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Should a negative IgG/1.43 IgM worry me?
Hi all-
7 months ago, I developed what would later be confirmed as a nasty severe yeast infection, complete with itching, painful urination, swelling, folliculitis, and discharge. Not pretty.
I had never had any vaginal complications before, so I raced to an NP who prescribed me Diflucan (which would eventually clear me up within the week).
Panicked, paranoid, and impatient for the Diflucan to work, however, I then decided to get tested for STDs the next day just to be "sure" (why I thought I knew better than a specialist, I don't know). All non-HSV results came back negative. My HSV results were as follows:
HSV 1 IgG: <.91 (negative)
HSV 2 IgG: <.91 (negative)
HSV IgM: 1.43
The results, I was told, numerically suggested an acute, or recent, infection. I have been in a monogamous relationship for 2.5 years, and my partner has never had any suspicion of infection, nor any symptoms, and has a previous sexual history suggesting little to no chance of infection. We use condoms routinely and are faithful. The numbers would suggest, however, that he gave me some form of HSV.
My research tells me, however, that IgM is actually highly unreliable, notorious for false positives, and not even recommended to be administered. Furthermore, I am told that such a low result is highly likely a false positive. My yeast infection symptoms completely cleared up in a week, which a different specialist (whom I visited a week later) assured me would be too fast to likely be a herpes outbreak.
Would it be irresponsible to skip the follow-up test and move on?
7 months ago, I developed what would later be confirmed as a nasty severe yeast infection, complete with itching, painful urination, swelling, folliculitis, and discharge. Not pretty.
I had never had any vaginal complications before, so I raced to an NP who prescribed me Diflucan (which would eventually clear me up within the week).
Panicked, paranoid, and impatient for the Diflucan to work, however, I then decided to get tested for STDs the next day just to be "sure" (why I thought I knew better than a specialist, I don't know). All non-HSV results came back negative. My HSV results were as follows:
HSV 1 IgG: <.91 (negative)
HSV 2 IgG: <.91 (negative)
HSV IgM: 1.43
The results, I was told, numerically suggested an acute, or recent, infection. I have been in a monogamous relationship for 2.5 years, and my partner has never had any suspicion of infection, nor any symptoms, and has a previous sexual history suggesting little to no chance of infection. We use condoms routinely and are faithful. The numbers would suggest, however, that he gave me some form of HSV.
My research tells me, however, that IgM is actually highly unreliable, notorious for false positives, and not even recommended to be administered. Furthermore, I am told that such a low result is highly likely a false positive. My yeast infection symptoms completely cleared up in a week, which a different specialist (whom I visited a week later) assured me would be too fast to likely be a herpes outbreak.
Would it be irresponsible to skip the follow-up test and move on?
COMMUNITY LEADER
If this was your only concern for HSV, I would skip it and move on. The IgM is a terrible test for herpes (it's great for other things, just not herpes), and as you know, it's as likely to be positive when it should be negative and vice versa. I'd totally ignore it and act like it didn't even happen. :)
Best of luck to you!
Best of luck to you!
1 Comments
Thank you so much; great to hear it reaffirmed by a community leader! I appreciate your time
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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.
