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HSV2 Positive result in 2 weeks?
Dear Doctor,
I know there is no way to answer my q's absolutely but would value your opinion
Here is some history...it might get confusing so try to follow it as best you can.
One month ago I tested positive for hsv2 via Herpeselect (result 2.85) I am negative for hsv 1
.I was tested exactly 2 weeks after a one time exposure to a male hsv2 positive partner.(i did not know his status at the time) Activities included unprotected oral sex and vaginal intercourse with a condom. I am female
I might add that neither of us had symptoms of herpes to prompt the testing... we chose to get tested together for all stds for peace of mind going forward in the relationship.
We both came back neg for everything except both pos for hsv2.., he claims he did not know he had hsv 2 and has never had a outbreak.I do not know , and will never know. I know I have never had a sign to indicate I had this.
IF the exposure to him one month ago was indeed the source of MY infection would antibodies show up that quick in my herpeselect test performed exactly 2 weeks after the exposure?
I have never been tested before so do I not know my status prior to this. It has been four weeks now, I have not had lesions but did have flu like symptoms, painful glands in the groin etc.
To add to the mix, i asked a long time sexual partner to be tested. He came back hsv2 pos as well- with a 4.02.
We did have sex on three occasions AFTER my one time encounter and BEFORE I found out my test results.
Could i have passed this to him so quickly AND have it show up in his bloodwork less than 2 weeks later?
Is it more likely he had this already?
We did not know his status before this test either but he has never had a symptom.
I am wondering if either me and my long time partner have had this already and not known it or has this recent exposure of mine the source of my AND my long time partners infection ?
Thank you for any insight .
Ty
.
I know there is no way to answer my q's absolutely but would value your opinion
Here is some history...it might get confusing so try to follow it as best you can.
One month ago I tested positive for hsv2 via Herpeselect (result 2.85) I am negative for hsv 1
.I was tested exactly 2 weeks after a one time exposure to a male hsv2 positive partner.(i did not know his status at the time) Activities included unprotected oral sex and vaginal intercourse with a condom. I am female
I might add that neither of us had symptoms of herpes to prompt the testing... we chose to get tested together for all stds for peace of mind going forward in the relationship.
We both came back neg for everything except both pos for hsv2.., he claims he did not know he had hsv 2 and has never had a outbreak.I do not know , and will never know. I know I have never had a sign to indicate I had this.
IF the exposure to him one month ago was indeed the source of MY infection would antibodies show up that quick in my herpeselect test performed exactly 2 weeks after the exposure?
I have never been tested before so do I not know my status prior to this. It has been four weeks now, I have not had lesions but did have flu like symptoms, painful glands in the groin etc.
To add to the mix, i asked a long time sexual partner to be tested. He came back hsv2 pos as well- with a 4.02.
We did have sex on three occasions AFTER my one time encounter and BEFORE I found out my test results.
Could i have passed this to him so quickly AND have it show up in his bloodwork less than 2 weeks later?
Is it more likely he had this already?
We did not know his status before this test either but he has never had a symptom.
I am wondering if either me and my long time partner have had this already and not known it or has this recent exposure of mine the source of my AND my long time partners infection ?
Thank you for any insight .
Ty
.
Point taken and thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The new thread you started has been deleted. Only a limited number of new questions can be accommodated daily, and superfluous ones prevent others from starting new threads.
You asked, in part: "...does [herpes] make you look ill or sickly? ...Wondering if you have noticed a pattern of people with HSV over time looking unwell /ill or looking old before their time? Secondly, does it make you FEEL ill all the time? I am newly diagnosed with HSV2, and presuming newly infected (although I cannot be certain). I just have not felt as energetic and 'well'' as before. ...I realize some of it can be the stress and depression of learning of the diagnosis...."
You answered your own question; you just didn't get there until the very end. Herpes definitely cannot do those things. Depression or anxiety over the diagnosis certainly can do so, and the symptoms you describe are typical for a psychological explanation. Also, as in my replies to your original question, it is much more likely you have been infected for a long time, i.e. that your blood test is not due to recent infection. Thus, your symptoms started with the knowledge you have herpes, not from the infection itself.
You probably would benefit from personal counseling. Please see your primary care provider, describe your symptoms and this reply, and seek his or her advice about referral to a mental health professional. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
You asked, in part: "...does [herpes] make you look ill or sickly? ...Wondering if you have noticed a pattern of people with HSV over time looking unwell /ill or looking old before their time? Secondly, does it make you FEEL ill all the time? I am newly diagnosed with HSV2, and presuming newly infected (although I cannot be certain). I just have not felt as energetic and 'well'' as before. ...I realize some of it can be the stress and depression of learning of the diagnosis...."
You answered your own question; you just didn't get there until the very end. Herpes definitely cannot do those things. Depression or anxiety over the diagnosis certainly can do so, and the symptoms you describe are typical for a psychological explanation. Also, as in my replies to your original question, it is much more likely you have been infected for a long time, i.e. that your blood test is not due to recent infection. Thus, your symptoms started with the knowledge you have herpes, not from the infection itself.
You probably would benefit from personal counseling. Please see your primary care provider, describe your symptoms and this reply, and seek his or her advice about referral to a mental health professional. I suggest it out of compassion, not criticism.
Thank you very much for your answers and referrals.
I have been looking at the recommended sites and they have all been quite helpful.
