Aa
Is this possible?
Hi there. I have a question about testing positive and wondering if it's possible to test positive for HSV-1 antibodies very soon after infection. I am a 32-year-old heterosexual female. I was tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 in 2011 with HerpeSelect. Both were negative.
I have had two sexual partners since then. I was with one partner exclusively for five months. We often had unprotected sex. This partner and I broke up over a year ago.
11 days ago I became intimate with a new partner. We performed oral sex on each other, and there was some brief skin-to-skin contact where his penis was rubbing against my vulva, but no penetration. Two days later, I noticed a mild sore throat. On the third day, I looked at my throat in the mirror with a flashlight and discovered that one tonsil was extremely red and enlarged and had white spots all over it. On the fourth day, I went to my doctor. At that point, I wasn't thinking about herpes at all, since I wasn't having any symptoms genitally. Was more concerned about possible throat infection. But I had wanted to confirm my herpes status since my last partner anyway, so he drew blood that day for HerpeSelect testing. The results came back positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2.
Things got worse from there. Starting on the fifth day, and off and on since then, I have been feeling extremely tired, dizzy, muscle pains, swollen glands, minor urinary discomfort, pain in lower abdomen, mild headaches. Tonsil continues enlarged with white spots (doctor said my throat cultures for strep and gonorrhea are negative). On day 8, red bumps appeared around clitoral area. Nothing has appeared blister-like, but now there are white spots on the mucosa near my vaginal opening. Not exactly like blisters or sores, but not normal. I went back to the doctor on day 10, he said that it could be herpes though not "classical" presentation. He swabbed for cultures for HSV, also testing for chlamydia/gonorrhea (though highly unlikely with no penetration), and for yeast and bacteria. I guess I'll get the results in the next day or two. These white spots and red bumps in the genital area still persist, general irritation, spots are tender if touched.
My question: is it at all possible that I got HSV-1 is from this very recent partner, and that I tested positive for antibodies four days after potential infection? I thought it could be possible since I seemed to have a very quick immune response to whatever this is, with my tonsil already visibly activated from day 3. I feel that the symptoms I'm experiencing are likely due to primary herpes, and I guess it's just wishful thinking that this could be due to HSV-1 instead of HSV-2.
I have had two sexual partners since then. I was with one partner exclusively for five months. We often had unprotected sex. This partner and I broke up over a year ago.
11 days ago I became intimate with a new partner. We performed oral sex on each other, and there was some brief skin-to-skin contact where his penis was rubbing against my vulva, but no penetration. Two days later, I noticed a mild sore throat. On the third day, I looked at my throat in the mirror with a flashlight and discovered that one tonsil was extremely red and enlarged and had white spots all over it. On the fourth day, I went to my doctor. At that point, I wasn't thinking about herpes at all, since I wasn't having any symptoms genitally. Was more concerned about possible throat infection. But I had wanted to confirm my herpes status since my last partner anyway, so he drew blood that day for HerpeSelect testing. The results came back positive for HSV-1 and negative for HSV-2.
Things got worse from there. Starting on the fifth day, and off and on since then, I have been feeling extremely tired, dizzy, muscle pains, swollen glands, minor urinary discomfort, pain in lower abdomen, mild headaches. Tonsil continues enlarged with white spots (doctor said my throat cultures for strep and gonorrhea are negative). On day 8, red bumps appeared around clitoral area. Nothing has appeared blister-like, but now there are white spots on the mucosa near my vaginal opening. Not exactly like blisters or sores, but not normal. I went back to the doctor on day 10, he said that it could be herpes though not "classical" presentation. He swabbed for cultures for HSV, also testing for chlamydia/gonorrhea (though highly unlikely with no penetration), and for yeast and bacteria. I guess I'll get the results in the next day or two. These white spots and red bumps in the genital area still persist, general irritation, spots are tender if touched.
My question: is it at all possible that I got HSV-1 is from this very recent partner, and that I tested positive for antibodies four days after potential infection? I thought it could be possible since I seemed to have a very quick immune response to whatever this is, with my tonsil already visibly activated from day 3. I feel that the symptoms I'm experiencing are likely due to primary herpes, and I guess it's just wishful thinking that this could be due to HSV-1 instead of HSV-2.
I was tested using HerpeSelect back in 2011 and also this recent time. I haven't gotten copies of the actual lab work from either time, but I will request them so that I can see the actual values and will post them here.
Hopefully once I get the latest test results back I will have some answers. Perhaps a bacterial infection is causing my unusual gynecologic symptoms. Not sure what the throat situation is about. My doctor thinks that, as of now, my throat inflammation may be due to some kind of virus that I got either from my partner or just out in the world, and that it just needs time to resolve. I'll try to remain calm for now. Thanks so much for your reply.
Hopefully once I get the latest test results back I will have some answers. Perhaps a bacterial infection is causing my unusual gynecologic symptoms. Not sure what the throat situation is about. My doctor thinks that, as of now, my throat inflammation may be due to some kind of virus that I got either from my partner or just out in the world, and that it just needs time to resolve. I'll try to remain calm for now. Thanks so much for your reply.
It would be virtually impossible for a commercial test to reveal positive HSV1 IgG antibodies (we are talking the IgG test?) as the result of a herpes infection four days after the infection.
Are there numeric results associated with the test results? It is possible to have false positives with these tests, they are quite sensitive.
Are you sure you had exactly the same kit type (such as Herpeselect) applied? HSV1 testing has a lower accuracy, about 90%, and it is possible to test positive on one kit and negative on another. This could still mean you have had a oral HSV1 infection since childhood.
What you suggest does not sound like HSV2 is a realistic possibility.
I think you need to hang in there a bit longer and await the diagnosis. Things remain unclear and do not triangulate on an a herpes answer.
Are there numeric results associated with the test results? It is possible to have false positives with these tests, they are quite sensitive.
Are you sure you had exactly the same kit type (such as Herpeselect) applied? HSV1 testing has a lower accuracy, about 90%, and it is possible to test positive on one kit and negative on another. This could still mean you have had a oral HSV1 infection since childhood.
What you suggest does not sound like HSV2 is a realistic possibility.
I think you need to hang in there a bit longer and await the diagnosis. Things remain unclear and do not triangulate on an a herpes answer.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
