IGM Test result, what does it mean?

[Shankx]

Doctor,
    31st May, I had unprotected sex.  1 week later I started getting flu like symptoms.  I did IGM testing on 18th of June and the result is not conclusive.  They result is IGM count 0.94.  Dont know what does it mean.  Pls help me on this.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Presumably you mean an IgM test for herpes.  Such tests are inherently unreliable and should not be done; the IgG tests are the proper ones for herpes diagnosis.  But your result is negative.  Flu symptoms without genital sores are unlikely to be caused by herpes.

I'm not sure why you're asking me.  What did your own provider say about all this?

For more information, use the search link to look for 'genital herpes', 'herpes diagnosis', 'HerpeSelect test', and 'IgM'.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Shankx]

Doctor,
  I did a IGG TYPE SPECIFIC 1/2, and IGM testing.  My IGG for TypeSpecific 1 is +VE(5.7) and IGG2 is -VE and IGM is 1.17.  Given the test, after 29 days of exposure.  I never had any symptoms of oral or genital. But since my last exposure on May 31st(Unprotected vaginal sex), after the first week of exposure I started getting symptoms like, nausea, fatigue and muscle ache.  Since now I have fatigue and muscle ache.  I did all kind of blood test all came back negative. For STD, Chlamydia, gonneria, HIV all negative except +VE for HSV1.  
1 .What could be the reason my symptoms(total fatigue, muscle ache still not recovered)?
2. for HSV1 +Ve, what are the precautions i need to take while having sex with my wife otherwise what is the risk of transmission to my wife.
3. Could I get HSV2 also since IGM says +VE for recent exposure.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You have HSV-1, probably oral.  So does half the population in most industrialized countries.

1) I don't know the cause of your symptoms, but most likely they have nothing to do with herpes and they probably have nothing to do with your casual sexual encounter--except for a possible contribution of anxiety over the event and your fear of herpes.

2) Avoid performing oral sex on your wife if/when you have symptoms to suggest an oral herpes outbreak. Ditto for genital lesions, should you have symptoms there.

3) I told you above that the IgM results are totally irrelevant.  They mean nothing and there is no reason to suppose you have an HSV-2 infection.

Continue to follow your personal health care provider's advice about these and other questions you may have.  If s/he believes your HSV-1 infection might be recently acquired, or that your symptoms might in fact be due to herpes, perhaps s/he will recommend further HSV testing 3-4 months after the sexual exposure you are concerned about.

I will have no further comments or advice.  Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[worriedfornothing]

Please stop  worrying.  I too had flu-like symptoms, fatigue, etc. after an incident of unprotected sex.  I started stressing out that I had herpes.  I went to the Dr., freaking out about every bump, itch, etc. on my body.  They did a herpes test 3 months after exposure.  I came back Igg negative for both 1 & 2, and IgM equivocal at .94 (just like you).  The nurse that called me with the results said that I "definitely have herpes", and that I "probably had already had my outbreak, but should watch out for bumps", and that I should take the test again in another month.  Imagine my distress over every bump, itch, etc. that turned up on my body!  I proceded to run to the Dr. over everything that I saw down there.  I got a boil on my backside during this time, and pretty much convinced myself that I had HSV-2.  I went to my Dr., who is an STD expert, and she basically said that I had nothing to worry about and that I was negative and needed no further testing (actually, two Dr.'s told me that), but i was so convinced by the nurse that told me that I "definitely" had it that I re-took the test after 4 months post-exposure.  Guess what?  Everything came back negative.  The Dr. told me to toally put herpes out of my mind.

So.........

1)  Your symptoms could totally be psychosomatic....mine were.
2)  YES, the IGM test in meaningless....both Dr. Hansfield and my Dr.(who is also an expert) have said so.
3).  Hopefully, you will take comfort in my experience.  I stressed out for absolutely no reason at all.

Please relax.  Use this as a wake-up call like I did to always practice safe sex.