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Equivocal Test Too Early + Mild Urethritis
Timeline:
- 5 weeks ago I had a brief encounter with a new sex partner — a small amount of kissing, a brief unprotected blowjob, and then she gave me a handjob to completion.
- 2 weeks later I received an anonymous text message from STDCheck.com saying that a recent partner had received a positive STD test and was recommending that I be tested. I reached out to everyone I'd been with in the past few months and no one knew anything about it, but the girl from that most recent encounter never responded, so I've been assuming it was her (if not a terrible prank...).
- I went ahead and got a full STD panel the following week, 3 weeks after the most recent encounter. Everything came back negative (chlamydia, gonhorrea, trich, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis A-C), except HSV-1 which was equivocal (0.96). I realize of course that could be because it was too early to test, and that some of the other test results were too early too — but also that the equivocal result could turn negative on retesting which I plan to do in 3 more weeks.
- At no time during all of that do I think I experienced any symptoms. I thought I may have had a slight burning sensation on one side of my lip for a few days and was obsessing over it possibly being a prodrome (or possibly I created that sensation by constantly futzing with it with my fingers and tongue), but there were never any sores or anything like that.
- Around that same time (between 3-4 weeks after the most recent encounter), I did have several days of chest/throat congestion with coughing and sneezing and the like. However, there was a lot of that going around my office at the time so I chalked it up to a regular old cold. I never got a noticeable fever.
- Two days ago, I started noticing a weird discomfort in the head of my penis during urination, on the left side — mainly for a second or two before the flow would begin. I wouldn't call it pain, just an out-of-the-ordinary sensation. Almost like there was a tiny foreign object in my urethra. That sensation has remained for the past couple of days, with a TINY bit of stinging maybe right at the opening. On a scale of 1-10 I'd put the discomfort at around a 2 — there's much more discomfort psychologically as I wonder what's going on than physically. Yesterday seemed a bit better than the day before but still noticeable, and today's been about the same. I started taking an anti-UTI supplement just in case it was that, but then I took a UTI test today (pee on stick) and it came out negative.
I realize no one can tell me anything about the equivocal test and I just need to retest in a few weeks for that. I think my main questions are:
1. Does the mild urethritis sound anything like it could be due to herpes?
2. If so, would it be very out of the ordinary for the very first physical symptom to show up 5 weeks after the most recent potential exposure (or potentially longer than that after some earlier exposure)?
3. In other posts about urethritis it's been said repeatedly — mainly by just a couple people though — that urethritis from herpes would be VERY painful, not mild. But I do see info on the internet suggesting that mild urethritis can be due to HSV. Which is actually correct?
4. Not specifically a herpes question, but in other posts about mild urethritis I've noticed people suggesting it's more likely to be chlamydia or an infection like that — doesn't my negative test for chlamydia and gonorrhea 2 weeks after potential exposure essentially rule that out?
- 5 weeks ago I had a brief encounter with a new sex partner — a small amount of kissing, a brief unprotected blowjob, and then she gave me a handjob to completion.
- 2 weeks later I received an anonymous text message from STDCheck.com saying that a recent partner had received a positive STD test and was recommending that I be tested. I reached out to everyone I'd been with in the past few months and no one knew anything about it, but the girl from that most recent encounter never responded, so I've been assuming it was her (if not a terrible prank...).
- I went ahead and got a full STD panel the following week, 3 weeks after the most recent encounter. Everything came back negative (chlamydia, gonhorrea, trich, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis A-C), except HSV-1 which was equivocal (0.96). I realize of course that could be because it was too early to test, and that some of the other test results were too early too — but also that the equivocal result could turn negative on retesting which I plan to do in 3 more weeks.
- At no time during all of that do I think I experienced any symptoms. I thought I may have had a slight burning sensation on one side of my lip for a few days and was obsessing over it possibly being a prodrome (or possibly I created that sensation by constantly futzing with it with my fingers and tongue), but there were never any sores or anything like that.
- Around that same time (between 3-4 weeks after the most recent encounter), I did have several days of chest/throat congestion with coughing and sneezing and the like. However, there was a lot of that going around my office at the time so I chalked it up to a regular old cold. I never got a noticeable fever.
- Two days ago, I started noticing a weird discomfort in the head of my penis during urination, on the left side — mainly for a second or two before the flow would begin. I wouldn't call it pain, just an out-of-the-ordinary sensation. Almost like there was a tiny foreign object in my urethra. That sensation has remained for the past couple of days, with a TINY bit of stinging maybe right at the opening. On a scale of 1-10 I'd put the discomfort at around a 2 — there's much more discomfort psychologically as I wonder what's going on than physically. Yesterday seemed a bit better than the day before but still noticeable, and today's been about the same. I started taking an anti-UTI supplement just in case it was that, but then I took a UTI test today (pee on stick) and it came out negative.
