Tested HSV-2 and have questions.

[abba23]

Hi Grace, you appear the most informative person on these message boards about herpes. I am hoping you can offer me some wisdom. I have had a sexual relationship with a man for about 2 years - on and off. I knew he was also with a woman infected with HSV-2 and she had had outbreaks from time to time but they wouldn't have sex then. Anyway, he didn't think he had it. A year went by and he got a new girlfriend and he learned after infecting her that indeed he does have it. He got a blood test which confirmed it. He told me recently AFTER we re-connected and had one instance of unprotected sex. Otherwise, I always insisted he wear a condom. I have obviously been concerned, and worried. I got tested at a local lab and just got test results back tonight that said I have out of normal ranges for HSV-2. I tested 3.13 on the HSV-2 Igg test. Since then, I've been reading and can't sleep. I have read that this is a low positive score and I should get re-tested to be sure. I've never had any physical symptoms. I just started seeing someone new and have been totally honest with him about this from the start. We've had sex twice and fully protected with condoms. I let him know about my test results tonight via email and suggested he get tested. We have such a strong connection and I fear this will break it, but I felt the best thing to do was to be honest. Anyway, any wisdom welcome, esp. does a 3.13 result on an Igg mean I'm for sure HSV-2 positive? Could I spread it to this new person assuming he ever wants to have sex with me again? Thanks for any and all wisdom.  

[gracefromHHP]

if I thought it was a drug company conspiracy, I'd tell you.  I've been reading studies from countries all over the world on herpes for over 10 years now and the research consistently  backs the info that is put out there.  the majority of the problem is, people just are not tested for herpes to know that they have it. One study even showed that if you know you have herpes, it reduces the risk of transmitting to a partner!  You can't prevent what you don't know you have. Part of the problem also is a lack of education for providers as well as we really do need better tests that are cheaper and more readily available.  Another problem is no one teaches us about herpes to understand it - they just teach us to just say no to sex so that we don't get any std's at all.  Many gaps in the system that need to be fixed which is why we have a forum like this - to get accurate information without the guilt  or the gloom and doom mentality that is often out there.  

ok, off my soapbox!

[abba23]

hi again grace, thanks for the response.

prior to my test, it's been about two months since I had one instance of unprotected sex with the person who tested positive, he told me about 6 months ago. He doesn't know when he got it. I also had sex with him last year too, once unprotected. (he's not sure if he had it then.) Otherwise, we always used condoms.

my current partner is going to get tested. i got tested just days after we were together. we were totally safe the two times we've had sex with condoms. he's still going to get tested just in case. he said he was with a woman many years ago who had it (can i tell you in a way this was such a relief to hear) and he said they were very safe and careful and still had a great sex life (except for when she was having outbreaks). Anyway, he's been tested every year since then and so far, has always been tested negative. I hope his next test turns out negative as well. He's been really kind through this whole ordeal. A real blessing.

what is covering my other std testing bases? if you mean, getting tested for all the other common STDs, yes, I did and everything came back in the clear and negative.

i'm going to meet with my gynecologist next week too. through this experience, i've been reading and educating myself as much as possible. these sites i found to be extremely encouraging and uplifting:
http://www.hsvblog.org/
ttp://theherpesblog.com/genital-herpes/

Also, a recent NPR article:http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/04/12/135351157/people-can-spread-herpes-easily-even-when-free-of-symptoms

I think it is clear our culture needs a huge wake-up call about herpes. The stigma and ignorance is pathetic. My guess is a heck of a lot of people have it and don't know they do and are spreading it like wildfire, esp. in more sexually free places. Either that, or the drug companies want us to think so.

Any other thoughts/wisdom much appreciated. And, if I learn anything worthwhile at the gyno office, I will be happy to share with the forum.

[gracefromHHP]

you've already read correctly that it could be a low positive.

How long prior to your hsv2 test had you last had sex with the other partner?

definitely get your current partner tested to see what his status is because if by chance he has hsv2 and never knew it, it'll affect how long you need to wait before you get your confirmatory testing done.

did you also cover your other std testing bases?

grace