HSV 2 positive?

[eva214]

I am entering a new relationship and recently went to get tested for all STD's---figured I was being responsible! I received my test results and my Dr. informs me that I tested positive for history of HSV2 with IgG levels of 1.17. Mind you, I have never had an outbreak or symptoms so this came as a bit of a shock. She recommended I get on Valtrex if I am interested in trying to reduce transmission and outbreaks to future partners. My questions are:

1. Do I definitely have genital herpes?
2. SHould I take the medication?
3. What are the chances of my partner performing oral sex and then contracting the disease orally? Obviously I dont know when or if I am having an outbreak so I am jsut concerned over when to abstain, best practices, etc.

Also, since I have never had an outbreak, what is the likelihood that I will ever in life?

My only "symptom" I can rack my brain for is discharge...sometimes I get more than normal but i always just chalked this up to being the week before my period or something liek that?!
    
Thanks for your help

[eva214]

eventually i will stop writing on this board!

I have yet to go back for additional testing but have an appt this week to ask for a mote definitive test in determining HSV 2 results since mine came back 1.1 in August and a year or 2 before that.  Initially I thought thsi was an issue with false positive but have not received confirmation through additional testing.

My question lies in the fact that while shaving around my pubic region yesterday i noticed a small, red circular dot in pubic hair  line around the vagina.  it doesnt hurt and I wouldnt have notice it if I didnt shave the hair off it honestly.  It is nearly gone from yesterday to today as well.  I was obviuosly freaking out because I read that herpes can appear in just one singular dot in that area, doesnt always hurt, etc.  it hasnt blistered, isnt tender--literally looks like a slight discoloration in a perfect circular.  I also believe that I have HSV1 and read that these types of outbreaks can often be missed and seen in the form of chapped lips.  Is this true?  I was experiencing a tingly feeling in my lips last week and my lips got extremely chapped (like peeling practically).  I am just wondering if these are symptoms that go hand in hand.


I know I jsut need to get tested again to be sure but I am wondering what your thoughts are or if I am way off base with some of this.

Thanks!

[gracefromHHP]

not everything is as cut and dry as it could be. there are some issues with all tests. we focus on herpes testing here.  

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/low-positives---confirmatory-results/show/1097724#post_5968138  is a poll/post we have here on the forum with more info in it too.

grace

[eva214]

ahhhh i see...thanks Grace---it is ridiculous how interpreting results can change from provider to provider-they cannot jsut go around misdiagnosing people and medicating them!  After doing some research I found that some people even say something like 3.5+ is positive for hsv2 while others are in my boat!  I really hope this becomes more clear in the future or providers make an effort to learn more before clearly diagnosing people with something like this.  in the meantime, I will thank YOU for your advice :)

I will plan to retest in October and keep you posted...thanks much!

[gracefromHHP]

some providers erroneously think that it takes that long for igg to show up :(

most providers aren't as up to date on herpes testing as they could be.

grace

[eva214]

This has put me in less of a panic so I appreciate the feed back and hope for the best!   One last question, why would my dr. say that this was an exposure that occured more than 6 months ago, while my dr. 2 years ago wanted me to get retested with basically the same reading?  Obviously 2 different Dr.'s so just wondering...it just concerns me that my dr. was adamant that this was due to a prior 6 month occurence?

[Mistakeguy789]

Eva you are in great hands.  

Thanks grace.  I figured the timing would be the same and that WB being gold standard would be best but was curious as well.  You know me always learning.