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HSV IGM Stress
Hello Doctor. I am 21 and I had unprotected sex 10/14/2007. Immediately after, I noticed tiny red bumps where the pubic hair follicles are on the shaft of my penis. I watched these closely and one turned into a larger bump. I am not sure if this is a wart or not, but it is not painful to touch and this growth occured on 10/16/07, and is over a hair follicle with hair coming out of it. I was very worried and got tested on 10/19/07 for HSV, HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and RPR whatever that is. I got the test results back today and unfortunately the "HSV IGM ANTIBODY W/REFL TITER" test came back positive.
Now I was told this was the test I should take because I was concerned with the encounter I had 5 days before the test, and that this test would show if I had 1 of the strains. I don't know if I have had HSV1 before, I have always had Canker sores, but these were not on the outside of the lips, only inside the mouth, and I realize Cankers are not indicative of HSV1.
I was told to be tested in 6-8 weeks to find out if it is HSV 1 or 2. I was tested by the PWN Network Physicians. After doing some further research I have found skepticism of the IGM test. My question's are:
1) What are the chances this test could be a false positive?
2) If I have never had cold sores, could I still have had HSV1 this whole time?
3) Do most people know they have HSV1 (do they even test for that as a normal test for children?)
4) Could you speculate as to what the red bumps at the hair follicle would be, or the bump that "grew"?
5) My partner has yearly OBGYN check ups and "has never had an std". Do those tests include bloodwork generally?
6) Is there another test you would recommend I take instead of waiting 6-8 weeks that will be accurate?
I know this is a convoluted post but any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
Now I was told this was the test I should take because I was concerned with the encounter I had 5 days before the test, and that this test would show if I had 1 of the strains. I don't know if I have had HSV1 before, I have always had Canker sores, but these were not on the outside of the lips, only inside the mouth, and I realize Cankers are not indicative of HSV1.
I was told to be tested in 6-8 weeks to find out if it is HSV 1 or 2. I was tested by the PWN Network Physicians. After doing some further research I have found skepticism of the IGM test. My question's are:
1) What are the chances this test could be a false positive?
2) If I have never had cold sores, could I still have had HSV1 this whole time?
3) Do most people know they have HSV1 (do they even test for that as a normal test for children?)
4) Could you speculate as to what the red bumps at the hair follicle would be, or the bump that "grew"?
5) My partner has yearly OBGYN check ups and "has never had an std". Do those tests include bloodwork generally?
6) Is there another test you would recommend I take instead of waiting 6-8 weeks that will be accurate?
I know this is a convoluted post but any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
You can't jump into this thread for HHH. You need to post your own thread and pay to post for either HHH or Dr Hook to answer your questions.
Your other option is to ask it on the patient to patient board and hope someone knowledgeable answers.
grace
Your other option is to ask it on the patient to patient board and hope someone knowledgeable answers.
grace
Darn shame so many folks are still spending good money on such a pretty much worthless herpes igm test :( Wish the word to avoid getting it done would not only get out there more but that the laboratories would stop grouping it together with the igg for folks as part of herpes screenings :(
grace
grace
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Just disregard the HSV IgM result. Small, large, or a humongous amount, the result is meaningless.
I mean to say "mine came back positive" --- referring to the igm test
listen to the doc man, i just went through the SAME thing as you a couple weeks ago. i became obsessed with these boards and researching the reliability of the IGM test cuz mine came back negative.
i had sex with a girl who had hsv 2 - twice unprotected but she was on anti-virals.
anyways igm was positive and i freaked out. i got re-tested by IGG and it came out negative.
the false-positive IGM strikes once again.
i had sex with a girl who had hsv 2 - twice unprotected but she was on anti-virals.
anyways igm was positive and i freaked out. i got re-tested by IGG and it came out negative.
the false-positive IGM strikes once again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The red bump you describe clearly was not a wart or herpes. The location (pubic area) and association with a hair coming out of the lesion mean folliculitis (minor infection of a hair follicle) is the only plausible explanation. Neither herpes nor warts can appear immediately after an encounter or only 2 days later.
