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Equivocal HSV Result
My doctor's nurse called me today with my STD Panel results. She said everything came back negative except my HSV, which came back "equivocal." She talked about HSV-I and how that's the virus that causes cold sores, and that I could just have that but that I could also possibly have HSV-II. I've had cold sores before (and actually before I got my results today, wondered if I could be getting another--probably psychological, though). Because of the equivocal result, she said I need to retest. She said the lab couldn't explain why the result would have been low except to say something about methodology. She did not tell me any of the numbers I have seen other people posting--just that it was equivocal.
The reason I wanted the panel done was because my husband and I were separated for about 6 months during which time we each had another partner. My last encounter was at least 6 months ago, and I don't think I have had an outbreak (no painful lesions or anything that would make me go "Oh, I've got herpes"). When I went to the doctor, he conducted a full pelvic exam, and didn't mention noticing any lesions or signs of an outbreak. I have had an increased amount of discharge recently, but it wasn't colored and didn't have an odor. I had also been experiencing some discomfort after sex, lasting for a day or two. It would basically feel like skin rubbing, and he said this was likely from the episiotomy I had when delivering my baby (because scar tissue had formed right where I said I felt discomfort). They took swabs of the discharge and said I had a yeast infection (but that it's an abnormal type of yeast) and a "bacterial overgrowth" that was not sexually transmitted, but could be caused by sex changing my pH levels. I was prescribed Flagyl and a vaginal suppository to correct these problems. He did not seem to think I had anything else, and even told me it was up to me whether I did the STD panel or not. (I would assume if he thought I had reason to he would have said I needed to have the test done as opposed to telling me to do it if I wanted.) As far as I know, my husband's last encounter was six months ago, too, and I don't have reason to think otherwise. He says he got tested after his encounter "to be safe," and that his results were negative--however he also doesn't remember if they drew blood or not. I can't imagine they would have done an STD test on him without drawing blood, but who knows. He said he went to an urgent care center.
My doctor said he wanted me to wait 6-8 weeks to retest, which (despite all of my confusion about all of this to begin with) brings me to my questions. Do I really need to wait 6-8 weeks to get retested if my last exposure was six months ago? I'm seeing you post "since the last time you had sex," which makes me wonder if I shouldn't have sex with my husband until I test again? If we are monogamous, would continuing to have sex unprotected or protected make a difference? If I need to wait to get retested (or if I simply retest), is there a specific kind of test I should make sure they do? Could the yeast infection and bacteria have skewed the result somehow? I have heard stories of HSV "incubating" for years and years, and that I could have gotten it in college for example, but never known it until now. I know they ran the gamut of tests when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2010 and again in June when I went for my annual checkup and everything came back negative. If I had HSV-II, wouldn't it have shown up on those tests unless I was just exposed? I tend to overly worry, and since they couldn't provide me with much information about this and seemed as confused as I was about it, it's making me worry even more.
Please help!
The reason I wanted the panel done was because my husband and I were separated for about 6 months during which time we each had another partner. My last encounter was at least 6 months ago, and I don't think I have had an outbreak (no painful lesions or anything that would make me go "Oh, I've got herpes"). When I went to the doctor, he conducted a full pelvic exam, and didn't mention noticing any lesions or signs of an outbreak. I have had an increased amount of discharge recently, but it wasn't colored and didn't have an odor. I had also been experiencing some discomfort after sex, lasting for a day or two. It would basically feel like skin rubbing, and he said this was likely from the episiotomy I had when delivering my baby (because scar tissue had formed right where I said I felt discomfort). They took swabs of the discharge and said I had a yeast infection (but that it's an abnormal type of yeast) and a "bacterial overgrowth" that was not sexually transmitted, but could be caused by sex changing my pH levels. I was prescribed Flagyl and a vaginal suppository to correct these problems. He did not seem to think I had anything else, and even told me it was up to me whether I did the STD panel or not. (I would assume if he thought I had reason to he would have said I needed to have the test done as opposed to telling me to do it if I wanted.) As far as I know, my husband's last encounter was six months ago, too, and I don't have reason to think otherwise. He says he got tested after his encounter "to be safe," and that his results were negative--however he also doesn't remember if they drew blood or not. I can't imagine they would have done an STD test on him without drawing blood, but who knows. He said he went to an urgent care center.
