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HSV-2 Risk
Good Evening. I have a couple questions about HSV-2 Risks. There's a lot of information out there but it is all very confusing (and sometime contradictory!)
I'm a bisexual 50 yo married man (yes, my wife knows).
When I was dating my wife 7 years ago, we found out she was HSV-2 positive. Most likely infected more than 10 years earlier but has never had a symptom. We have unprotected sex on a regular basis. I get tested often and my HSV-2 results are typically negative or unequivocal. The highest result ever received was 1.13 but usually they range between .74 and .93. I believe I am currently HSV-2 negative but will get a Western Blot to confirm. I am, however, HSV-1 positive, having had cold sores once a year since I was 8.
Here are my specific questions:
1. Since my wife has never had a symptom of HSV-2 and after 7 years of regular unprotected sex, what is the likelihood that I will get HSV from her? I've read all about viral shedding, etc but if it hasn't happened yet, will it ever?
2. If I do get it from her, would I also be asymptomatic or could I have a painful outbreak even if he she never has?
3. I have met another married man who I really like. We have talked about having an ongoing relationship. Even though I currently test negative/unequivocol, I feel I should tell him that I am at risk since my wife is positive. That will likely end the friendship with him so I need to make sure I understand the risks and possibilities before having this discussion. Depending on the answer to no. 1 above, I think it is fair to say I am negative but at risk.
4. Assuming I do eventually become positive for HSV-2, what are possible "safe" activities that two males can engage in without the risk of transmission? I understand that there should be no sexual contact during an outbreak, but after reading about people who are asymptomatic and about viral shedding, it would see like there is always the possibility of passing it on and no activity is safe.
5. What is the best way to order the Western Blot? I'd rather not go to my regular GP.
Thanks for any help from this community.
I'm a bisexual 50 yo married man (yes, my wife knows).
When I was dating my wife 7 years ago, we found out she was HSV-2 positive. Most likely infected more than 10 years earlier but has never had a symptom. We have unprotected sex on a regular basis. I get tested often and my HSV-2 results are typically negative or unequivocal. The highest result ever received was 1.13 but usually they range between .74 and .93. I believe I am currently HSV-2 negative but will get a Western Blot to confirm. I am, however, HSV-1 positive, having had cold sores once a year since I was 8.
Here are my specific questions:
1. Since my wife has never had a symptom of HSV-2 and after 7 years of regular unprotected sex, what is the likelihood that I will get HSV from her? I've read all about viral shedding, etc but if it hasn't happened yet, will it ever?
2. If I do get it from her, would I also be asymptomatic or could I have a painful outbreak even if he she never has?
3. I have met another married man who I really like. We have talked about having an ongoing relationship. Even though I currently test negative/unequivocol, I feel I should tell him that I am at risk since my wife is positive. That will likely end the friendship with him so I need to make sure I understand the risks and possibilities before having this discussion. Depending on the answer to no. 1 above, I think it is fair to say I am negative but at risk.
4. Assuming I do eventually become positive for HSV-2, what are possible "safe" activities that two males can engage in without the risk of transmission? I understand that there should be no sexual contact during an outbreak, but after reading about people who are asymptomatic and about viral shedding, it would see like there is always the possibility of passing it on and no activity is safe.
5. What is the best way to order the Western Blot? I'd rather not go to my regular GP.
Thanks for any help from this community.
So now the question is whether or not I should tell the guy I met. We have become good friends but I suspect that if I say "hey, I might get Herpes some day." he will go running. He is also married.
The reality is that any guy he meets "may get herpes some day" if he is hooking up outside his marriage.
Seems like disclosing is the right thing to do even though it will ruin the friendship. How do I convince him that the risk is really low? Some posts say that the risk of transmission is there when a lesion is present...some suggest there is always a risk of transmission...very confusing.
The reality is that any guy he meets "may get herpes some day" if he is hooking up outside his marriage.
