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Herpes Testing
A week after having protected sex and unprotected oral on her I was tested for herpes.
I just had results back and it said for HPV-2 (genital) 1.68 and for HPV 1 8.60..are these accurate? I read your FAQ but I was confused with the whole IgG Antibody thing. My lab results said the IgG thing.
I did it with an urgent care provide and not my normal doc. My normal doc said the blood test was pretty accurate and no need to have another test. I have been on Valtrex since Friday....500mg of it. Im scared about the future symptoms I am going to have. My gf who I am sexually active with was tested negative ( I cheated on my gf her 17 days ago). Any advice? Should I get retested? I am so scared. At least I am on Valtrex right? What are the next steps? Thank you.
I just had results back and it said for HPV-2 (genital) 1.68 and for HPV 1 8.60..are these accurate? I read your FAQ but I was confused with the whole IgG Antibody thing. My lab results said the IgG thing.
I did it with an urgent care provide and not my normal doc. My normal doc said the blood test was pretty accurate and no need to have another test. I have been on Valtrex since Friday....500mg of it. Im scared about the future symptoms I am going to have. My gf who I am sexually active with was tested negative ( I cheated on my gf her 17 days ago). Any advice? Should I get retested? I am so scared. At least I am on Valtrex right? What are the next steps? Thank you.
doc,i had unproteceted sex with a girl that was a virgin, 3 days later my penis started to itch and little bumps started to appear there was no burning when i pee, there was no discharge, no blisters nothing. i went to my doctor and she told me it could be a yeast infection because of my foreskin...its been 2 years and there has been to blisters,no discharge, and no burning pee.but sometimes i would still get these little red bumps from time to time. ive looked at these picture of herpes and my penis doesnt look anything like that.so i thought it could be cause i mastabute alot its irratiting my penis...my question is, its been 2 years with this problem and still no sign of blisters or any symptoms, just red bumps that itch sometimes, is it possible that i might have herpes even though its been that long without any symptoms.
Very confused
Very confused
Thank you doc!
First you say I dont have it then you say I do have it? I am completely lost.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I never said your HSV-2 result meant you are infected with HSV-2; I said you can't tell from those results and need further testing.
In your case, I think it is most likely you do not have HSV-2, but repeat testing is the only way to know. Re-read my first response carefully, paragraph 1, starting with "Your HSV-2 result". If you do not understand it, take it to your provider when you request repeat testing.
HHH, MD
In your case, I think it is most likely you do not have HSV-2, but repeat testing is the only way to know. Re-read my first response carefully, paragraph 1, starting with "Your HSV-2 result". If you do not understand it, take it to your provider when you request repeat testing.
HHH, MD
Thank you, Doctor, for your indulgence. :o)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
See my response to your original question. You probably do have have HSV-2; you need the retesting that I suggested in order to know for sure.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The $10.00 fee is a donation to Med Help in support of the STD Forum. It is not a fee for service and does not entitle someone to unlimited detailed questions, especially on a new topic or a new potentially risky sexual event.
My brief response is that it sounds like your GP is right.
HHH, MD
My brief response is that it sounds like your GP is right.
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If a woman has active herpes (either with symptoms or asymptomatic viral shedding) when a person has oral contact with her genitals, HSV-2 might be transmitted to the partners mouth or throat. However, oral HSV-2 is extremely rare, almost non-existant; and when it occurs, chronic, recurrent oral infection does not result. HSV-1 is not an issue; that virus can be transmitted TO the genitals by oral sex, but rarely if ever is transmitted FROM the genitals to a partner. Your symptoms ("shedding a little skin" from your lips) do not suggest herpes.
Your positive HSV-1 result absolutely could not have been contracted in an event 7 days before the test.
As I stressed above, you do not need antiherpes therapy and should stop taking Valtrex. I am rather amazed that a health care provider prescribed it in this circumstance, unless you talked him/her into it because of the level of concern you had about herpes. Had it been me, I would not have prescribed it no matter how assertively you requested it.
Bottom line: Relax and stop worrying about herpes. It's not an issue for you.
HHH, MD
Your positive HSV-1 result absolutely could not have been contracted in an event 7 days before the test.
As I stressed above, you do not need antiherpes therapy and should stop taking Valtrex. I am rather amazed that a health care provider prescribed it in this circumstance, unless you talked him/her into it because of the level of concern you had about herpes. Had it been me, I would not have prescribed it no matter how assertively you requested it.
Bottom line: Relax and stop worrying about herpes. It's not an issue for you.
HHH, MD
But I was positive for HSV-2 (genital) 1.68 IgG. Thank you so much for relieving my stress. Thank you once again.
An additional thought, which I didn't think of before my other replies: your partner was at far higher risk of getting genital herpes from your HSV-1 (which probably is oral) than you were of catching herpes from her.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
I hate to post jump, but i paid to post a question and it took the payment but the page expired so i couldnt post it. I am hoping you can help me out. I asked yesterday about asymptomatic HSV symptoms.
I had intercourse with a female 4 months ago, the condom broke and there was 1-2 minutes of unprotected contact.
One day later she found out she had HSV2 from a test her GYN did 3 days earlier. Her GYN did an extensive exam and did not see anything out of the ordinary, told me there was no reason to worry.
I went to my GP, he didnt reccomend any testing, but did anyhow to ease my mind and anxiety. Test at 11 days was negative. (I know, too soon.)
