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Is it better to know your status or is ignorance bliss?
For those who were diagnosed with asymptomatic hsv2, Do you find yourself wishing you never found out? or are you glad you know your status?
when it comes to me, I'm really between a rock and a hard place. I engaged in some risky sexual behavior almost 4 months ago and I have been plagued with anxiety ever since. Reason why I have anxiety is because I experience these sensations that really freak me out. They are as follows: I'll feel a sting under my nose or very light burning sensation across my lips or just above them in the mustache area sometimes this will be accompanied by some mild redness that goes away pretty quickly. Genitally I feel quick zing or light burning sensation across the base and shaft and head of my penis or scrotum or my inner thighs . These sensations are certainly not painful or intense and only last a few seconds to a minute or 2 tops and then completely disappear as quickly as they came. I've been experiencing these sensations randomly through out the day for almost 2 months now. Here are the facts: I've yet to experience any actual physical/visible symptoms (sores, lesions, ulcers, fissures, etc. nothing that looks herpetic. I've had red bumps on my inner thighs but I'm like 90% sure is folliculitis but that's it. I've Tested negative at 6 weeks and 5 days via igG blood test. I feel like the only way to totally alleviate this anxiety and to finally put my mind at rest is to get The most accurate test possible(western blot) at the 16 week mark but I'm scared because if the test belts out a positive it would be absolutely devastating to me. So my question is. Do I wait for these "symptoms" to go away and hopefully I'll slowly forget about it and live blissfully ignorant? OR do I face the music and get the WB test and find out once and for all? What would you do?
Also I would appreciate any resources for anonymous testing and if there's a way to receive a WB test anonymously. Thank you
when it comes to me, I'm really between a rock and a hard place. I engaged in some risky sexual behavior almost 4 months ago and I have been plagued with anxiety ever since. Reason why I have anxiety is because I experience these sensations that really freak me out. They are as follows: I'll feel a sting under my nose or very light burning sensation across my lips or just above them in the mustache area sometimes this will be accompanied by some mild redness that goes away pretty quickly. Genitally I feel quick zing or light burning sensation across the base and shaft and head of my penis or scrotum or my inner thighs . These sensations are certainly not painful or intense and only last a few seconds to a minute or 2 tops and then completely disappear as quickly as they came. I've been experiencing these sensations randomly through out the day for almost 2 months now. Here are the facts: I've yet to experience any actual physical/visible symptoms (sores, lesions, ulcers, fissures, etc. nothing that looks herpetic. I've had red bumps on my inner thighs but I'm like 90% sure is folliculitis but that's it. I've Tested negative at 6 weeks and 5 days via igG blood test. I feel like the only way to totally alleviate this anxiety and to finally put my mind at rest is to get The most accurate test possible(western blot) at the 16 week mark but I'm scared because if the test belts out a positive it would be absolutely devastating to me. So my question is. Do I wait for these "symptoms" to go away and hopefully I'll slowly forget about it and live blissfully ignorant? OR do I face the music and get the WB test and find out once and for all? What would you do?
Also I would appreciate any resources for anonymous testing and if there's a way to receive a WB test anonymously. Thank you
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Well, your risk for hsv2 is really low. I'd really doubt that's what you have.
Testing to find out - up to you, really. It's driving you a little crazy now, not knowing. How much will not knowing make it worse for you vs knowing?
You can test with the WB at the 12 week mark - it doesn't take 16 weeks to develop antibodies, but wait 16 weeks if it makes you feel better. (The University of Washington, who administers the test, says 12 weeks.)
No one can answer this for you. I had very clear symptoms - it was easy for me. Your symptoms don't sound anything like herpes, to be honest. No herpes symptoms last that long, and you wouldn't get intermittent symptoms throughout the day, and wouldn't get nerve pain or nerve sensations without an outbreak occurring first. The outbreak is what causes the nerve pain.
70% test positive by 6 weeks, so the odds are in your favor.
Testing to find out - up to you, really. It's driving you a little crazy now, not knowing. How much will not knowing make it worse for you vs knowing?
You can test with the WB at the 12 week mark - it doesn't take 16 weeks to develop antibodies, but wait 16 weeks if it makes you feel better. (The University of Washington, who administers the test, says 12 weeks.)