Second, in theory the IgM class of antibodies appears before the IgG class, so that testing can pick up earlier infection, and many docs (and laboratories) believe in it. Unfortunatley, it just doesn't work that way with HSV. IgM antibody often doesn't develop in early infection; often is present in longstanding infection; and most important, the test is inherently unreliable, often giving false positive results. Probably that is the reason your IgM test is positive--i.e. it is meaningless and does not indicate you have herpes.
To the specific questions:
1) Most likely your result is false positive.
2,3) Half the adult population in the US has antibodies showing they are infected with HSV-1, usually acquired in childhood. Over 90% of them have no recollection of cold sores or other herpes symptoms.
4) Probably folliculitis; see above. But if in doubt, or if lesions are persisting, see a health care provider about it.
5) There is no uniform set of tests done by all providers. Most women who have had "routine" STD tests probably were tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea; for common vaginal infections (trichomonas, bacterial vaginosis, yeast); and a pap smear, which detects some but not all HPV infections. Blood tests for syphilis and HIV are routine if the woman is pregnant, but often not done otherwise, but this depends a lot on the doc's training, the patient's risk factors, etc. Herpes testing is uncommon, but is being done with increasing frequency in some settings.
6) All people who are sexually active outside permanent relationships should be tested from time to time, like once a year--so it's OK you were tested, but you needed no testing at all based on the specific exposure or symptoms you describe. You don't need repeat testing. However, now that the herpes question has been raised, given the unnecessary and probably false HSV IgM test, you might want to be retested in a proper fashion. It's up to you. If you do it, the ideal timing would be 4 months after the exposure, i.e. in mid-February.
Finally, it was a mistake to seek STD testing on your own through the internet, without professional medical advice. See what it got you? Only uncertainty about the herpes test result. I don't mean to chastise you, but I hope other forum users will learn from your experience and not repeat it.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Second, in theory the IgM class of antibodies appears before the IgG class, so that testing can pick up earlier infection, and many docs (and laboratories) believe in it. Unfortunatley, it just doesn't work that way with HSV. IgM antibody often doesn't develop in early infection; often is present in longstanding infection; and most important, the test is inherently unreliable, often giving false positive results. Probably that is the reason your IgM test is positive--i.e. it is meaningless and does not indicate you have herpes.
To the specific questions:
1) Most likely your result is false positive.
2,3) Half the adult population in the US has antibodies showing they are infected with HSV-1, usually acquired in childhood. Over 90% of them have no recollection of cold sores or other herpes symptoms.
4) Probably folliculitis; see above. But if in doubt, or if lesions are persisting, see a health care provider about it.
5) There is no uniform set of tests done by all providers. Most women who have had "routine" STD tests probably were tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea; for common vaginal infections (trichomonas, bacterial vaginosis, yeast); and a pap smear, which detects some but not all HPV infections. Blood tests for syphilis and HIV are routine if the woman is pregnant, but often not done otherwise, but this depends a lot on the doc's training, the patient's risk factors, etc. Herpes testing is uncommon, but is being done with increasing frequency in some settings.
6) All people who are sexually active outside permanent relationships should be tested from time to time, like once a year--so it's OK you were tested, but you needed no testing at all based on the specific exposure or symptoms you describe. You don't need repeat testing. However, now that the herpes question has been raised, given the unnecessary and probably false HSV IgM test, you might want to be retested in a proper fashion. It's up to you. If you do it, the ideal timing would be 4 months after the exposure, i.e. in mid-February.
Finally, it was a mistake to seek STD testing on your own through the internet, without professional medical advice. See what it got you? Only uncertainty about the herpes test result. I don't mean to chastise you, but I hope other forum users will learn from your experience and not repeat it.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Sorry, but the representative I spoke with said that there was a "small amount" in the IGM test. What does "small amount" mean? Thanks.
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.
