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HSV antibody titer and infectivity
I messaged Grace about this as she seems to be the resident expert but decided I'd like to see what the community can add to this matter so I am posting my question here.
I am HSV 1 and 2 negative, with antibodies at .1 for HSV1 and .06 for HSV 2. So, I am negative.
In an email conversation I had with Dr. Bernard Roizman a few years ago about herpes infectivity, he convinced me that my having evaded infection up to today (I am 52) had only to do with luck and not with any unusual immunity to initial infection. Thus, regarding all the HSV+ people I have been with over the years, I have just been lucky.
It's become an unhealthy obesession for me to retain my HSV- status and few peers share my negative status. Twice this year I have encouraged women to learn their status through testing and both have come up with low but positive HSV1 IgG titers, of 4 in one case and a bit over 5 in the other.
Does anyone know what the chances are of my getting an infection from intimacy and kissing with people who have antibody titers at these levels? Has there been any research on this? Transposing the research on sexual transmission of HSV2 to HSV1 doesn't seem to feel right, it's got to have its own statistical dynamic.
Is there any correlation between igG titer and relative risk of transmission?
I am HSV 1 and 2 negative, with antibodies at .1 for HSV1 and .06 for HSV 2. So, I am negative.
In an email conversation I had with Dr. Bernard Roizman a few years ago about herpes infectivity, he convinced me that my having evaded infection up to today (I am 52) had only to do with luck and not with any unusual immunity to initial infection. Thus, regarding all the HSV+ people I have been with over the years, I have just been lucky.
It's become an unhealthy obesession for me to retain my HSV- status and few peers share my negative status. Twice this year I have encouraged women to learn their status through testing and both have come up with low but positive HSV1 IgG titers, of 4 in one case and a bit over 5 in the other.
Does anyone know what the chances are of my getting an infection from intimacy and kissing with people who have antibody titers at these levels? Has there been any research on this? Transposing the research on sexual transmission of HSV2 to HSV1 doesn't seem to feel right, it's got to have its own statistical dynamic.
Is there any correlation between igG titer and relative risk of transmission?
More assumptions. I rarely use a mobile phone, and even more rarely hold it to my head.
Are you just commenting so you can feel superior? If so, you need to polish your act.
Are you just commenting so you can feel superior? If so, you need to polish your act.
The Swedish study is often misreported and misunderstood. The only conclusion of that particular study is that there "might" be a link. Mind you there have been 10s of studies like this one so one by chance was going to have such a conclusion eventually. The study is highly inconclusive as other conditions were not screened or randomized.
What happens now is that a causative link based on medical reasoning needs to be found. This has not happened despite considerable research. Not to say it won't happen but there is no evidence.
Using a mobile phone as you undoubtedly do stands a greater chance of causing Alzheimer's, so better pack that away.
What happens now is that a causative link based on medical reasoning needs to be found. This has not happened despite considerable research. Not to say it won't happen but there is no evidence.
Using a mobile phone as you undoubtedly do stands a greater chance of causing Alzheimer's, so better pack that away.
"does it matter whether the love of your life has HSV? "
If I already were in love with her, no.
If I am dating, I have no love of my life and feel constrained from getting serious with anyone HSV+. I've tried. It's not pretty. My concerns become overwhelming as I feel like this is irreversible and I can't proceed.
So if I had some encouraging news like I am unlikely to contract it as part of a discordant couple, that would be helpful.
And that's all I was looking for. Simple answers for oral HSV1.
If I already were in love with her, no.
If I am dating, I have no love of my life and feel constrained from getting serious with anyone HSV+. I've tried. It's not pretty. My concerns become overwhelming as I feel like this is irreversible and I can't proceed.
So if I had some encouraging news like I am unlikely to contract it as part of a discordant couple, that would be helpful.
And that's all I was looking for. Simple answers for oral HSV1.
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20141024/studies-link-cold-sore-virus-to-alzheimers-risk
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673696101495
http://www.medicaldaily.com/alzheimers-risk-doubled-people-herpes-virus-how-virus-stimulates-alzheimers-development-307995
Study after study shows a doubling of the incidence of Alzheimer's disease - a disease that's very common and a terrible way to die.
Still think I am worried about nothing?
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673696101495
http://www.medicaldaily.com/alzheimers-risk-doubled-people-herpes-virus-how-virus-stimulates-alzheimers-development-307995
Study after study shows a doubling of the incidence of Alzheimer's disease - a disease that's very common and a terrible way to die.
Still think I am worried about nothing?
Excuse me, but where is your evidence that there is even a link between Alzheimer's disease? It is baseless statements like these that add to the stigma and steer more people into the irrational thought processes that pervade your mind.
Also, it is proven that HSV1 is simply a minor condition for the majority of people who have it. Why would you think you would be any different?
I am not ridiculing, I am asking you to have perspective. As I have stated above there is only one philosophical answer you need to answer, does it matter whether the love of your life has HSV?
Only you can answer this and fill your life with meaningfulness it provides.
Also, it is proven that HSV1 is simply a minor condition for the majority of people who have it. Why would you think you would be any different?
I am not ridiculing, I am asking you to have perspective. As I have stated above there is only one philosophical answer you need to answer, does it matter whether the love of your life has HSV?
Only you can answer this and fill your life with meaningfulness it provides.
Now you're just spouting ignorance. HSV doubles your risk of Alzheimer's disease. There are doubtless other effects of which we are unaware as well. To think that this is just an unsightly blemish without further health effect is demonstrably incorrect.
