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Herpes 2 testing issue
So it’s been roughly 9 years, I’ve been really confused and haven’t been able to get any answers for my issue.
9 years ago my husband and I, we are a gay couple, had a one night stand with another guy.
A couple days after I had shooting urethra pain and slowing developed pain right below both sides of my buttock.
This pain has been constant, I have been tested for STI’s roughly 10 times in the last 9 years, all came back negative. I’ve been told by a urologist to test specificity for herpes and all tests I had, included herpes 1 and 2.
For some reason I got tested 1 more time with a different lab about 8 months ago, Quest Labs.
With them it came back positive with a herpes 2 IGG of 1.51, so I was confused and tested with Labcorp again because looking at research 1.55 is really low for some being positive with herpes type 2.
With labcorp/quest hsv1 was negative (.35 or something) and again hsv2 came back as 1.55 however LabCorp did something called a reflex test and over all said hsv2 was actually a negative based on the reflex test.
What is a reflex test and is it truly negative?
Also just a side note I did a herpes western blot test about 3 years after my symptoms started and it came back negative for both herpes type.
9 years ago my husband and I, we are a gay couple, had a one night stand with another guy.
A couple days after I had shooting urethra pain and slowing developed pain right below both sides of my buttock.
This pain has been constant, I have been tested for STI’s roughly 10 times in the last 9 years, all came back negative. I’ve been told by a urologist to test specificity for herpes and all tests I had, included herpes 1 and 2.
For some reason I got tested 1 more time with a different lab about 8 months ago, Quest Labs.
With them it came back positive with a herpes 2 IGG of 1.51, so I was confused and tested with Labcorp again because looking at research 1.55 is really low for some being positive with herpes type 2.
With labcorp/quest hsv1 was negative (.35 or something) and again hsv2 came back as 1.55 however LabCorp did something called a reflex test and over all said hsv2 was actually a negative based on the reflex test.
What is a reflex test and is it truly negative?
Also just a side note I did a herpes western blot test about 3 years after my symptoms started and it came back negative for both herpes type.
COMMUNITY LEADER
The reflex test is some kind of supplemental test that is supposed to confirm a low positive hsv2 test. Unfortunately, it's not all that reliable, and I'd recommend another WB test.
There are some people who continue to get low positives on the hsv2 IgG test. There's a blood protein that seems to be a cause for it - a totally normal protein, and it seems to happen more often in 1st generation Americans - if that applies to you.
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/is-there-hope-for-me/
If your last exposure to someone other than your husband was 9 years ago, and you had the negative WB at least 12 weeks after that encounter, you did not get herpes from that encounter.
Your symptoms do not sound like an STD. Have you seen a urologist? I'd wonder about chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which is non-bacterial prostatitis. I'm sure they've done urine testing - have they found any white blood cells in your urine? Were the activities protected? Has your husband had any symptoms? I'd imagine if you had an STD, he'd probably have one, though I don't know what activities you engage in.
I'd also wonder if you've had any imaging of your back. Any of your groin area? Anal/rectum area? A friend had similar pain for a long time and it turned out he had anal fissures, found during a colonoscopy, I believe (it's been a long time). He already had herpes, and was convinced his herpes was causing his pain.
The only STD you may not have been tested for is mycoplasma genitalium. Ask your urologist about it. I doubt it's causing your symptoms, and your husband would likely have it, too, but you can at least rule it out.
There are some people who continue to get low positives on the hsv2 IgG test. There's a blood protein that seems to be a cause for it - a totally normal protein, and it seems to happen more often in 1st generation Americans - if that applies to you.
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/is-there-hope-for-me/
If your last exposure to someone other than your husband was 9 years ago, and you had the negative WB at least 12 weeks after that encounter, you did not get herpes from that encounter.
Your symptoms do not sound like an STD. Have you seen a urologist? I'd wonder about chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which is non-bacterial prostatitis. I'm sure they've done urine testing - have they found any white blood cells in your urine? Were the activities protected? Has your husband had any symptoms? I'd imagine if you had an STD, he'd probably have one, though I don't know what activities you engage in.
I'd also wonder if you've had any imaging of your back. Any of your groin area? Anal/rectum area? A friend had similar pain for a long time and it turned out he had anal fissures, found during a colonoscopy, I believe (it's been a long time). He already had herpes, and was convinced his herpes was causing his pain.
The only STD you may not have been tested for is mycoplasma genitalium. Ask your urologist about it. I doubt it's causing your symptoms, and your husband would likely have it, too, but you can at least rule it out.
2 Comments
Thank you for the answer, the oral we did on each other was unprotected and I received protected anal. He doesn’t have any symptoms of anything.
I have an imaging down from head to toe, it’s been horrible.
The WB was a good 2 years after exposure and my husband tested positive for hsv1 and negative for 2, not uncommon I have seen for me to not have hsv1 even though he is positive.
I have had a battery of imaging and such, I’ll look into mycoplasma genitalium.
I’m not a 1st gen American but everyone time I would go to a urologist I could never get a sample for them, shy bladder.
Thank you again for the help I will follow up with my doctor and see what else is possible.
I have an imaging down from head to toe, it’s been horrible.
The WB was a good 2 years after exposure and my husband tested positive for hsv1 and negative for 2, not uncommon I have seen for me to not have hsv1 even though he is positive.
I have had a battery of imaging and such, I’ll look into mycoplasma genitalium.
I’m not a 1st gen American but everyone time I would go to a urologist I could never get a sample for them, shy bladder.
Thank you again for the help I will follow up with my doctor and see what else is possible.
Let me know what happens. I wish I had more info to help.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
