hsv and hpv

[marty78]

hello,
i recently tested 4.75 for hsv-1 and 1.47 for hsv-2 using Elisa brand testing. also, i am currently receiving treatment for hpv genital warts. as for herpes i always assumed std testing included herpes testing so this was the first time i was aware of the specific tests. i have never had any lesions though have noticed at times tingling and itching in genital area.
i have read these symptoms are associated with hsv but could these symptoms be associated with hpv?
also i read about the complications with the elisa test and plan to get the western blot soon.
many thanks for any information!

[marty78]

ok thanks again. she is 30 so too old for gardasil i believe? i will get the wb in july and avoid sex until then.

[gracefromHHP]

your partner will need to seek out type specific herpes igg blood testing to see what her status is too ( not a wb, just basic testing at this point ).  even if your confirmatory testing ends up being negative, you two can't make educated decisions about precautions until you know who has what and now that herpes is on your mind, it would be a shame if you didn't follow up on you both and had to deal again with it later.

if you recently got back with this partner, you should avoid sex until your warts have been treated and have been gone for a few months.  has she had her gardasil shots at all?

[marty78]

also, we discussed the possible hsv but as we were sleeping together months before i was tested in march we assume she might be positive as well. but she had another partner within the past couple months so she also needs to wait for western blot

[marty78]

we have been together, off and on, since 2006. we recently got back together last month and I told her about the warts and the possible hsv infection...

[gracefromHHP]

how long have you been with your partner?

[marty78]

thanks again grace! guess ill have to wait until early july for the western blot.
by the way, as far as genital warts how long does one need to wait to avoid infecting their partner? that is, if im getting treatment and wearing a condom is it ok as far as infection to sleep with my girlfriend or should i wait until the virus totally clears? she knows i have it but i want to avoid giving it to her without having to wait for a year or however long it takes to clear, if possible

[gracefromHHP]

I meant 3 months post encounter, not 3 weeks. sorry for the confusion! not as awake as I thought I was obviously!  you can't get a WB until 4 months post encounter.

some folks have their warts gone after 1 treatment, it really varies from person to person. often if removing them isn't keeping them away, using one of the creams like aldara helps to keep new ones from forming over time.

[marty78]

oh sorry, no i meant i had sex two weeks before the march 10 elisa test so i should be ready for a western blot right?  thanks for the advice on planned parenthood etc. but whether i burn the warts or take the creams it will still take 8 months to two years for the virus to clear right? does burning really speed up that process? and also is that amount of time (8-24 months)  starting from when i first saw the warts or does it include the months before, when i might have first become infected? thanks again!

[gracefromHHP]

if you just had sex 2 weeks ago, you need to wait and repeat your igg blood testing anytime after 3 weeks post encounter. You can't get a herpes WB this early.

The topicals for genital warts can take up to 3 months to work and unfortunately isn't really cheap either if you don't have insurance. Have you checked around to see how much planned parenthood charges to treat warts or check with your local health department to find a place that will remove them cheaper?

[marty78]

sorry, forgot to say the warts on the penis were burned off. this is the only treatment ive received. the warts i have had have been very small, even hard to see sometimes, still the doctor recommends burning as apparently the topicals do not always or most often do not work well. is this correct or is there a product you might recommend? burning is expensive ($450 each time) and ive no medical insurance. many thanks again

[marty78]

here is the link to handsfelds comments:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Herpes-without-bumps-and-lesions-tingling/show/618970

[marty78]

thanks grace. i had sex two weeks before being tested and was was tested on march 10, 2012. i also had chlamydia then but received treatment. anyway should i try for western blot now?
ive  inspected myself routinely since then and no lesions. i saw dr handsfield wrote on medhelp that itching and tingling (if hsv 2 positive) almost always are followed by lesions. and with genital warts the itch should be on or near the warts themselves, which they're not,  so apparently my itchy and scratchiness doesnt fit any std symptoms?

[gracefromHHP]

your hsv2 igg is a low positive and will need confirmed with additional testing in order to see if it's a true positive or not.

how long prior to getting tested had you last had sex?

indeed, treatment for genital warts can cause itching and tingling at the area being treated.

grace