No one can answer this for you. I had very clear symptoms - it was easy for me. Your symptoms don't sound anything like herpes, to be honest. No herpes symptoms last that long, and you wouldn't get intermittent symptoms throughout the day, and wouldn't get nerve pain or nerve sensations without an outbreak occurring first. The outbreak is what causes the nerve pain.
70% test positive by 6 weeks, so the odds are in your favor.
4 Comments
Thank you for your response. Is it possible to recieve the WB anonymously? And also I get alot of different answers but what percentage of people are asymptomatic for this? What's the best place to go for true anonymous testing? Thank you
It is not possible to get the WB anonymously, but unless you get a low positive IgG, you don't need it.
There probably isn't a way to get anonymous testing. I'm not sure how it works with some of the local clinics where you are, but most won't offer the blood testing. Where did you get the IgG test you've already had? Was that anonymous?
At places like STDCheck.com, you need to go to a lab to get your blood drawn, and you might need to show an ID. You could call and ask.
Other sites mail you a kit, but if you're worried about privacy, that might not work for you if you live with others.
Most people living with herpes, either oral or genital, are unaware they have it. Whether they are truly asymptomatic genitally, or have mild symptoms they don't recognize as herpes, we don't know for sure.
About 90% of people with oral hsv1 never get symptoms.
Still, you had condom protected sex, your risk is really low. You tested neg at 6 weeks. There's no reason to think you have it.
There probably isn't a way to get anonymous testing. I'm not sure how it works with some of the local clinics where you are, but most won't offer the blood testing. Where did you get the IgG test you've already had? Was that anonymous?
At places like STDCheck.com, you need to go to a lab to get your blood drawn, and you might need to show an ID. You could call and ask.
Other sites mail you a kit, but if you're worried about privacy, that might not work for you if you live with others.
Most people living with herpes, either oral or genital, are unaware they have it. Whether they are truly asymptomatic genitally, or have mild symptoms they don't recognize as herpes, we don't know for sure.
About 90% of people with oral hsv1 never get symptoms.
Still, you had condom protected sex, your risk is really low. You tested neg at 6 weeks. There's no reason to think you have it.
I took the first test through my provider. It was not anonymous. My dermatologist ordered the test. Think the actual test was hepres AB panel serum test it searched for igG antibodies for hsv1&2. It just simply came out as negative. There was no numerical value or numbers to read. What test shows the value? And is that more recommended?
She seemed confident I would have antibodies by the 4th week. I read somewhere that most cases can be detected by the 3rd or 4th week, is this generally true? She told me if I were to have an actual OB even if It was mild I would definitely feel it and it would be extremely irritating if not painful. Is this the general consensus?
Also is there any online resources for herpes pictures. I'm curious as to what "mild symptoms"would look like and if i could see visuals to look at it could help. Sorry if I'm really peppering you with questions. Answer at your leisure. Thank you.
She seemed confident I would have antibodies by the 4th week. I read somewhere that most cases can be detected by the 3rd or 4th week, is this generally true? She told me if I were to have an actual OB even if It was mild I would definitely feel it and it would be extremely irritating if not painful. Is this the general consensus?
Also is there any online resources for herpes pictures. I'm curious as to what "mild symptoms"would look like and if i could see visuals to look at it could help. Sorry if I'm really peppering you with questions. Answer at your leisure. Thank you.
The index value - or number - is really only important if you get a positive. There are false positives on the hsv2 IgG especially, and an index value will help determine if it's likely to be a false positive or not.
70% of people will test positive by the 6th week. About half will by the 4th week.
If you don't have hsv1, especially, typically but not always, you'll have more severe symptoms.
Here are some pretty good pics of herpes - https://www.verywellhealth.com/herpes-simplex-pictures-4020363
If you had an actual OB, you'd have symptoms. The severity can vary, but you'd have something on your skin.
I don't think you are remembering that the chances that you'd have herpes are very, very low from protected sexual encounters. Please keep that in mind.
70% of people will test positive by the 6th week. About half will by the 4th week.
If you don't have hsv1, especially, typically but not always, you'll have more severe symptoms.
Here are some pretty good pics of herpes - https://www.verywellhealth.com/herpes-simplex-pictures-4020363
If you had an actual OB, you'd have symptoms. The severity can vary, but you'd have something on your skin.
I don't think you are remembering that the chances that you'd have herpes are very, very low from protected sexual encounters. Please keep that in mind.
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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.
