesday and am awaiting the results of my 6 week type specific blood tests. Because there is a chance that my first HSV1 test may have been a false negative, if HSV1 does pop positive now, I really won't be able to tell if I already had an oral infection (assuming since I never had a genital OB) or if this is a new genital infection? The numbers really aren't going to tell me that, right?
I'm almost 7 weeks past exposure now with no symptoms and trust me...Ive been looking for anything and everything. I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I've been to my doc or an urgent care to be checked. This is totally not me at all!
I apologize for such a common question. I'm still trying to figure all this out. Me having a previous oral HSV would have made sense based on the timing of the ex's outbreak or maybe it was just luck of the draw and he had an recurring OB after we were together.
Thank you again!
Thank you! I think I will get another test now and retest again at 12 weeks.
I hope that I am overreacting to this. I've read almost every post on here about GHSV1 transmission and I'm hoping (if my first negative HSV1 IgG wasn't incorrect) that I come out of this clean since it seems genital to genital transmission is rare but not 100% impossible. Either way I will be fine. It's really just the not knowing.
I hope that I am overreacting to this. I've read almost every post on here about GHSV1 transmission and I'm hoping (if my first negative HSV1 IgG wasn't incorrect) that I come out of this clean since it seems genital to genital transmission is rare but not 100% impossible. Either way I will be fine. It's really just the not knowing.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It can be difficult to distinguish an initial from recurrent herpes infection. However, you are correct that its mildness suggests a recurrence, not the initial infection. An outbreak in the pubic area, and not on the penis, also suggests a recurrence -- which would be consistent with a prior infection from his former wife. (In general, the virus has to be massaged into the tissues for the infection to take -- hence initial HSV outbreaks typically are at the sites of maximum sexual friction, such as the penis and the labia and vaginal opening in women.) Absence of a known initial infection means nothing; he could well have been asymptomatically infected and only now had a recurrent episode.
It's too bad your partner's doctor did not recommend blood testing. Had he had a positive HSV-1 result early -- i.e. when the symptoms were just beginning -- it would have meant he was infected for at least several weeks, i.e. that he was having a recurrent outbreak. But at this point, it won't make a difference. A positive blood test now would not distinguish when he was infected.
From your initial question, I thought you had already had a negative HIV antibody test at 6 weeks. I agree you could be at 6 weeks instead of waiting for the 3 month mark. If negative, you still will need the later test. If the test has become positive, it would indicate you have a new HSV infection. If and when your HSV-1 test result become positive, it will suggest you were infected by your ex-partner, not the other way around. If it remains negative, you can be confident you were neither the source of your partner's infection nor infected by him. That is how I think this will turn out.
It's too bad your partner's doctor did not recommend blood testing. Had he had a positive HSV-1 result early -- i.e. when the symptoms were just beginning -- it would have meant he was infected for at least several weeks, i.e. that he was having a recurrent outbreak. But at this point, it won't make a difference. A positive blood test now would not distinguish when he was infected.
From your initial question, I thought you had already had a negative HIV antibody test at 6 weeks. I agree you could be at 6 weeks instead of waiting for the 3 month mark. If negative, you still will need the later test. If the test has become positive, it would indicate you have a new HSV infection. If and when your HSV-1 test result become positive, it will suggest you were infected by your ex-partner, not the other way around. If it remains negative, you can be confident you were neither the source of your partner's infection nor infected by him. That is how I think this will turn out.
Just to clarify, my ex partner's doctor was pretty certain that his GSHV1 infection was a result of me having oral HSV1.
First, thank you so much for your response! I've read and learned so much from these forums and the people that post on them. Believe it or not, you all have helped with my anxiety...some:)
My ex's doctor pretty much assumed that he got it from me based on the fact that he had an outbreak 10 days after being with me. I'll be honest, I don't know if he was with someone else or not. I know he had other partners before me but I don't know when the last was. His doc diagnosed him first by visual exam and then the culture results. He (the doc) said he saw no need in doing a blood test since the culture was done. I know the ex had never been tested for herpes before - just routine STD testing. The same holds true for myself.
I do know that my ex partner's ex wife had oral HSV1 but he claims he had never had anything like this before. With the mildness of what he had, it almost seemed like he was having a reoccurring outbreak???
I'm trying to find comfort in the fact that "you can already be fairly certain you were not infected by him". My debate right now, since 80-90% people test positive on the IgG at 6 weeks, I'm wondering if I should just go and get it to possibly give me some hope as I wait out another 6 weeks.
My ex's doctor pretty much assumed that he got it from me based on the fact that he had an outbreak 10 days after being with me. I'll be honest, I don't know if he was with someone else or not. I know he had other partners before me but I don't know when the last was. His doc diagnosed him first by visual exam and then the culture results. He (the doc) said he saw no need in doing a blood test since the culture was done. I know the ex had never been tested for herpes before - just routine STD testing. The same holds true for myself.
I do know that my ex partner's ex wife had oral HSV1 but he claims he had never had anything like this before. With the mildness of what he had, it almost seemed like he was having a reoccurring outbreak???
