Those are wise decisions. Best wishes.
and Life360 thank you both for taking time to read about my situation and share the information you have.
I am breathing much easier having been tested and coming out negative. It was a pretty stressful couple of weeks. We do intend to only engage with partners in the future who have test results that they are willing to share with us and my husband and I have agreed that will not engage in further unprotected sex with future partners either.
Hi, DGG. Life360 invited me to comment.
Your lifestyle places you and your husband at high risk of acquiring HSV2 someday. But it hasn't happened yet.
Life360 is correct that your HSV2 blood test results are clearly negative. The information you see on lab results is written primarily for lab scientists and clinicians, not patients, hence uses terminology and notations that some nonscientists may not recognize, in this case < for "less than".
In the presence of asymptomatic genital herpes due to HSV2, the average transmission risk by unproteced vaginal sex is around 1 in 1,000 for each exposure. It's lower than that in this case, since the infected woman is taking suppressive treatment.
1) No retesting is necessary at this time. However, as implied above, you and/or your husband could well acquire HSV2 from the current partner or a future one, unless you have all potential partners be tested for HSV before including them in your sexual activity circle. (Without testing, you can assume that 10-50% of them will have HSV2, depending on age, race, and other factors.) I would advise any couple in your and your husband's lifestyle to have regular testing (e.g. once a year) for all treatable and/or serious STDs, i.e. gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV, and HSV. You also should be immunized against HPV and hepatitis B, if not done already.
2) See above. Any number below 0.90 or lower is conclusively negative, which is why your lab doesn't seel a need to give the actual figure.
3) You needn't say anything about HSV to your new partner. You don't have HSV2 and he is not at risk for HSV1, because the immune system prevents new infections with the type someone already has.
I hope that helps. Best wishes and stay safe (relatively speaking).
Hi, firstly your value means less than .91. The< symbol means less than so that would take you out of the equivical. You can retest now is your concerned or call you lab about the less than symbol.