I had visual exams 2 times after the test to check for anything out of the ordinary. Everything looked ok. Now at 4 months, for the past 3 days, i feel a slight tingle/itch on the one side of the meatus in the genital area. There is no redness, no bumps, no sores, ect. I called my GP, he said there was no reason for testing and told me to stop worrying. He said the test was evidence along with never having lesions/sores so i could put it all to rest.
I know he is wrong about the test being sufficient evidence that im not infected because of the info i have learned on here. I am really scared about all this, but my GP's words have settled me down a bit. I think my GP, although very good and refutable, may be incorrect about the actions he has taken to be sure there isnt an infection. Could he be correct about me not having to worry or that further testing is not necessary? I have never had sores/lesions so i was always sure i was ok. But after doing some reading yesterday, im a bit concerned. Could you give me some advice doc? I would sincerely appreciate it.
(Sorry again for post jumping)
I had intercourse with a female 4 months ago, the condom broke and there was 1-2 minutes of unprotected contact.
One day later she found out she had HSV2 from a test her GYN did 3 days earlier. Her GYN did an extensive exam and did not see anything out of the ordinary, told me there was no reason to worry.
I went to my GP, he didnt reccomend any testing, but did anyhow to ease my mind and anxiety. Test at 11 days was negative. (I know, too soon.)
I had visual exams 2 times after the test to check for anything out of the ordinary. Everything looked ok. Now at 4 months, for the past 3 days, i feel a slight tingle/itch on the one side of the meatus in the genital area. There is no redness, no bumps, no sores, ect. I called my GP, he said there was no reason for testing and told me to stop worrying. He said the test was evidence along with never having lesions/sores so i could put it all to rest.
I know he is wrong about the test being sufficient evidence that im not infected because of the info i have learned on here. I am really scared about all this, but my GP's words have settled me down a bit. I think my GP, although very good and refutable, may be incorrect about the actions he has taken to be sure there isnt an infection. Could he be correct about me not having to worry or that further testing is not necessary? I have never had sores/lesions so i was always sure i was ok. But after doing some reading yesterday, im a bit concerned. Could you give me some advice doc? I would sincerely appreciate it.
(Sorry again for post jumping)
So there isn't a chance of having the herpes from this person because I had the blood test a week after I thought I contracted the virus by this person.
Meaning, On Day 1, the day I was sexual with this person and then on Day 7 I had the test. So if I was positive there is no way I couldn't have gotten it from that person.
Thanks again!!!
Meaning, On Day 1, the day I was sexual with this person and then on Day 7 I had the test. So if I was positive there is no way I couldn't have gotten it from that person.
Thanks again!!!
So what your telling me is that my chances of getting genital herpes from performing oral sex on a girl is low to zero? I have read otherwise. Thank you so much for the information..the last 2 days my lips have been shedding off a little skin but nothing more. Just wanted to mention that.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
A bit of a thread-jump, but a quickie: Condoms protect against herpes transmission in either direction, male to female and female to male. Condoms aren't perfect, but provide a high degree of protection.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Hi Doctor,
Is protected vaginal sex safe for males, in terms of herpes transmission, even if a woman has subclinical lesions?
Is protected vaginal sex safe for males, in terms of herpes transmission, even if a woman has subclinical lesions?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm sure you mean HSV, not HPV. IgG is a generic term; there are several IgG tests on the market, some good, some uninterpretable. But the numbers you state suggest you had the HerpeSelect test, one of the reliable/accurate ones. If so, you can be sure you are infected with HSV-1. Your HSV-2 result is technically positive, but could be a false positive. When HSV-1 is strongly positive and HSV-2 weakly positive--i.e., results between 1.0 and 3.0--about half the time, the HSV-2 result is falsely positive. You can sort this out by asking your provider to have the lab re-test your specimen (or have another blood draw) using the Focus company's HerpeSelect Inhibition test.
In any case, you were tested too soon to know if you acquired herpes from the encounter you describe. HerpeSelect takes at least 3 weeks, and sometimes up to 3 months, to become positive. So even if your HSV-2 result is true, you didn't catch it during that exposure. Same for HSV-1; you have been infected with that virus for a long time, most likely since childhood.
Finally, the chance you would have acquired herpes by protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex is very close to zero. If that is your only potential risk, I would not have recommended testing for HSV or any other STD.
Finally, you do not need Valtrex and should stop taking it. It sounds like maybe you need to find a different provider, one who knows more about herpes than the urgent care doc or your own doc seem to know. You might consider a visit to your local health department's STD clinic, the most expert source of STD care in most communities.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
In any case, you were tested too soon to know if you acquired herpes from the encounter you describe. HerpeSelect takes at least 3 weeks, and sometimes up to 3 months, to become positive. So even if your HSV-2 result is true, you didn't catch it during that exposure. Same for HSV-1; you have been infected with that virus for a long time, most likely since childhood.
Finally, the chance you would have acquired herpes by protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex is very close to zero. If that is your only potential risk, I would not have recommended testing for HSV or any other STD.
Finally, you do not need Valtrex and should stop taking it. It sounds like maybe you need to find a different provider, one who knows more about herpes than the urgent care doc or your own doc seem to know. You might consider a visit to your local health department's STD clinic, the most expert source of STD care in most communities.
Good luck-- 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.
