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GHSV1 Diagnosis Questions
I am a 37 year old straight male who was diagnosed with GHSV1 by my GP on 11/13/2013. He seemed to be somewhat uncertain. This is the first time I've been tested for HSV so I can't report any previous results. When I was a kid, around 14 years old, my doctor at the time visually diagnosed me with "some kind of herpes". I had blisters on my mouth which covered the majority of both lips and extended slightly above my top lip. They didn't look like traditional cold sores or fever blisters so he was not entirely sure and he left it at that.
I had been seeing a girl and we had unprotected vaginal intercourse on 10/21/2013. We did not engage in oral sex but she did use her saliva on her vagina this encounter. She then had a cold sore break out a few days later. I began to have symptoms that lined up with urethritis a few days later. I ended up seeing my GP on 11/11/2013 which included lab. The following is from an email I received from my doctor.
But, of course you could have the scenario where a faithful monogamous partner has a herpes type 1 oral sore outbreak on her lip or gumline, then gives oral sex to her partner and thereby gives him type 1 genital disease. That can happen and your type 1 IgM HSV antibody was very positive. IgM means recent exposure because it will fade over time and go back to normal between 6 weeks and 6 months down the road. Of course, if you have had an oral ulcer outbreak yourself over the past few weeks then the IgM could be positive reflecting an oral sore and have nothing to do with any urethral/genital disease... But, if you have not had any oral sores recently then I think you could possibly have a urethritis from HSV 1, maybe given to you via oral sex?. I am guessing, not able to ask you more specific questions. But, if any of this seems possible to you then we can add a few days of Valtrex.
I had been seeing a girl and we had unprotected vaginal intercourse on 10/21/2013. We did not engage in oral sex but she did use her saliva on her vagina this encounter. She then had a cold sore break out a few days later. I began to have symptoms that lined up with urethritis a few days later. I ended up seeing my GP on 11/11/2013 which included lab. The following is from an email I received from my doctor.
But, of course you could have the scenario where a faithful monogamous partner has a herpes type 1 oral sore outbreak on her lip or gumline, then gives oral sex to her partner and thereby gives him type 1 genital disease. That can happen and your type 1 IgM HSV antibody was very positive. IgM means recent exposure because it will fade over time and go back to normal between 6 weeks and 6 months down the road. Of course, if you have had an oral ulcer outbreak yourself over the past few weeks then the IgM could be positive reflecting an oral sore and have nothing to do with any urethral/genital disease... But, if you have not had any oral sores recently then I think you could possibly have a urethritis from HSV 1, maybe given to you via oral sex?. I am guessing, not able to ask you more specific questions. But, if any of this seems possible to you then we can add a few days of Valtrex.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your lab test doesn't count because you tested too soon after the encounter for it to be accurate. What you do know from your test result is that if you have HSV 2, it is new as you were antibody negative at the time of your draw. Whether you will subsequently make antibody is the unknown part.
Terri
Terri
So my test result for HSV2 doesn't count? Was the test taken to soon? I did lab 3 weeks after the encounter.
HERPES SIMPLEX 2 IgG 0.13 INDEX
HERPES SIMPLEX 2 IgG 0.13 INDEX
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I cannot tell you if this is new or old and no one possibly can. I think it is quite clear that you have HSV 1 and if you were our patient, I would believe that the antibody present is a result of infection as a teen.
The issue of HSV 2 is still open and it would be nice to know the test results of your partner for HSV 2 so you could take that off your list.
Terri
The issue of HSV 2 is still open and it would be nice to know the test results of your partner for HSV 2 so you could take that off your list.
Terri
Sorry, I had to post my lab results in a separate comment yesterday due to character limitations. I'll post them again below. I did not have a swab test because I did not and have not had any lesions or blisters on my genitals. I have not had any kind of oral blisters or sores in decades and unfortunately I wasn't tested for HSV as a teenager. I just received a visual diagnosis as a teen for the rash on my lips which was given with some uncertainty. My doc did prescribe Valtrex but I didn't take it. The girl said she was tested 6 months ago and she was clean. I don't think she was tested for HSV though. But she does without a doubt get cold sores. I'm trying to understand if this is truly a new infection or and old infection and whether I should get tested again. Thanks.
HERPES SIMPLEX 1 IgG [H] 2.26 INDEX
HERPES SIMPLEX 2 IgG 0.13 INDEX
HERPES SIMPLEX 1 IgG [H] 2.26 INDEX
HERPES SIMPLEX 2 IgG 0.13 INDEX
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Well, your doctor and I disagree, I think. I'm assuming that you only had the blood antibody test rather than a swab test, right?
While other viral illnesses diagnosis can helpful with the use of IgM testing, that same is not true of herpes. The tests themselves are unreliable and frequently yield false positives and are not type specific. In our experience, about 70% of people who have a positive IgM test do NOT go on to make IgG antibody, which is the test useful in diagnosing herpes infections.
Also if you had blisters on your mouth and face in the past, that does sound like oral herpes infection to me, which could account for a true positive HSV 1 IgG test. Have you had the IgG antibody test done? If not, do NOT take antiviral therapy because it can confuse the antibody testing process. If you have no symptoms, there is absolutely no reason to take antiviral therapy at this point, would you agree? Has the girl been tested?
Will look forward to seeing your responses.
Terri
While other viral illnesses diagnosis can helpful with the use of IgM testing, that same is not true of herpes. The tests themselves are unreliable and frequently yield false positives and are not type specific. In our experience, about 70% of people who have a positive IgM test do NOT go on to make IgG antibody, which is the test useful in diagnosing herpes infections.
Also if you had blisters on your mouth and face in the past, that does sound like oral herpes infection to me, which could account for a true positive HSV 1 IgG test. Have you had the IgG antibody test done? If not, do NOT take antiviral therapy because it can confuse the antibody testing process. If you have no symptoms, there is absolutely no reason to take antiviral therapy at this point, would you agree? Has the girl been tested?
Will look forward to seeing your responses.
Terri
Continued...
I haven't had any oral sores of any kind since I was a teenager. Even then I can't be sure they were HSV related. I've never had any lesions or blisters on my genitals either. My symptoms were in line urethritis. Any advice would be appreciated. Below are my test results.
HERPES SIMPLEX 1 IgG [H] 2.26 INDEX
HERPES SIMPLEX 2 IgG 0.13 INDEX
I haven't had any oral sores of any kind since I was a teenager. Even then I can't be sure they were HSV related. I've never had any lesions or blisters on my genitals either. My symptoms were in line urethritis. Any advice would be appreciated. Below are my test results.
HERPES SIMPLEX 1 IgG [H] 2.26 INDEX
HERPES SIMPLEX 2 IgG 0.13 INDEX
You are reading content posted in the Herpes 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.
