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STDs (Expert Forum)
Testing for Herpes and Other STDs...worried!
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Testing for Herpes and Other STDs...worried!
by jj_jane, Mar 22, 2008 06:33PM
Hello,
I had unprotected vaginal sex in mid december. Since that point I had sex with the same partner once but it was protected in early February. I am getting tested for all the stds this week. I don't have any signs of stds. I have been doing research on herpes testing. I would like to know if my herpes blood test will be accurate at this point??? I had protected sex in Februrary but unprotected in December, so should I wait longer for the herpes testing to be sure???? My insurance does not cover the herpes blood test so I prefer to test when it will be accurate.
Thanks in advance.
I had unprotected vaginal sex in mid december. Since that point I had sex with the same partner once but it was protected in early February. I am getting tested for all the stds this week. I don't have any signs of stds. I have been doing research on herpes testing. I would like to know if my herpes blood test will be accurate at this point??? I had protected sex in Februrary but unprotected in December, so should I wait longer for the herpes testing to be sure???? My insurance does not cover the herpes blood test so I prefer to test when it will be accurate.
Thanks in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Mar 22, 2008 08:43PM
, Mar 22, 2008 08:43PM
To: jj_jane
The issue of herpes is a difficult one. Let me give you a few of the facts about this disease. Over 20% (one in five) sexually active American adults has genital herpes due to HSV-2. In addition, over 60% of American adults have HSV-1, most of whom have their infection as oral infections (cold sores) but a substantial minority have genital HSV-1 as well. If you have a positive antibody (blood) test for herpes, unless this person was your first sex partner, you will not know who or where you got it from.
In addition, the risk of getting herpes, even from an infected partner (and I don't think you know if your partner had HSV or not) is quite low. In one study of couples in which every couple was comprised of one person with herpes and one without it, the occurrence of infection over an eight month period was only 3% (i.e. 4% per year).
If you have not had symptoms, my feeling is that it is unlikely you have herpes and do not need to be tested. If you do want to know (please think what you will do with the information, positive or negative before getting tested), be sure that the test you get is type specific test based on the herpes virus gG protein. The most common of these tests is the HerpeSelect. At three months post exposure, 80-90% of HSV-2 tests that are going to be positive will be (antibody production is a bit slower in persons who already have HSV-1). At six months, the figure peaks out at 90-95% (a small proportion of people with herpes do not develop antibodies. The meaning of this phenomenon is unknown).
there are many places to learn more about herpes if you wish. One of the better ones is the American Social Health Association (ASHA) web site. You could also search this site using herpes as the search term. We have answered many past questions on this topic as well. Disclosure- Dr. Handsfield and I are both members of the ASHA Board of Directors. Hope this helps. EWH
In addition, the risk of getting herpes, even from an infected partner (and I don't think you know if your partner had HSV or not) is quite low. In one study of couples in which every couple was comprised of one person with herpes and one without it, the occurrence of infection over an eight month period was only 3% (i.e. 4% per year).
If you have not had symptoms, my feeling is that it is unlikely you have herpes and do not need to be tested. If you do want to know (please think what you will do with the information, positive or negative before getting tested), be sure that the test you get is type specific test based on the herpes virus gG protein. The most common of these tests is the HerpeSelect. At three months post exposure, 80-90% of HSV-2 tests that are going to be positive will be (antibody production is a bit slower in persons who already have HSV-1). At six months, the figure peaks out at 90-95% (a small proportion of people with herpes do not develop antibodies. The meaning of this phenomenon is unknown).
there are many places to learn more about herpes if you wish. One of the better ones is the American Social Health Association (ASHA) web site. You could also search this site using herpes as the search term. We have answered many past questions on this topic as well. Disclosure- Dr. Handsfield and I are both members of the ASHA Board of Directors. Hope this helps. EWH
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