I am absolutely justified in wanting to protect my health and seeking answers to my questions. And you are irresponsible and bullying in ridiculing and casting aspersions upon those concerns, Fleetwood20.
I am absolutely justified in wanting to protect my health and seeking answers to my questions. And you are irresponsible and bullying in ridiculing and casting aspersions upon those concerns, Fleetwood20.
I'm totally speechless. That you would let a virus that is totally harmless for the majority of people create such paranoia in yourself to result in such a complete capitulation to baseless stigma.
Please you need to reflect on life if HSV controls it so much and ask your self what you really want. Because it sure isn't a relationship given some 90% of available women to you will have HSV.
Please you need to reflect on life if HSV controls it so much and ask your self what you really want. Because it sure isn't a relationship given some 90% of available women to you will have HSV.
How am I to know who is and is not HSV infected without inquiring of their status? You ask the impossible of me.
If only it were that easy. People are unfortunately clueless about this.
Self-care has of necessity an aspect of selfishness. Yes, it hurts people when they learn they have a viral infection when they believed themselves to be "clean". I've seen this up close, as woman after woman finally goes through the trouble of getting the test, usually after there is an emotional attachment, and then gets crushed by the results.
Can you imagine how one such woman - a woman of 55 who's slept with three men in her life, felt when she went in for this and found out her results? Of course people consider it to be like an STD when it's nothing of the kind, and so it's stigmatized - more in their own minds than in my own.
Look at it another way. Let's say someone never had chicken pox and there's no vaccine. They're at severe risk if they have a partner who did have chicken pox, because in later life their partner might experience shingles and give them chicken pox in that way, something that can be rather severe in later life...
JUST LIKE HSV1.
If only it were that easy. People are unfortunately clueless about this.
Self-care has of necessity an aspect of selfishness. Yes, it hurts people when they learn they have a viral infection when they believed themselves to be "clean". I've seen this up close, as woman after woman finally goes through the trouble of getting the test, usually after there is an emotional attachment, and then gets crushed by the results.
Can you imagine how one such woman - a woman of 55 who's slept with three men in her life, felt when she went in for this and found out her results? Of course people consider it to be like an STD when it's nothing of the kind, and so it's stigmatized - more in their own minds than in my own.
Look at it another way. Let's say someone never had chicken pox and there's no vaccine. They're at severe risk if they have a partner who did have chicken pox, because in later life their partner might experience shingles and give them chicken pox in that way, something that can be rather severe in later life...
JUST LIKE HSV1.
no I'm sorry but your comments are entirely selfish. You are focused only on your self with no regard for others' feelings and concerns. The concerns you express do nothing more than make your partners feel like contaminated trash, hence they'll never work.
Unless you can overlook the virus, transmission odds and how you'll cope if infected then stay away from HSV infected people, for everyone's sake.
Unless you can overlook the virus, transmission odds and how you'll cope if infected then stay away from HSV infected people, for everyone's sake.
You're just making that up. I don't think it's constructive to ridicule people for their concerns.
0.125647475% per episode without lesions. Can you explain how this helps?
As with the above statement, yours are absolutely ridiculous. It is a shame that such paranoia can even exist.
If this is an issue, then date women without HSV, that simple.
As with the above statement, yours are absolutely ridiculous. It is a shame that such paranoia can even exist.
If this is an issue, then date women without HSV, that simple.
I have performance anxiety unless I know my partner's status is negative. If I could ignore it, don't you think that's what I'd be doing?
I've found 2 such women in the past 6 years but they're not suitable matches for other reasons. I am trying to relieve that performance anxiety by seeking facts about the relative risk I actually face - facts that appear to be in very short supply. Cajoling me with life advice isn't helpful.
I've found 2 such women in the past 6 years but they're not suitable matches for other reasons. I am trying to relieve that performance anxiety by seeking facts about the relative risk I actually face - facts that appear to be in very short supply. Cajoling me with life advice isn't helpful.
But that's the point. It is all about love and relationships, Life is so much more than a decimal point. For your own sake, forget about transmission rates, they're only decimal points.
At 52, there's less ahead of you than behind you. Really, HSV is the biggest issue going down for you? It simply isn't... get out meet some pretty girls as the song goes!
At 52, there's less ahead of you than behind you. Really, HSV is the biggest issue going down for you? It simply isn't... get out meet some pretty girls as the song goes!
I just want to know what risk I run, that's all. No need to get into a discussion of love and relationships.
She'll never get that far without a first kiss. Therein lies my difficulty. I just really don't want to be one of those people with big sores on my lip. I'd rather even have genital herpes because at least you don't (usually) walk around in public with your genitals exposed like your face.
So then, what is the risk to deep kissing someone asymptomatic? In the past, I have had HSV+ girlfriends, but I never contracted it myself. Have I just been "lucky"? Is it just a matter of time?
Some time ago I read that they had a rule of thumb for genital HSV2 transmission between partners. They said it was 8% per year for partners where the + person has outbreaks, 4% if without outbreaks, 2% if condoms or antivirals were used, and 1% if both were used.
What would the relative risk be for kissing partners?
Some time ago I read that they had a rule of thumb for genital HSV2 transmission between partners. They said it was 8% per year for partners where the + person has outbreaks, 4% if without outbreaks, 2% if condoms or antivirals were used, and 1% if both were used.
What would the relative risk be for kissing partners?
No there is no correlation between IgG results and infectiousness in terms of outbreak and shedding frequency.
IgG antibodies are only 1 of nearly 100 different aspects of the immune systems response to HSV.
IgG antibodies are only 1 of nearly 100 different aspects of the immune systems response to HSV.
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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.
