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Herpes lying dormant

I was just diagnosed with HSV 2.  I have never had any signs and found out through regular testing.  My question is I have a live in girlfriend which I have had for about 5 years.  We have had what I thought or believe to be a monogamous relationship.  She has tested negative.  Is it possible I have had HSV 2 and never transmitted it to her in 5-6 years b/c I have never had an outbreak.  I m very confused
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101028 tn?1419603004
No - the blood test results don't reflect how long you've been infected.

grace
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Avatar universal
can this test result give any indication of how long i have had HSV.  Would it be lowver or higher depending on the time i have been infected?
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101028 tn?1419603004
4.2 is over the false negative cut off rate so it's likely to be an accurate result.  

Yes it's not only possible that your gf is really negative for hsv2 but also probable.  You will always be more likely NOT to transmit your hsv2 than you are to transmit it to a partner.  Taking even the simplest of precautions can help her stay that way.  Not that living with herpes is the end of the world by no means - I"ve had it for 21 years now myself - but if you can keep her negative until she's done having children it's just less worry for all of you.

I'm totally with jda - no reason to suspect infidelity especially since your gf's negative. that means you've had this since before you met her if she was properly tested.

grace
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Avatar universal
Yes, it's possible that you've had HSV2 since before you and your girlfriend started dating and she's never contracted it.  There are drugs you can take to further decrease the chances that she ever will, you should look at the sources Grace suggested.  Is this the first time you've been tested for HSV in 5-6 years?

Also, you write "We have had what I thought or believe to be a monogamous relationship."  This doesn't prove infidelity for either of you.  In fact it's very unlikely that she would have contracted the virus from an outside partner, then transmitted it to you, and you would show IGG antibodies before she did.
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Avatar universal
thanks for the reply, my result was hsv2 1gg 4.2.

So you think it's also possible for my girlfriend to be negative.  Is this just lucky statistics that she hasn't gotten it or what?

thanks for the support Grace
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101028 tn?1419603004
Study after study after study has confirmed that the vast majority of folks who have hsv2 - have no idea they have it until tested. Some studies are as high as 97% of the folks that participate with most being around 90% or so. It's much more common to be infected and not know it than it is to know that you are infected with hsv2.  Everyone thinks that if you had genital herpes you'd have frequently reoccuring, obvious and painful blisters that you wouldn't miss. The reality is though that most folks have rather mild symptoms of recurrences which can easily be over looked, attributed to other causes and even very frequently misdiagnosed by medical professionals.  So yes it is not only possible but also very probable that you had hsv2 since before you met your current partner and just never realized it.  

If you can get a copy of your blood test results and post the numerical results here I'll gladly give you a hand with them. I just need to see the numbers - ie hsv1 igg .45 and hsv2 igg 5.8 or whatever they are.  They might also just be a positive or a negative too.  

I encourage you and your gf to take the time to read the herpes handbook and watch the patient counseling video at www.westoverheights.com.  Both will help the two of you learn more about hsv2 and how to deal with it in your relationship.  

I know it's a lot to deal with but hang in there - it will get easier :)

grace
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