I'm trying to find comfort in the fact that "you can already be fairly certain you were not infected by him". My debate right now, since 80-90% people test positive on the IgG at 6 weeks, I'm wondering if I should just go and get it to possibly give me some hope as I wait out another 6 weeks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I reviewed your discussion on the community forum. I agree wholeheartedly that Grace and the others indeed are wonderful; they are highly expert, experienced, and sensitive herpes clinicians and counselors. And although I didn't read that entire discussion in detail, I also agree with the advice you had: probably you do not have genital herpes.
The HSV IgM antibody test is highly unreliable, in contrast with the IgG results, which are very reliable. In most persons with test results like yours, the positive IgM is false and there is no infection with neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2. See the thread below for details. You also can use the search link for this forum; enter "herpes IgM" or "HSV IgM antibody" for many discussions.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusiion-over-other-IgM-Herpes-posts/show/248394
However, there is another wrinkle in the testing story. The HSV-1 IgG test does miss around 5-10% of infections. You could have oral (or genital) HSV-1 despite the negative blood test. It would be interesting to hear more about the basis of your ex-partner's doc concluding you were the only possible source of his apparrent genital HSV-1 infection. If indeed you were the only possible source of his infection, and if it can be proved his infection was new (which is often difficult to tell), then you are infected with false-negative blood test.
Although IgG testing needs to be done at 12 weeks to have definitive results, half of newly infected people are positive by 3 weeks and 80-90% by 6 weeks. So not only does it seem unlikely you are the source of your ex's infection, but you can already be fairly certain you were not infected by him. But do let me know your 12 week result as well.
As for your symptoms -- the minor bumps, etc -- initial herpes is usually all or nothing: i.e. no symptoms at all, which is certainly possible; or severe symptoms that would have had a positive culture when swabbed.
The first part of your closing statement is wrong, the second half correct: i.e. it is not at all true that "everyone that is with someone that has HSV gets it". Most sex partners of persons with either oral or genital herpes in fact do not catch it themselves. In people with either genital or oral herpes, the virus is present in and around the mouth or genital areas, respectively, well under 10% of the time; for HSV-1, it's probably under 1% of the time. And most of the time it can be detected, it is in such low amounts that transmission is unlikely. If one person is chronically infected and his or her partner is not, it may take an average of 1,000 or more sexual encounters before the virus actually is transmitted.
All this assumes your ex-partner's diagnosis is correct. The pubic area is a somewhat atypical location for herpes, however, but common for folliculitis -- which was the initial impression, if I correctly recall the community forum discussion. Cultures rarely lie, but labs have made such mistakes.
In summary, I cannot say for certain you don't have HSV-1, either oral or genital. But from what I know so far, I doubt it rather strongly. If you're on speaking terms with your ex, please try to get more details about why his doc thought you had to be the source; and let's also discuss your 12 week HSV blood test after it is done. In the meantime, try to stay mellow. Most likely this will turn out well.
Regards-- HHH, MD
The HSV IgM antibody test is highly unreliable, in contrast with the IgG results, which are very reliable. In most persons with test results like yours, the positive IgM is false and there is no infection with neither HSV-1 nor HSV-2. See the thread below for details. You also can use the search link for this forum; enter "herpes IgM" or "HSV IgM antibody" for many discussions.
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusiion-over-other-IgM-Herpes-posts/show/248394
However, there is another wrinkle in the testing story. The HSV-1 IgG test does miss around 5-10% of infections. You could have oral (or genital) HSV-1 despite the negative blood test. It would be interesting to hear more about the basis of your ex-partner's doc concluding you were the only possible source of his apparrent genital HSV-1 infection. If indeed you were the only possible source of his infection, and if it can be proved his infection was new (which is often difficult to tell), then you are infected with false-negative blood test.
Although IgG testing needs to be done at 12 weeks to have definitive results, half of newly infected people are positive by 3 weeks and 80-90% by 6 weeks. So not only does it seem unlikely you are the source of your ex's infection, but you can already be fairly certain you were not infected by him. But do let me know your 12 week result as well.
As for your symptoms -- the minor bumps, etc -- initial herpes is usually all or nothing: i.e. no symptoms at all, which is certainly possible; or severe symptoms that would have had a positive culture when swabbed.
The first part of your closing statement is wrong, the second half correct: i.e. it is not at all true that "everyone that is with someone that has HSV gets it". Most sex partners of persons with either oral or genital herpes in fact do not catch it themselves. In people with either genital or oral herpes, the virus is present in and around the mouth or genital areas, respectively, well under 10% of the time; for HSV-1, it's probably under 1% of the time. And most of the time it can be detected, it is in such low amounts that transmission is unlikely. If one person is chronically infected and his or her partner is not, it may take an average of 1,000 or more sexual encounters before the virus actually is transmitted.
All this assumes your ex-partner's diagnosis is correct. The pubic area is a somewhat atypical location for herpes, however, but common for folliculitis -- which was the initial impression, if I correctly recall the community forum discussion. Cultures rarely lie, but labs have made such mistakes.
In summary, I cannot say for certain you don't have HSV-1, either oral or genital. But from what I know so far, I doubt it rather strongly. If you're on speaking terms with your ex, please try to get more details about why his doc thought you had to be the source; and let's also discuss your 12 week HSV blood test after it is done. In the meantime, try to stay mellow. Most likely this will turn out well.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
