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Herpes 1 positive
I recently went in for STD testing and was positive for HSV 1 via blood test. I've never had any symptoms except for the last day or so my lips have felt a little numb. The nurse practitioner did an extra IGM test that was supposed to help determine if this was something I've had for a long time (found out my ex husband who I was with for 20 years had cold sores as a young kid) or a new infection. It supposedly came back that there were there is either a new infection or an old one that is reoccuring so it sounds likely it is a new infection?. Before I started a relationship with my boyfriend I had asked for full STD testing but I didn't realize they only test for common things, not herpes or HPV so he's upset I told him I was STD free. I never noticed any cold sores on prior partners face or genitals.
Here are my test results from the 1st blood test.
HSV 1 IGG Herpeselect 4.74. "This assay is type specific and will differentiate between HSV 1 and HSV 2 infections. A single positive result only indicates previous immunologic exposure and the level of the antibody response may not be used to determine active infection or disease stage"
1) how likely is it that if/when I have symptoms they will be genital vs oral?
2) I've read all about shedding realistically but how likely am I to spread either genital or oral to a partner or even my kids?
3) how soon after contact would HPV 2 show up on a blood test? Its currently negative but worried if I contracted that at a later date, it may not have shown up yet.
4) would any other blood results help answer my questions about herpes? (i.e. my hemoblobin, hematocrit and neutrophils were a bit high).
5) how important is it/what can I do to prevent transmission to my boyfriend?
6) What about oral sex? Should I not perform oral sex on him regardless of symptoms just in case I"m shedding?
Here are my test results from the 1st blood test.
HSV 1 IGG Herpeselect 4.74. "This assay is type specific and will differentiate between HSV 1 and HSV 2 infections. A single positive result only indicates previous immunologic exposure and the level of the antibody response may not be used to determine active infection or disease stage"
1) how likely is it that if/when I have symptoms they will be genital vs oral?
2) I've read all about shedding realistically but how likely am I to spread either genital or oral to a partner or even my kids?
3) how soon after contact would HPV 2 show up on a blood test? Its currently negative but worried if I contracted that at a later date, it may not have shown up yet.
4) would any other blood results help answer my questions about herpes? (i.e. my hemoblobin, hematocrit and neutrophils were a bit high).
5) how important is it/what can I do to prevent transmission to my boyfriend?
6) What about oral sex? Should I not perform oral sex on him regardless of symptoms just in case I"m shedding?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I already said, asymptomatic shedding is relatively uncommon with HSV-1. Most apparently asymptomatic transmissions probably involve unrecognized (mild) symptoms rather than real asymptoamtic shedding.
It's closer to around half of first episode genital herpes due to HSV-1. I haven't seen data at the 70% level.
How likely to transmit for any particular oral sex episode? Probably less than 1 chance per 10,000 sexual events. You won't have anywhere near that number in your entire life.
Really, you should have no serious worries about this.
It's closer to around half of first episode genital herpes due to HSV-1. I haven't seen data at the 70% level.
How likely to transmit for any particular oral sex episode? Probably less than 1 chance per 10,000 sexual events. You won't have anywhere near that number in your entire life.
Really, you should have no serious worries about this.
thank you, this was very helpful. The one thing that does confuse me though is that I've often seen responses which state most people are infected by partners who do not know they are infected. If that is true then I would assume passing it along while asymptomatic is pretty common? Or is it that they are having symptoms but just don't recognize the symptoms? I had also read a scary statistic somewhere that something like 70% of new genital cases are coming back as HIV 1. I almost just wish I'd have a cold sore so I'd know for sure where it is. Also, can you confirm how plausible it is that I would transmit it (assuming I have the oral kind) via oral sex?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I'll try to help.
Half the population has positive blood tests for HSV-1, just as you do. Most of those infections were acquired orally in childhood, and most such persons are asymptomatic. However, unless you can recall symptoms that suggest either oral or genital herpes (usually blisters or sores around the mouth or on the genitals), there is no way to know for certain where your infection was acquired. But if it's genital, probably it won't reappear anyway; here is the link to a recent thread that discusses this in detail: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Recently-diagnosed-with-Genital-Herpes-HSV1/show/969931
From your description, I cannot tell what the IgM test showed. But it's a meaningless test that in fact does not reliably tell whether an HSV infection is new or old. Your health care provider apparently does not understand this. We never do HSV IgM testing in my STD clinic; it is a useless test.
1) If you have never had symptoms, probably you never will. Statistically, it is more likely your infection is oral than genital.
2) Low risk for any kind of transmission, unless and until you have an overt herpes outbreak. Asymptomatic shedding is much less common for HSV-1 than HSV-2. If you have an oral outbreak, at that time, don't kiss your kids. Otherwise don't worry about transmission. You're just like half the poplulation.
3) It usually takes 4-6 weeks, but sometimes takes up to 4 months for the HSV-2 blood test to become positive.
4) Additional testing is unnecessary and would not be helpful. Your routine blood count results are irrelevant.
5,6) No precaustions are necessary unless and until you have an outbreak. Nobody can say the risk of transmission is zero, but you're just like half the population in that uncertainty. The odds you'll ever infect anybody are very low. You really should not let this worry you in the least.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Half the population has positive blood tests for HSV-1, just as you do. Most of those infections were acquired orally in childhood, and most such persons are asymptomatic. However, unless you can recall symptoms that suggest either oral or genital herpes (usually blisters or sores around the mouth or on the genitals), there is no way to know for certain where your infection was acquired. But if it's genital, probably it won't reappear anyway; here is the link to a recent thread that discusses this in detail: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Recently-diagnosed-with-Genital-Herpes-HSV1/show/969931
From your description, I cannot tell what the IgM test showed. But it's a meaningless test that in fact does not reliably tell whether an HSV infection is new or old. Your health care provider apparently does not understand this. We never do HSV IgM testing in my STD clinic; it is a useless test.
1) If you have never had symptoms, probably you never will. Statistically, it is more likely your infection is oral than genital.
2) Low risk for any kind of transmission, unless and until you have an overt herpes outbreak. Asymptomatic shedding is much less common for HSV-1 than HSV-2. If you have an oral outbreak, at that time, don't kiss your kids. Otherwise don't worry about transmission. You're just like half the poplulation.
3) It usually takes 4-6 weeks, but sometimes takes up to 4 months for the HSV-2 blood test to become positive.
4) Additional testing is unnecessary and would not be helpful. Your routine blood count results are irrelevant.
5,6) No precaustions are necessary unless and until you have an outbreak. Nobody can say the risk of transmission is zero, but you're just like half the population in that uncertainty. The odds you'll ever infect anybody are very low. You really should not let this worry you in the least.
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.
