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What are the chances
I am a male who had unprotected intercourse with a female with known infection of both 1& 2. Unfortunately, she did not know until afterwards that she had been infected. She was tested for STD’s but did not know herpes was not standard with an STD screen. A conversation came up afterwards and it was then she got tested and was positive for both.
I had flu like symptoms about 2 weeks post exposure but, no outbreak symptoms. I tested Igg type specific Elisa at 3.5 weeks and most recently at 6 weeks. Both times negative. I have researched that these tests are truly not conclusive until 12-16 weeks however, I’m just trying to get a feel with the information provided what my chances are of being infected.
I had flu like symptoms about 2 weeks post exposure but, no outbreak symptoms. I tested Igg type specific Elisa at 3.5 weeks and most recently at 6 weeks. Both times negative. I have researched that these tests are truly not conclusive until 12-16 weeks however, I’m just trying to get a feel with the information provided what my chances are of being infected.
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First, I'd be interested to see her results. Can you find out if the results were given with a separate result for each type, or just one result for both? If it says, "HSV1&2", then she has either type 1, or type 2, or maybe both. Lots of doctors get this wrong and don't order type specific tests. Also make sure she had an IgG and not an IgM.
Getting herpes from a one time encounter when the infected partner doesn't have symptoms is not likely. Given that you've had no symptoms, and negative tests at 6 weeks, I'd say you don't have much to worry about. Flu like symptoms can be from a cold, the actual flu, allergies, stress, etc., so that really can't be used to diagnose anything, except maybe the flu.
I'd still be interested in her test results since that could affect her, and also future testing decisions for you.
Getting herpes from a one time encounter when the infected partner doesn't have symptoms is not likely. Given that you've had no symptoms, and negative tests at 6 weeks, I'd say you don't have much to worry about. Flu like symptoms can be from a cold, the actual flu, allergies, stress, etc., so that really can't be used to diagnose anything, except maybe the flu.
I'd still be interested in her test results since that could affect her, and also future testing decisions for you.
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Hi auntiejessi,
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and respond.
There was an error when she gave me the initial information. She is negative for HSV1. She is positive for HSV2.
The results are as follows.......
HSV1 igG type specific Ab <0.90
HSV2 igG type specific Ab. 16.30
There is more to my story that causes me concern although I will keep it to a minimum. However, I have been married for 22 years. This encounter came during a rather brief separation from my wife. It really was a stupid choice on my part and not true to my character. With that being said, I have to live with that guilt I feel every day. A choice that has opened my eyes and one I will never make again.
I have not said anything to my wife. It would kill her to know I did this albeit during a brief separation. I have been avoiding intimate relations with her as the last thing I want to do is infect her if in fact I am infected. Obviously, I would have to tell her if I do show positive in the future.
I any case, my concerns are, I can’t avoid her for ever. I know a conclusive test takes time. I am currently 6 weeks post exposure. I know you can not give me a definitive answer but, in your previous post, you didn’t seem to see much cause of concern. Certainly your opinion may change given the more detail to my dilemma I have provided.
Any advise would be appreciated as to my possible contraction of HSV2 and where I go from here ?? I’m not looking for marital advise as much as I am looking for detail to the possible infection itself ??
Thanks
Thank you for taking the time to read my post and respond.
There was an error when she gave me the initial information. She is negative for HSV1. She is positive for HSV2.
The results are as follows.......
HSV1 igG type specific Ab <0.90
HSV2 igG type specific Ab. 16.30
There is more to my story that causes me concern although I will keep it to a minimum. However, I have been married for 22 years. This encounter came during a rather brief separation from my wife. It really was a stupid choice on my part and not true to my character. With that being said, I have to live with that guilt I feel every day. A choice that has opened my eyes and one I will never make again.
I have not said anything to my wife. It would kill her to know I did this albeit during a brief separation. I have been avoiding intimate relations with her as the last thing I want to do is infect her if in fact I am infected. Obviously, I would have to tell her if I do show positive in the future.
I any case, my concerns are, I can’t avoid her for ever. I know a conclusive test takes time. I am currently 6 weeks post exposure. I know you can not give me a definitive answer but, in your previous post, you didn’t seem to see much cause of concern. Certainly your opinion may change given the more detail to my dilemma I have provided.