I realize no one can tell me anything about the equivocal test and I just need to retest in a few weeks for that. I think my main questions are:
1. Does the mild urethritis sound anything like it could be due to herpes?
2. If so, would it be very out of the ordinary for the very first physical symptom to show up 5 weeks after the most recent potential exposure (or potentially longer than that after some earlier exposure)?
3. In other posts about urethritis it's been said repeatedly — mainly by just a couple people though — that urethritis from herpes would be VERY painful, not mild. But I do see info on the internet suggesting that mild urethritis can be due to HSV. Which is actually correct?
4. Not specifically a herpes question, but in other posts about mild urethritis I've noticed people suggesting it's more likely to be chlamydia or an infection like that — doesn't my negative test for chlamydia and gonorrhea 2 weeks after potential exposure essentially rule that out?
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Does STDCheck tell you what you need to be tested for? I understand that they can't tell you WHO - that's confidentiality - but not telling you what seems sneaky, and designed to get money from you. Disease investigators who work for the state can tell you what you need to test for, so I'd assume STDCheck can, too.
In any of your testing, does it mention NGU or NSU? This is non-gonoccocal urethritis, or non-specific urethritis, meaning you have an infection in your urethra that isn't gonorrhea. This can be from a lot of different sources, but normal mouth bacteria can cause it during oral sex. If they didn't test for NGU, go to your doctor to get tested for this. It's a simple urine test where they look for white blood cells.
You received oral sex. The only things you'd be at risk for are gonorrhea, NGU, hsv1, and syphilis.
Syphilis is uncommon, and you'd get a painless sore - no urethritis symptoms at all. I wouldn't worry about this at all.
Your timing for your gonorrhea test means you conclusively don't have gonorrhea.
How brief was the oral sex? If it was just a few seconds, transmission of anything would be unlikely.
In any of your testing, does it mention NGU or NSU? This is non-gonoccocal urethritis, or non-specific urethritis, meaning you have an infection in your urethra that isn't gonorrhea. This can be from a lot of different sources, but normal mouth bacteria can cause it during oral sex. If they didn't test for NGU, go to your doctor to get tested for this. It's a simple urine test where they look for white blood cells.
You received oral sex. The only things you'd be at risk for are gonorrhea, NGU, hsv1, and syphilis.
Syphilis is uncommon, and you'd get a painless sore - no urethritis symptoms at all. I wouldn't worry about this at all.
Your timing for your gonorrhea test means you conclusively don't have gonorrhea.
How brief was the oral sex? If it was just a few seconds, transmission of anything would be unlikely.
10 Comments
Oh and sorry - to make sure I answer your questions:
1. Does the mild urethritis sound anything like it could be due to herpes?
Urethritis from herpes is usually painful because the urine is passing over herpes sores. You can possibly have some inflammation in the urethra from herpes, but you'd also likely have outbreaks externally, and you don't.
2. If so, would it be very out of the ordinary for the very first physical symptom to show up 5 weeks after the most recent potential exposure (or potentially longer than that after some earlier exposure)?
Yes, that would be unlikely. I wouldn't say very out of the ordinary, but symptoms usually appear within 2-20 days after herpes infection.
3. In other posts about urethritis it's been said repeatedly — mainly by just a couple people though — that urethritis from herpes would be VERY painful, not mild. But I do see info on the internet suggesting that mild urethritis can be due to HSV. Which is actually correct?
See #1
4. Not specifically a herpes question, but in other posts about mild urethritis I've noticed people suggesting it's more likely to be chlamydia or an infection like that — doesn't my negative test for chlamydia and gonorrhea 2 weeks after potential exposure essentially rule that out?
Yes, except for NGU, which I mentioned earlier.
1. Does the mild urethritis sound anything like it could be due to herpes?
Urethritis from herpes is usually painful because the urine is passing over herpes sores. You can possibly have some inflammation in the urethra from herpes, but you'd also likely have outbreaks externally, and you don't.
2. If so, would it be very out of the ordinary for the very first physical symptom to show up 5 weeks after the most recent potential exposure (or potentially longer than that after some earlier exposure)?
Yes, that would be unlikely. I wouldn't say very out of the ordinary, but symptoms usually appear within 2-20 days after herpes infection.
