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HSV-2 initial outbreak a year later?
I slept with a woman who was HSV-2 positive on two occasions in late July 2013. About four weeks later, I took a full panel STI test and came back negative for everything (including HSV-2). I re-tested in mid-November, about 15 or 16 weeks post-exposure. Once again, the results of the IgG test for HSV-2 were negative. I had no symptoms, so I assumed I was in the clear. Shortly after this, I entered into a new relationship with a woman who had recently been tested and was free of any STI's. We engaged in unprotected sex only a handful of times, and the rest of the time used condoms. The last time we had unprotected sex was in December of 2013. The last time we slept together (with protection) was in April of 2014. Everything was ok until this last week (Sept. 12) when I noticed a small blackhead on the shaft of my penis. Along with this was an intense itching. I chose not to remove the blackhead and let it heal on it's own. There was also some swelling at the site of the blackhead, which has went down a bit over the past two days. Two days later, it was gone, but it looks like a small spider bite at this point. It is not an oozing sore, but appears to just be a small cut. My penis is still very red, and the intense itching remains. I have also developed redness around and underneath my lymph nodes. Should I get retested again for HSV-2? Or could this be an insect bite? I've never heard of HSV-2 causing swelling, and it doesn't look like the pictures I have seen of HSV-2 on a male. Also, the timetable doesn't seem to add up for an initial outbreak of HSV-2. Please help. I would greatly appreciate any insight you could give me. Thank you.
Best Answer
Your above comment describes my mentality regarding my situation in a nutshell. It's why I have taken multiple blood tests to this point and swabs personally.
Keep in mind, when my symptoms arose from my encounter I forced her to test as well. Her blood came out positive for HSV1 which she believe is a oral infection. At that point, I knew HSV1 was the culprit in causing all my issues, as I wouldn't have made her test if I didn't think so from the start.
Your symptoms sound eerily similar to mine and if I'm right it's going to be difficult to test positive for HSV1 outside of a swab on a active/fluid filled lesion. Why? Because for some reason the IGG select tests commercially available are only up to 90% accurate in testing this strain. It misses 10% of infections. Do the math, that's a lot of people infected with HSV1 that don't know it.
My encounter had zero visible or noticeable symptoms. I would know because I kissed her, however, like HSV2, HSV1 can be contracted even with no physical symptoms, as shedding can take place. Even though shedding doesn't occur as often as HSV2, it's entirely possible to contract the virus from someone with no symptoms, which could be the case for you.
Bottom line, genital HSV1 is occurring much more often now due to oral sex, but diagnosing it is not as easy as HSV2. Symptoms can be mild, not look like a typical HSV in presentation and the blood tests, outside of the WB, are not accurate.
I even doubt the WB is close 99% accurate as they claim, but that's another story. You need to swab your lesions. If you don't (apparently you can't) retaking a blood test will do nothing but put a dent in your wallet and not change the result. I know because I've tested 16 times and the result hasn't changed and I had your symptoms and reoccurrences as well. Even had a single blister.
If you are adamant about a blood test. You will need to test at 6 months from exposure via Western Blot for 99% accuracy (they claim). You can take a baseline HerpeSelect at 16 weeks to see where you stand if money permits. Unfortunately, with HSV testing there are grey areas, that's why swabbing active fluid filled lesions is key in your case.
Good luck.
Keep in mind, when my symptoms arose from my encounter I forced her to test as well. Her blood came out positive for HSV1 which she believe is a oral infection. At that point, I knew HSV1 was the culprit in causing all my issues, as I wouldn't have made her test if I didn't think so from the start.
Your symptoms sound eerily similar to mine and if I'm right it's going to be difficult to test positive for HSV1 outside of a swab on a active/fluid filled lesion. Why? Because for some reason the IGG select tests commercially available are only up to 90% accurate in testing this strain. It misses 10% of infections. Do the math, that's a lot of people infected with HSV1 that don't know it.
My encounter had zero visible or noticeable symptoms. I would know because I kissed her, however, like HSV2, HSV1 can be contracted even with no physical symptoms, as shedding can take place. Even though shedding doesn't occur as often as HSV2, it's entirely possible to contract the virus from someone with no symptoms, which could be the case for you.
Bottom line, genital HSV1 is occurring much more often now due to oral sex, but diagnosing it is not as easy as HSV2. Symptoms can be mild, not look like a typical HSV in presentation and the blood tests, outside of the WB, are not accurate.
I even doubt the WB is close 99% accurate as they claim, but that's another story. You need to swab your lesions. If you don't (apparently you can't) retaking a blood test will do nothing but put a dent in your wallet and not change the result. I know because I've tested 16 times and the result hasn't changed and I had your symptoms and reoccurrences as well. Even had a single blister.
If you are adamant about a blood test. You will need to test at 6 months from exposure via Western Blot for 99% accuracy (they claim). You can take a baseline HerpeSelect at 16 weeks to see where you stand if money permits. Unfortunately, with HSV testing there are grey areas, that's why swabbing active fluid filled lesions is key in your case.
Good luck.
I hate to hear that you are going through a similar situation, as I would not wish this upon anyone. I hope your situation turns out the way you want, and you don't have to suffer through this type of ordeal.
I completely agree with you on the need for a swab culture, though it may be November before I am able to obtain health insurance. Until then, I'm stuck in limbo. Everything I have read points to the HerpeSelect IgG test being extremely reliable if you follow the guidelines for the testing window. Since I abided by these guidelines (testing at 15 weeks post-exposure, as well as over 1 year post-exposure), I am confident that the HSV-2 positive woman I slept with in July of 2013 is not the cause behind my symptoms.