Any advise would be appreciated as to my possible contraction of HSV2 and where I go from here ?? I’m not looking for marital advise as much as I am looking for detail to the possible infection itself ??
Thanks
Additionally, a few questions.
How do antibodies build up ?? Do they build slowly everyday or, just show up and give you a positive ??
Do you know the percentage of people that get exposed and actually have a severe, noticeable initial OB ??
What percentage of people show negative at 6 weeks and/or even 8 weeks, then turn positive later ??
Lastly, what are the statistics, if any, in relation to what percentage of people will show positive at various weeks tested ??
Thanks again for your response.
How do antibodies build up ?? Do they build slowly everyday or, just show up and give you a positive ??
Do you know the percentage of people that get exposed and actually have a severe, noticeable initial OB ??
What percentage of people show negative at 6 weeks and/or even 8 weeks, then turn positive later ??
Lastly, what are the statistics, if any, in relation to what percentage of people will show positive at various weeks tested ??
Thanks again for your response.
So most people will test positive for antibodies by 6 weeks. By 3 weeks, 50% will seroconvert (develop antibodies), by 6 weeks, 70% will. By week 12, everyone will.
Lots of people get "exposed", but not everyone will be infected. Most aren't.
Of those that are infected, about 80-90% don't know they have it because they don't have a severe, painful, noticeable OB. Many of those people already have hsv1, which will usually help make hsv2 symptoms milder. Once you have hsv1, it means that you won't have a true primary outbreak for hsv2. Primary means first herpes outbreak of either kind. Those are the most painful, severe and obviously, noticeable ones.
Antibodies develop over time, but it can take time to develop enough to show up on a test.
Lots of people get "exposed", but not everyone will be infected. Most aren't.
Of those that are infected, about 80-90% don't know they have it because they don't have a severe, painful, noticeable OB. Many of those people already have hsv1, which will usually help make hsv2 symptoms milder. Once you have hsv1, it means that you won't have a true primary outbreak for hsv2. Primary means first herpes outbreak of either kind. Those are the most painful, severe and obviously, noticeable ones.
Antibodies develop over time, but it can take time to develop enough to show up on a test.
Thank you for the info. I have found this forum to be very knowledgeable. I have read some of Teri Warrens info as well.
It amazes me some of the wrong information floating around the internet from so called “ Ask the Dr.” websites that are misleading. Some even stating that if you test negative at 4-6 weeks, you are good to go, no herpes.
I am, up to this point negative for both 1&2.
- Is it true if you do not have HSV1 that a person tends to build antibodies quicker than if you do have HSV1 ??
- Since I have not had any symptoms ( at least not that I noticed). Is there anything else I can do or watch out for that can give me any other indications of having HSV2 ??
Otherwise, I do plan on keeping to myself until at least week 10 and testing again (assuming I do not get any noticeable symptoms) and depending on results, testing one more time at 12-16 weeks.
Thank you again. You have been very helpful.
It amazes me some of the wrong information floating around the internet from so called “ Ask the Dr.” websites that are misleading. Some even stating that if you test negative at 4-6 weeks, you are good to go, no herpes.
I am, up to this point negative for both 1&2.
- Is it true if you do not have HSV1 that a person tends to build antibodies quicker than if you do have HSV1 ??
- Since I have not had any symptoms ( at least not that I noticed). Is there anything else I can do or watch out for that can give me any other indications of having HSV2 ??
Otherwise, I do plan on keeping to myself until at least week 10 and testing again (assuming I do not get any noticeable symptoms) and depending on results, testing one more time at 12-16 weeks.
Thank you again. You have been very helpful.
One more question.
- Would going from negative at 6 weeks to let’s say an equivocal at 8-10 weeks mean I’m building antibodies ?? I have heard some say equivocal does not mean positive or negative. Thanks
- Would going from negative at 6 weeks to let’s say an equivocal at 8-10 weeks mean I’m building antibodies ?? I have heard some say equivocal does not mean positive or negative. Thanks
- Is it true if you do not have HSV1 that a person tends to build antibodies quicker than if you do have HSV1 ??
I have seen a bit on this, but still, with the majority of people testing positive by 6 weeks, those would be the exceptions, not the rule. I'm not entirely convinced on it.
- Since I have not had any symptoms ( at least not that I noticed). Is there anything else I can do or watch out for that can give me any other indications of having HSV2 ??