Seems like disclosing is the right thing to do even though it will ruin the friendship. How do I convince him that the risk is really low? Some posts say that the risk of transmission is there when a lesion is present...some suggest there is always a risk of transmission...very confusing.
If the cut off was 1.1 then a result over 6 is pretty conclusive, your wife has HSV2.
Most likely is is a genital infection, but in rarer circumstances it could be oral or elsewhere.
The virus infects and appears at the nerve ganglion infected. Oral versus genital for example. The virus cannot travel internally in order to result in a cold sore elsewhere. Hence your swab is no indication of not having HSV2.
Most likely is is a genital infection, but in rarer circumstances it could be oral or elsewhere.
The virus infects and appears at the nerve ganglion infected. Oral versus genital for example. The virus cannot travel internally in order to result in a cold sore elsewhere. Hence your swab is no indication of not having HSV2.
Thanks Fleetwood. Yes, the cutoff for the test I had was 1.1 but most believe it is still negative.
I did have a cold sore on my lip a couple months ago and I asked my doctor to do a culture to determine if it was HSV-1 or HSV - 2. His first comment was that both are so prevalent that they don't really care to distinguish. I didn't think it was necessary to determine the type. After some conversation, he took a sample from the cold sore and sent it out for testing. I was called a few days later with a message that the culture came back positive for HSV-1, as expected. My question now is whether the testing of cultures only tell you what that particular cold sore is or would it also have detected HSV-2 if I had that in a different part of my body?
I did have a cold sore on my lip a couple months ago and I asked my doctor to do a culture to determine if it was HSV-1 or HSV - 2. His first comment was that both are so prevalent that they don't really care to distinguish. I didn't think it was necessary to determine the type. After some conversation, he took a sample from the cold sore and sent it out for testing. I was called a few days later with a message that the culture came back positive for HSV-1, as expected. My question now is whether the testing of cultures only tell you what that particular cold sore is or would it also have detected HSV-2 if I had that in a different part of my body?
With the IgG test it all depends on the cutoff, is it 1.1 for that test? Some tests have 11 or 20 for example.
No I don't think testing is worthwhile when you are in a relationship with a HSV positive person. Any episode can result in infection. Hence the risk is not whether you negative at a point in time, but that you continue to have sexual relations with a HSV2 partner.
No I don't think testing is worthwhile when you are in a relationship with a HSV positive person. Any episode can result in infection. Hence the risk is not whether you negative at a point in time, but that you continue to have sexual relations with a HSV2 partner.
Thanks for the reply. I checked my wife's last result for the igG HSV-2 and it was 6.32...that's pretty high so probably outside the range of a false positive, no?
Even though my last igG was 1.13 do you think it is worth spending the money on a Wester Blot?
Even though my last igG was 1.13 do you think it is worth spending the money on a Wester Blot?
1. If your wife has never had a symptom, maybe she should retest. She may have genital HSV1 for example or a false positive blood test. It could also be possible that the HSV2 infection is not genital.
The average chance of genital HSV2 transmitting in this case is about 4% a year. So it is not unusual to not be infected after 7 years.
2. You could have a bad infection but for people with HSV1 already, this is quite rare. Most people (like me) get a couple of small patches blistery sores that do little more than itch a bit.
3. Confirm what your wife's situation is first. Then disclose. I agree you are currently negative.
4. 'Safe' activities are really any thing that does not involve the penis! Otherwise, even if tiny, a risk exists.
5. Some people prefer to be a phone patient of Westover Heights Clinic who specialize in this.
The average chance of genital HSV2 transmitting in this case is about 4% a year. So it is not unusual to not be infected after 7 years.
2. You could have a bad infection but for people with HSV1 already, this is quite rare. Most people (like me) get a couple of small patches blistery sores that do little more than itch a bit.
3. Confirm what your wife's situation is first. Then disclose. I agree you are currently negative.
4. 'Safe' activities are really any thing that does not involve the penis! Otherwise, even if tiny, a risk exists.
5. Some people prefer to be a phone patient of Westover Heights Clinic who specialize in this.
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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.