You have certainly caught my attention with the point about oral sex. When I slept with my ex in August of 2014, I did receive unprotected oral sex for a short period of time. Following this, we engaged in protected intercourse. My breakout is occurring on the shaft of my penis, which was fully covered by the condom during intercourse. It would make perfect sense if it was an HSV-1 genital infection. She did not have any noticeable cold or fever blisters on her mouth, however, although if it is similar to HSV-2 I guess that doesn't really matter in regards to the possibility of transmitting the virus. She is supposed to be getting tested soon, and I will encourage her to get the HerpeSelect test done. If she is diagnosed as HSV-1 positive, it would seem likely that this is what happened.
Would you recommend that I have another HerpeSelect test done at 4 months post-exposure to make sure of this? Or is the reliability of that test finding a positive HSV-1 infection significantly lower than the WB? I just want to find out exactly what is causing my symptoms so that I can treat it and be educated and knowledgeable about my status so that I can protect any future partners I may have. Thank you for your help, and I wish you the best with your situation.
I completely agree with you on the need for a swab culture, though it may be November before I am able to obtain health insurance. Until then, I'm stuck in limbo. Everything I have read points to the HerpeSelect IgG test being extremely reliable if you follow the guidelines for the testing window. Since I abided by these guidelines (testing at 15 weeks post-exposure, as well as over 1 year post-exposure), I am confident that the HSV-2 positive woman I slept with in July of 2013 is not the cause behind my symptoms.
You have certainly caught my attention with the point about oral sex. When I slept with my ex in August of 2014, I did receive unprotected oral sex for a short period of time. Following this, we engaged in protected intercourse. My breakout is occurring on the shaft of my penis, which was fully covered by the condom during intercourse. It would make perfect sense if it was an HSV-1 genital infection. She did not have any noticeable cold or fever blisters on her mouth, however, although if it is similar to HSV-2 I guess that doesn't really matter in regards to the possibility of transmitting the virus. She is supposed to be getting tested soon, and I will encourage her to get the HerpeSelect test done. If she is diagnosed as HSV-1 positive, it would seem likely that this is what happened.
Would you recommend that I have another HerpeSelect test done at 4 months post-exposure to make sure of this? Or is the reliability of that test finding a positive HSV-1 infection significantly lower than the WB? I just want to find out exactly what is causing my symptoms so that I can treat it and be educated and knowledgeable about my status so that I can protect any future partners I may have. Thank you for your help, and I wish you the best with your situation.
You're in a tough spot here and I can relate. I also have negative HSV blood tests almost 10 months out but experienced something very similar to you symptom wise.
That being said, what you describe does to me sound like HSV, however, the initial outbreak timeframe is what is confusing. When you incorporate the woman in mid-August it changes things, but then again, she also tested negative.
A swab of the lesions within 24-48 hours of appearance or if any fluid is still contained in the bumps, I would try to find a way to get a swab done both bacterial and viral wise or you risk on continuing to this game of the trusting blood work, which I don't rely on personally.
A good indicator for you is that HSV2 via HerpeSelect is much more sensitive and more accurate than HSV1. If you are continuing to test negative for HSV2 via this test, it would be a strong indicator it isn't HSV2.
However, have or do you conduct in unprotected oral sex with any woman in your timelines? This could be a genital HSV1 outbreak from oral sex, which is difficult to diagnose outside of a positive swab or WesternBlot. I would seek a swab immediately (find a way) or test via WB at this point.
Your lesions are very disconcerting and contrary to what others have told you on here can and does sound like HSV. Fungus doesn't present itself that way, trust me, I've seen 9 doctors that have all described what a fungal genital infection looks like. Yours does not fit the bill.
That being said, what you describe does to me sound like HSV, however, the initial outbreak timeframe is what is confusing. When you incorporate the woman in mid-August it changes things, but then again, she also tested negative.
A swab of the lesions within 24-48 hours of appearance or if any fluid is still contained in the bumps, I would try to find a way to get a swab done both bacterial and viral wise or you risk on continuing to this game of the trusting blood work, which I don't rely on personally.
A good indicator for you is that HSV2 via HerpeSelect is much more sensitive and more accurate than HSV1. If you are continuing to test negative for HSV2 via this test, it would be a strong indicator it isn't HSV2.
However, have or do you conduct in unprotected oral sex with any woman in your timelines? This could be a genital HSV1 outbreak from oral sex, which is difficult to diagnose outside of a positive swab or WesternBlot. I would seek a swab immediately (find a way) or test via WB at this point.
Your lesions are very disconcerting and contrary to what others have told you on here can and does sound like HSV. Fungus doesn't present itself that way, trust me, I've seen 9 doctors that have all described what a fungal genital infection looks like. Yours does not fit the bill.
Thank you for your quick reply. I would like to have that done but live in a rural area and am lacking health insurance at the moment. I was only able to get the IgG blood test(s) by driving a long distance and paying a relatively high fee. It just sucks because the itching is driving me crazy and the initial lesion hasn't healed (though it has morphed into a few different stages) and now there are small red bumps popping up around the initial lesion. Also, the skin in that area is extremely red and irritated. Shouldn't this be dying down by now if it is HSV-2?
Why dont you go get them swabbed?
A negative igg blood test at 15 weeks post exposure is definitely a negative.
A negative igg blood test at 15 weeks post exposure is definitely a negative.
I am now having even more severe symptoms, including the persistence of the initial lesion, along with many more smaller red bumps and a renewed itching with greater intensity. This nightmare began on September 12, and I don't understand how, if this is HSV-2 (which I am 99% sure it is at this point), the symptoms could be getting worse over 2 weeks later? Is this normal for an initial outbreak?
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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.
