unusual questions reagrding HSV2

[tooconfused2006]

I have been diagnosed with HSV1 and 2 during a recent set of tests at my doctors.  I am married for 7 years and have only had 1 partner.  My husband has tested negative for HSV1 or 2.  Can a person be a carrier and be immune to HSV2 but still carry it to me?  Can the virus lay dormant in your body?  For up to how many years before you would test positive?  

Unsure of my husbands activities I went to the doctors for a whole range of STD tests. My husband has had multiple acts of infidelity and used a condom. He is negative.

He is now questioning if I could have had this and tested negative in 2000, 2001 and 2003 during my 3 pregnancies from before we were married?

The only other act I ever did was have oral sex preformed on me with my boyfriend who also was a virgin and I was the 2nd person he had ever kissed in 1994-1998 ( maybe 10 times).

Is there any other way I could have gotten this?
Also how do I protect my children for catching this from me?

Thanks for your help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I will try to help with some brief responses, but you are asking the most basic of questions about herpes, and proper replies would require me writing several pages.  You need to do some basic reading, then come back with persisting questions.  You can start with the herpes article in the link on the STD forum home page, STD Quick Facts and Articles; and with information avaiable from CDC (www.cdc.gov/std) or the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org).  In the meantime, some quick replies:

Everybody with a positive blood test has active herpes, even if they have no symptoms; there is no such thing as having a positive test but being immune.  However, you need to be sure you had the right kind of test; some commonly used ones are not accurate.  Search this forum for "HerpeSelect test" and "herpes diagnosis".

Most routine STD tests do not check for herpes.  If you are sure your husband has had a negative HSV blood tests (again, with the right kind of test) it indicates he is not infected.  But that would be surpprising given his history, your positive tests, and your sexual history.  If your sexual history is accurate, it is almost certain your husband infected you.  Most obstetricians do not routinely test pregnant women for herpes, so you probably cannot rely on testing in pregnancy to know when you get infected.

You protect your children by not having sex with them!  Otherwise, common sense hygiene is all it takes.  Kids do not catch herpes from parents with genital herpes.

Best wishes-- HHH, MD

[Loranta]

I am sure that doctor here will give you right advice.  You could have HSV-1 from childhood (it's not a big deal, more then half population have it, just be careful if you have outbreaks).  If you are confident that your husband did not have anyone else in past 6 months and he tested NEGATIVE you could be nearly confident that he is herpes free.  (BTW it is possible, but slim, for him never catch herpes from you in a lifetime).  I heard that herpes test might NOT be included in testing during pregnancies.  Condom does not give 100% protection from herpes.  BUT given your situation (only one herpes negative partner in your live) there is slim to none chances that you could catch it.  Please know that it's just my opinion, but I would question test results for HSV-2.  First, find out what test was used to test you, if not Herpeselect -- retest with Herpeselect.  Next, if it was Herpeselect and it is positive, find out what numerical level was on your HSV-1 and 2.  If your level on HSV-2 is "3.5" or higher then you somehow contracted the virus..., if it's in between 1.0 and 3.0.  You could be false positive especially if you have "3.5" or higher level for HSV-1 and you need to retest.  Retest with Western Blot or the Inhibition Assay by Focus Technologies; search this forum for explanations on those tests.  I hope you will get your answers.  Good Luck, and don't worry your life will be good this way or another.  You have kids and have no bothersome symptoms.  If (not likely if you are telling the truth here) you get confurmation that you are infected.  Search for info how to protect yourself and your family on the web or see specialist, do not rely too much on yor primary doctor.

[Loranta]

Doctor is right make sure your husban is REALLY negativie.  It can take up to 6 months from time of infection to become positive via "RIGHT" blood test.  If tested negative 6-8 months after possible exposure it means negative.  However very low positive for HSV-2 in presence of strongly positive HSV-1 could be false postitive.  Unless you just resently got infected then low numbers could mean an early infection.  Or your body simly does not produce high level of anybodies.  This is just what I read, so find specialist and run it all by her/him.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You need to ask your additional questions as a comment here, not as a new thread - which I deleted.  (Only a limited number of new threads can be accepted each day, so unnecessary ones block other people from asking their questions.)

HHH, MD

[tooconfused2006]

Thank you

[Loranta]

I am in similar situation.  I am interested in what will you find out about the test.  You could post an update here later.  I will be checking this thread.  May be our findings will help each other.

[nsns]

Wouldn't being born from a mother who has HSV1 or HSV2 give you the antibodies that would show a positive test result later in life?

[t1234]

I've read that yes you would have the anti-bodies via the placenta at birth.  However, they would gradually disappear as your body would not reproduce them unless of course you were actually infected during the birth process which would be a rare occurance.