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STD tests
Dear Dr.
Firstly I would like to thank you for your time and reply.
My story is the following: Beginning of July I engaged in a sexual activity with a sex worker and during the act the condom ripped a little bit, but it did not collapse (only created a hole of about 1-1.5). 10 days later I got a 8 panel STD test all negative but Herpes simplex 1 and 2 (HSV1- 5.0 IgG / HSV2 - 1.2 IgG) came out positive which surprised me because I never showed any symptoms for such conditions. Due to that I started to worry even more, since this puts me at higher risk for other STDs. At the 11th week mark, I developed abdominal pain (both sides but more in the right) and tender points on both sides of my rib cage. The pain is not constant, aggravates when I am in seated position, and in a scale 1-10 I'd say 2, some of the tender points on top of the rib, some in the intercostal spaces. At the 12th week mark I got an HIV, Syphilis, and HCV test, all negative. My questions are:
1- Is it very likely that I already had HSV before this encounter or I got from this encounter?
2- About the higher risk that herpes puts me for other STDs. Is this risk ever constant? or just in certain moments of the year (virus shedding)? Being asymptomatic means that the virus does not shed that many times?
3- Can I have a family without infecting my wife and the baby? If yes, how?
4 - Are my 10 day (chlamydia/ gonorrhea) test and 12 week HIV/Syphilis test conclusive?
5- About the hepatitis C, is my 12th week test (anti HCV) conclusive for hepatitis C? Can acute hepatitis C only cause abdominal pain without the other classic symptoms? In my case (a person who has HSV) how risky was my action in terms of contracting HCV?
Thank you so much for your help
Firstly I would like to thank you for your time and reply.
My story is the following: Beginning of July I engaged in a sexual activity with a sex worker and during the act the condom ripped a little bit, but it did not collapse (only created a hole of about 1-1.5). 10 days later I got a 8 panel STD test all negative but Herpes simplex 1 and 2 (HSV1- 5.0 IgG / HSV2 - 1.2 IgG) came out positive which surprised me because I never showed any symptoms for such conditions. Due to that I started to worry even more, since this puts me at higher risk for other STDs. At the 11th week mark, I developed abdominal pain (both sides but more in the right) and tender points on both sides of my rib cage. The pain is not constant, aggravates when I am in seated position, and in a scale 1-10 I'd say 2, some of the tender points on top of the rib, some in the intercostal spaces. At the 12th week mark I got an HIV, Syphilis, and HCV test, all negative. My questions are:
1- Is it very likely that I already had HSV before this encounter or I got from this encounter?
2- About the higher risk that herpes puts me for other STDs. Is this risk ever constant? or just in certain moments of the year (virus shedding)? Being asymptomatic means that the virus does not shed that many times?
3- Can I have a family without infecting my wife and the baby? If yes, how?
4 - Are my 10 day (chlamydia/ gonorrhea) test and 12 week HIV/Syphilis test conclusive?
5- About the hepatitis C, is my 12th week test (anti HCV) conclusive for hepatitis C? Can acute hepatitis C only cause abdominal pain without the other classic symptoms? In my case (a person who has HSV) how risky was my action in terms of contracting HCV?
Thank you so much for your help
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm not sure why you persist in worrying about hepatitis C which is not an STD among heterosexuals but yes, your 12 week test is conclusive. there is no need to re-test. EWH
Dear Dr. Hook, thank you for your reply and help, however my question number 5 was not totally answered. Can you please address this last question?
5- Is my negative 12 week anti HCV test conclusive? or should I repeat it at the 6 month mark? thank you so much and have a good night
5- Is my negative 12 week anti HCV test conclusive? or should I repeat it at the 6 month mark? thank you so much and have a good night
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to our Forum. I'll try to help. It is not clear how your condom failed-was it torn?
Irrespective however, I suspect I have enough information to answer your questions:
1- Is it very likely that I already had HSV before this encounter or I got from this encounter?
I would not have recommended herpes blood tests for you, for fear that they would mislead or unnecessarily upset you. It appears that this is what has occurred. Your test shows that you have HSV-1, just as over 60% of adults do, most typically as a result of oral infections acquired during childhood (if you get cold sores on your lip, HSV-1 is the likely cause). As for your HSV-2 result, this is most likely a false positive result- 80% of "positive" tests with values of less than 1.5. are falsely positive. If this did represent HSV, it was from a prior infection, not something acquired when the condom broke in July. With all herpes infections most people are not aware that they are infected.
2- About the higher risk that herpes puts me for other STDs. Is this risk ever constant? or just in certain moments of the year (virus shedding)? Being asymptomatic means that the virus does not shed that many times?
The only STD the herpes is proven to lead to higher risk for is HIV. Your 12 week result proves you did not get HIV.
3- Can I have a family without infecting my wife and the baby? If yes, how?
See above. There is no good evidence that you have genital herpes. If you are, the only way you would spread your infection is through sex. there is no risk through casual contact with your child.
4 - Are my 10 day (chlamydia/ gonorrhea) test and 12 week HIV/Syphilis test conclusive?
Yes, these tests are conclusive.
5- About the hepatitis C, is my 12th week test (anti HCV) conclusive for hepatitis C? Can acute hepatitis C only cause abdominal pain without the other classic symptoms? In my case (a person who has HSV) how risky was my action in terms of contracting HCV?
Hepatitis C is not sexually transmitted among heterosexuals. the only way to know if hepatitis is causing your abdominal pain (which I doubt) is through blood tests.
I suspect you are over reacting to your condom failure. Your tests rule out most STDs and as I said, I suspect your HSV-2 test results are falsely positive. I hope these comments are helpful. EWH
Irrespective however, I suspect I have enough information to answer your questions:
1- Is it very likely that I already had HSV before this encounter or I got from this encounter?
I would not have recommended herpes blood tests for you, for fear that they would mislead or unnecessarily upset you. It appears that this is what has occurred. Your test shows that you have HSV-1, just as over 60% of adults do, most typically as a result of oral infections acquired during childhood (if you get cold sores on your lip, HSV-1 is the likely cause). As for your HSV-2 result, this is most likely a false positive result- 80% of "positive" tests with values of less than 1.5. are falsely positive. If this did represent HSV, it was from a prior infection, not something acquired when the condom broke in July. With all herpes infections most people are not aware that they are infected.
2- About the higher risk that herpes puts me for other STDs. Is this risk ever constant? or just in certain moments of the year (virus shedding)? Being asymptomatic means that the virus does not shed that many times?
The only STD the herpes is proven to lead to higher risk for is HIV. Your 12 week result proves you did not get HIV.
3- Can I have a family without infecting my wife and the baby? If yes, how?
See above. There is no good evidence that you have genital herpes. If you are, the only way you would spread your infection is through sex. there is no risk through casual contact with your child.
4 - Are my 10 day (chlamydia/ gonorrhea) test and 12 week HIV/Syphilis test conclusive?
Yes, these tests are conclusive.
5- About the hepatitis C, is my 12th week test (anti HCV) conclusive for hepatitis C? Can acute hepatitis C only cause abdominal pain without the other classic symptoms? In my case (a person who has HSV) how risky was my action in terms of contracting HCV?
Hepatitis C is not sexually transmitted among heterosexuals. the only way to know if hepatitis is causing your abdominal pain (which I doubt) is through blood tests.
I suspect you are over reacting to your condom failure. Your tests rule out most STDs and as I said, I suspect your HSV-2 test results are falsely positive. I hope these comments are helpful. EWH
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.