3. In other posts about urethritis it's been said repeatedly — mainly by just a couple people though — that urethritis from herpes would be VERY painful, not mild. But I do see info on the internet suggesting that mild urethritis can be due to HSV. Which is actually correct?
See #1
4. Not specifically a herpes question, but in other posts about mild urethritis I've noticed people suggesting it's more likely to be chlamydia or an infection like that — doesn't my negative test for chlamydia and gonorrhea 2 weeks after potential exposure essentially rule that out?
Yes, except for NGU, which I mentioned earlier.
Thank you, I really appreciate your input.
No, it doesn't tell you what the positive test was for and all you have to do is enter a phone number, so it totally COULD be some form of awful prank.
I did not get tested for NGU or NSU, no. Are those usually very painful or can they be quite mild?
I'm definitely not worried about syphilis or gonorrhea, or really HSV2 anymore. I'm primarily worried about HSV1. Yes, the oral sex was only a few seconds (maybe 10 seconds?) but I presume it's still possible.
No, it doesn't tell you what the positive test was for and all you have to do is enter a phone number, so it totally COULD be some form of awful prank.
I did not get tested for NGU or NSU, no. Are those usually very painful or can they be quite mild?
I'm definitely not worried about syphilis or gonorrhea, or really HSV2 anymore. I'm primarily worried about HSV1. Yes, the oral sex was only a few seconds (maybe 10 seconds?) but I presume it's still possible.
Oh, and syphilis was included in my STD test panel too — negative.
NGU can be very mild, or quite painful. This depends entirely on the individual and the cause of the infection.
In theory, hsv1 can be transmitted in 10 seconds. Practically, that's not very likely at all. I'd be very surprised.
So I just looked up the STDCheck notify thing. I like the idea of it, but you're right - anyone can do this as a prank, which is horrifying.
An equivocal hsv1 test at 3 weeks could mean you have hsv1, but if it was an IgG test, it would indicate that if you do have it, it's a previously existing infection, most likely oral. If it was an IgM test, totally ignore it. I couldn't find the IgM on their site, which is good because the IgM is terribly unreliable for herpes and shouldn't be done, but confirm that it was an IgG.
In theory, hsv1 can be transmitted in 10 seconds. Practically, that's not very likely at all. I'd be very surprised.
So I just looked up the STDCheck notify thing. I like the idea of it, but you're right - anyone can do this as a prank, which is horrifying.
An equivocal hsv1 test at 3 weeks could mean you have hsv1, but if it was an IgG test, it would indicate that if you do have it, it's a previously existing infection, most likely oral. If it was an IgM test, totally ignore it. I couldn't find the IgM on their site, which is good because the IgM is terribly unreliable for herpes and shouldn't be done, but confirm that it was an IgG.
It was an IgG check. I thought equivocal at 3 weeks could mean that it was a recent infection? (That's in fact what the results document says: that it could indicate a recent infection and I should retest in 2-4 weeks.)
It could. It could also mean that it's going to be negative, or a false positive.
The official range for the test is anything above a 1.10 is positive. If it's close to that, say a 1.3, most experts would say to get a confirmation test if no symptoms are present.
It could also mean that antibodies are developing, and it will be positive in a few weeks.
Right now, we don't know.
If this turns out to be a prank, and it sends you into a herpes test spiral of indeterminate or confusing results (not uncommon), I'm going to be really mad for you.
The official range for the test is anything above a 1.10 is positive. If it's close to that, say a 1.3, most experts would say to get a confirmation test if no symptoms are present.
It could also mean that antibodies are developing, and it will be positive in a few weeks.
Right now, we don't know.
If this turns out to be a prank, and it sends you into a herpes test spiral of indeterminate or confusing results (not uncommon), I'm going to be really mad for you.
I don't think I'll ever know if it was a prank. Even if I don't have it, that doesn't mean the warning wasn't valid.
Thank you for your help. I guess my next step is to get retested for hsv1 in a couple weeks. Do you recommend a urinalysis too for the possibility of NGU?
Thank you for your help. I guess my next step is to get retested for hsv1 in a couple weeks. Do you recommend a urinalysis too for the possibility of NGU?
Yes, wouldn't hurt, and it's common enough that you should test for it. I don't think you need to run out and do it RIGHTNOW, but over the next couple of weeks, you can. If you are going to be with a new partner, test before that, and use condoms.
Sorry, one more question. Is the urinalysis something I can just go buy myself at Labcorp or Quest, or do I need to go through my GP?
You may need to go to your GP. I don't know where you're located (I don't need to know), so I don't know how it works where you are. In the US, you'd have to go to your doctor.
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