Sincere thanks~
I have been looking at the recommended sites and they have all been quite helpful.
Sincere thanks~
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
About two thirds of people with HSV-2 without symptoms come to recognize outbreaks if they pay attention. It might be a minor itch or trivial soreness that might have been ignored before, but a close look (e.g., with a mirror if it's in a hard-to-see spot) might show a lesion. It could be a very small red bump, blister, open sore, or something that just looks like a paper cut or small scrape. Recurrent outbreaks occur an average of every 2-3 months, but it can vary widely -- even once a year or less, and no more often than every 4-6 weeks. There is no predicting for any particular person. In any case, having had no symptom until now, you can be pretty sure you're not going to get a severe outbreak.
In other words, pretty trivial stuff. The main concern of people with genital herpes is the potential to spread to a new sex partner. Since your partner already has it, this isn't an issue for you unless/until you change partners in the future.
Every person with genital herpes ought to find a herpes-knowledgeable health care provider. Ask your ObG or other primary care doc what sort of experience s/he has with herpes. If not great, ask for a referral. Also, I recommend you call the American Social Health Association's Herpes Resource Center (see www.ashastd.org) for personalized advice. They also might be able to identify an excellent herpes provider in your area. (Full disclosure: Dr. Hook and I are both on ASHA's Board of Directors.) Finally, read up about the infection at the ASHA website; plus other excellent web resources, such as CDC (www.cdc.gov/std); the Westover Heights Clinic of Portland, OR (www.westoverheights.com); and my former health department, where I wrote much of the herpes information myself (www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std). Finally, the MedHelp herpes community forum is an excellent resource; the moderator (username gracefromhpp) is a very experienced herpes clinician and counselor.
Best wishes--
In other words, pretty trivial stuff. The main concern of people with genital herpes is the potential to spread to a new sex partner. Since your partner already has it, this isn't an issue for you unless/until you change partners in the future.
Every person with genital herpes ought to find a herpes-knowledgeable health care provider. Ask your ObG or other primary care doc what sort of experience s/he has with herpes. If not great, ask for a referral. Also, I recommend you call the American Social Health Association's Herpes Resource Center (see www.ashastd.org) for personalized advice. They also might be able to identify an excellent herpes provider in your area. (Full disclosure: Dr. Hook and I are both on ASHA's Board of Directors.) Finally, read up about the infection at the ASHA website; plus other excellent web resources, such as CDC (www.cdc.gov/std); the Westover Heights Clinic of Portland, OR (www.westoverheights.com); and my former health department, where I wrote much of the herpes information myself (www.metrokc.gov/health/apu/std). Finally, the MedHelp herpes community forum is an excellent resource; the moderator (username gracefromhpp) is a very experienced herpes clinician and counselor.
Best wishes--
Thank you for your reply Dr Handsfield.
I guess my curiosity as to the source is human nature. I am suffering a lot of emotional pain and fear knowing I have this. In a way, I would be more at ease knowing I had this already vs. just acquiring it. If I have had it a while, its been "silent".
I am terrified that if this is a new infection I have not had my primary outbreak yet and am living each day in fear-waiting , watching, every bump and tingle might be "it".
I am scared as to how my body will deal with it. Would I typically have had an outbreak by this time(one month) if it is newly acquired?
When do they typically happen, if they happen? Thanks again, veyr much appreciated.
Ty
I guess my curiosity as to the source is human nature. I am suffering a lot of emotional pain and fear knowing I have this. In a way, I would be more at ease knowing I had this already vs. just acquiring it. If I have had it a while, its been "silent".
I am terrified that if this is a new infection I have not had my primary outbreak yet and am living each day in fear-waiting , watching, every bump and tingle might be "it".
I am scared as to how my body will deal with it. Would I typically have had an outbreak by this time(one month) if it is newly acquired?
When do they typically happen, if they happen? Thanks again, veyr much appreciated.
Ty
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is conceivable your positive test for HSV-2 reflects a new infection, acquired only 2 weeks earlier. But it is unlikely. It usually takes more than 2 weeks to develop a positive test. Equally important, as the former partner of an infected person, that is a more likely source of your infection; or, as you suggest yourself, you might have been infected even longer -- that is, it is possible you were the source of your former partner's HSV-2 infection.
At this point, I recommend not trying to work it out. Most likely you're never going to know when and where you were infected. Simlarly, you and your partners are never going to know when and where they were infected. In any case, aside from simple curiosity, I don't see that it matters.
If I have followed things correctly, you and your current partner both are infected. Thus, you need take no precautions in your sexual practices; people don't "ping pong" their HSV infections back and forth, and each of you is immune to catching HSV-2 again. If either of you has future new partners, you are obligated to tell them about your infections. But in the meantime, I see no serious concerns or problems for you.
I hope this helps. Best regards-- HHH, MD
At this point, I recommend not trying to work it out. Most likely you're never going to know when and where you were infected. Simlarly, you and your partners are never going to know when and where they were infected. In any case, aside from simple curiosity, I don't see that it matters.
If I have followed things correctly, you and your current partner both are infected. Thus, you need take no precautions in your sexual practices; people don't "ping pong" their HSV infections back and forth, and each of you is immune to catching HSV-2 again. If either of you has future new partners, you are obligated to tell them about your infections. But in the meantime, I see no serious concerns or problems for you.
I hope this helps. Best regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
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.