My doctor said he wanted me to wait 6-8 weeks to retest, which (despite all of my confusion about all of this to begin with) brings me to my questions. Do I really need to wait 6-8 weeks to get retested if my last exposure was six months ago? I'm seeing you post "since the last time you had sex," which makes me wonder if I shouldn't have sex with my husband until I test again? If we are monogamous, would continuing to have sex unprotected or protected make a difference? If I need to wait to get retested (or if I simply retest), is there a specific kind of test I should make sure they do? Could the yeast infection and bacteria have skewed the result somehow? I have heard stories of HSV "incubating" for years and years, and that I could have gotten it in college for example, but never known it until now. I know they ran the gamut of tests when I was pregnant with my daughter in 2010 and again in June when I went for my annual checkup and everything came back negative. If I had HSV-II, wouldn't it have shown up on those tests unless I was just exposed? I tend to overly worry, and since they couldn't provide me with much information about this and seemed as confused as I was about it, it's making me worry even more.
Please help!
thank you for getting that info :)
the hsv1/2 igg 2.2 is a combined herpes test. it has a high fase positive rate and we don't recommend this test being done in adults. since you had a + result, the lab did both hsv1 and hsv2 testing. both were negative. You don't need any further testing for herpes!
the hsv1/2 igg 2.2 is a combined herpes test. it has a high fase positive rate and we don't recommend this test being done in adults. since you had a + result, the lab did both hsv1 and hsv2 testing. both were negative. You don't need any further testing for herpes!
Grace,
Thanks for your help. I was able to obtain my results from my doctor. They are kind of confusing to look at, but they only did the IgG test. For the HSVI/II IgG it says 2.2H index. Under it it looks like they did a type specific IgG and it says <0.91 index for both HSV 1 and HSV 2. The notes the doctor wrote on the form have a question mark next to each of those with a note for me to retest in 6-8 weeks. The lab forms they sent me have me redoing the IgG Type Specific on 3/21.
Can you help me make sense of this?
Thanks for your help. I was able to obtain my results from my doctor. They are kind of confusing to look at, but they only did the IgG test. For the HSVI/II IgG it says 2.2H index. Under it it looks like they did a type specific IgG and it says <0.91 index for both HSV 1 and HSV 2. The notes the doctor wrote on the form have a question mark next to each of those with a note for me to retest in 6-8 weeks. The lab forms they sent me have me redoing the IgG Type Specific on 3/21.
Can you help me make sense of this?
certainly hubby needs to get copies of his std testing to see what he was tested for. Odds are he was only tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia and didn't get full testing. he'll need to properly cover his bases to be responsible.
bv and yeast vaginitis are both very common in sexually active women. It's also quite common for both to come back. should you get a return of symptoms, be sure to be seen and get a proper test done, no self diagnosis of yeast and self treating.
it's unfortunate that your provider doesn't understand your testing they ordered :( I can best help you if you can get a copy of the results to post here - e.g. hsv1 igg 6.7 and hsv2 igg .33 or whatever they are. equivocal is negative if enough time has passed so odds are you don't even need to repeat your testing but I need to make sure you had the right testing done for starters as well as we need to make sure of hubby's status too. thanks!
grace
bv and yeast vaginitis are both very common in sexually active women. It's also quite common for both to come back. should you get a return of symptoms, be sure to be seen and get a proper test done, no self diagnosis of yeast and self treating.
it's unfortunate that your provider doesn't understand your testing they ordered :( I can best help you if you can get a copy of the results to post here - e.g. hsv1 igg 6.7 and hsv2 igg .33 or whatever they are. equivocal is negative if enough time has passed so odds are you don't even need to repeat your testing but I need to make sure you had the right testing done for starters as well as we need to make sure of hubby's status too. thanks!
grace
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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.
