confusion of my lab test for herpes

[su350]

I have been with only 2 guys in my life.  The first one for almost 2 years, and never has had gential ulcer.  Then we broke up in early May 2010.  Last sexual activity with the first boyfriend was in early May 2010, then we broke up because he went with other woman.  Then my second relationship started in July 2010.  I have first outbreak of genital herpes in Nov 2010 but I could remember but not sure that I had a small open sore a week after last sexual relationship with the first boyfriend in May 2010.  After the first outbreak in Nov 2010, I started taking acyclovir 400 mg 3 times per day for a week then 2 times a day off and on.  I found out later that my second boyfriend had history of cold sore in the past but never been active fro over 6 years.  I have just decided to get lab test for herpes IGM and Herpes reflex glycoprotein IgG type 1 and 2, and it was positive for HSV IgG type 2, titer was about about 5.  Also my Ig M was positive about 1.98, which is low.  My question is whom I get HSV type 2 from, the first boyfriend or the second one.  If I got from the first boyfriend, I feel guilty to have a chance to transmit HSV type 2 to my current boyfriend.  Pls advice.  I do not know how should I tell my current boyfriend.  I am afraid he would disguss me and not want to have either sex or oral sex with me.  I am still taking acyclovir 400 mg orally twice a day but sometimes, I forgot to take.

[gracefromHHP]

your current partner needs tested to see what his status is. you and he can not make educated decisions about what precautions to take until you know who has what. If he tests negative for hsv2 then you know you contracted hsv2 prior to him.

if you are going to bother to take acyclovir, TAKE IT PROPERLY!!  either just take it whenever you have obvious genital symptoms or take it 400mg 2x/day every single day no matter what. You are putting your partner at risk for transmission since you aren't taking it properly as well as you aren't taking it properly to reduce ob's if that is your ultimate goal for yourself.  Put it next to your toothbrush and take it when you brush your teeth twice a day if you are having a hard time remembering to take it.

your igm test results are absolutely meaningless. A hsv2 igg of 5 means it' s not likely that it's a false positive result.

grace

[bobrope45]

That's a tough one. Can you tell us more about the "first outbreak" in Nov 2010? Number of sores, if they were unilateral/bilateral, etc.?

We can't know for sure if you caught it from your former boyfriend or from your current partners. The only way to know that is asking them to get tested for HSV2.

Anyway, it's about time for you to talk to your current partner about it - he has the right to know about your condition, so you can both decide how to prevent transmission and get better information. I guess Grace will probably be able to give you some data about transmission when using suppressive therapy, which will probably help you through "the talk".