Nope, just keep an eye out for symptoms. This does NOT mean obsessively watch. You can check once a day if you aren't feeling anything, or glance when you use the restroom.
- Would going from negative at 6 weeks to let’s say an equivocal at 8-10 weeks mean I’m building antibodies ?? I have heard some say equivocal does not mean positive or negative. Thanks
Well, technically speaking, with official test results, an equivocal means you have a 50-50 chance either way. It's neither positive nor negative. However, most experts, including Terri Warren, feel that the cutoff for positives is too low, and that anything under 3.5 needs to be confirmed, especially in the presence of a pre-existing hsv1 infection. So in that theory, an equivocal would most likely be negative.
Some doctors are giving dangerous information about herpes. Some still say that it's only infectious during an outbreak. Many more are still giving the IgM test, though we've known for years that it's unreliable in adults. Some still give non-type specific tests, which is not at all helpful unless you test negative for both. If you test positive, you have no idea if you have type 1, type 2 or both.
Since most people will test positive by 6 weeks, if you've had no symptoms, the 6 weeks and you're good to go can apply to some people. It depends on the risk level, if they were with someone known to have herpes, protected sex or not, etc.
Hang in there!
I have seen a bit on this, but still, with the majority of people testing positive by 6 weeks, those would be the exceptions, not the rule. I'm not entirely convinced on it.
- Since I have not had any symptoms ( at least not that I noticed). Is there anything else I can do or watch out for that can give me any other indications of having HSV2 ??
Nope, just keep an eye out for symptoms. This does NOT mean obsessively watch. You can check once a day if you aren't feeling anything, or glance when you use the restroom.
- Would going from negative at 6 weeks to let’s say an equivocal at 8-10 weeks mean I’m building antibodies ?? I have heard some say equivocal does not mean positive or negative. Thanks
Well, technically speaking, with official test results, an equivocal means you have a 50-50 chance either way. It's neither positive nor negative. However, most experts, including Terri Warren, feel that the cutoff for positives is too low, and that anything under 3.5 needs to be confirmed, especially in the presence of a pre-existing hsv1 infection. So in that theory, an equivocal would most likely be negative.
Some doctors are giving dangerous information about herpes. Some still say that it's only infectious during an outbreak. Many more are still giving the IgM test, though we've known for years that it's unreliable in adults. Some still give non-type specific tests, which is not at all helpful unless you test negative for both. If you test positive, you have no idea if you have type 1, type 2 or both.
Since most people will test positive by 6 weeks, if you've had no symptoms, the 6 weeks and you're good to go can apply to some people. It depends on the risk level, if they were with someone known to have herpes, protected sex or not, etc.
Hang in there!
auntiejessi
Are you saying, or is it possible, that someone can be exposed to HSV-1 but not be infected e.g. have an outbreak, just have the antibodies?
Are you saying, or is it possible, that someone can be exposed to HSV-1 but not be infected e.g. have an outbreak, just have the antibodies?
If you have antibodies, you have the virus. You'd be infected, to use your word.
Most people will not get an oral cold sore or outbreak, or maybe they had one as a kid that they don't recall. In any case, if you have the antibodies, that means you have it, and can transmit it to someone else. Not having outbreaks doesn't mean you don't shed the virus (this is called asymptomatic viral shedding), which is when you are infectious without symptoms.
Oral hsv1 sheds on about 25% days evaluated.
Here are the shedding rates for all herpes in all locations:
HSV 2 genital 15-30% of days evaluated
HSV 1 genital 3-5% of days evaluated
HSV 1 oral 25% of days evaluated
HSV 2 oral 1% of days evaluated
https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
Most people will not get an oral cold sore or outbreak, or maybe they had one as a kid that they don't recall. In any case, if you have the antibodies, that means you have it, and can transmit it to someone else. Not having outbreaks doesn't mean you don't shed the virus (this is called asymptomatic viral shedding), which is when you are infectious without symptoms.
Oral hsv1 sheds on about 25% days evaluated.
Here are the shedding rates for all herpes in all locations:
HSV 2 genital 15-30% of days evaluated
HSV 1 genital 3-5% of days evaluated
HSV 1 oral 25% of days evaluated
HSV 2 oral 1% of days evaluated
https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/
I can’t say thank you enough for your information but, thanks again. I’ll keep you posted.
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