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Should I retest with western blot or let this go?
Good morning,
I have been dealing with std anxiety for years. I get tested regularly and even had the western blot done last November. I was with a new partner right after the western blot. 23 days later I had a vaginal rash. I noticed it on a Sunday night, what appeared to be two bumps, Monday morning I wiped and felt slight irritation. So I looked and I had a rash on my right side of my labia Majora. I went to a nurse practitioner that I see.
She felt I had some discharge maybe it was a fungal infection. My discharge was watery not clumpy. But the culture for yeast and bv came back negative but still advised me to use and Antifungal cream. Monday night it looked worse and like the glands had opened. Each of the bumps i had appeared to be on a gland with some redness in that area and others. I went to the walk in and that PA said irritation/contact dermatitis, she said if I had herpes I would be on fire. I’ve had both irritation and contact derm before but this looked weird.
Tuesday less red, glands (or what I think they were) still open but no real pain.
Wednesday i had a little blood after i wiped. Looked like the kind i get right after my period. That night I get to my gyno and he said everything looked fine. And whatever irritated me was healing. He was positive it wasn’t herpes. But he also told me you can’t just have an internal outbreak. Sooo.
I would like to assume that since the fungal cream cleared me up so quickly that it wasn’t in fact herpes.
I took the igg test at 6 weeks and it was negative and then again at almost 6 months. But I still can’t seem to let this go.
How confident should I be that this was just a fungal infection? Or should I detest with the blot again.
Thanks for your help!
I have been dealing with std anxiety for years. I get tested regularly and even had the western blot done last November. I was with a new partner right after the western blot. 23 days later I had a vaginal rash. I noticed it on a Sunday night, what appeared to be two bumps, Monday morning I wiped and felt slight irritation. So I looked and I had a rash on my right side of my labia Majora. I went to a nurse practitioner that I see.
She felt I had some discharge maybe it was a fungal infection. My discharge was watery not clumpy. But the culture for yeast and bv came back negative but still advised me to use and Antifungal cream. Monday night it looked worse and like the glands had opened. Each of the bumps i had appeared to be on a gland with some redness in that area and others. I went to the walk in and that PA said irritation/contact dermatitis, she said if I had herpes I would be on fire. I’ve had both irritation and contact derm before but this looked weird.
Tuesday less red, glands (or what I think they were) still open but no real pain.
Wednesday i had a little blood after i wiped. Looked like the kind i get right after my period. That night I get to my gyno and he said everything looked fine. And whatever irritated me was healing. He was positive it wasn’t herpes. But he also told me you can’t just have an internal outbreak. Sooo.
I would like to assume that since the fungal cream cleared me up so quickly that it wasn’t in fact herpes.
I took the igg test at 6 weeks and it was negative and then again at almost 6 months. But I still can’t seem to let this go.
How confident should I be that this was just a fungal infection? Or should I detest with the blot again.
Thanks for your help!
Hi, your doctor is correct that your not having herpes symptoms and testing negative at 6 weeks is not likely to change.
You do seem very stressed out over contacting herpes but do realize that most that contract it are in long term mono relationships where one person is infected.
You do seem very stressed out over contacting herpes but do realize that most that contract it are in long term mono relationships where one person is infected.
36 Comments
Thank you for your response... I am a huge worrier. That rash really freaked me out. My six month test was negative as well. Do I retest with the blot to be 100% sure?
I don’t want to talk to the guy I’m dating about a rash scare. But I can’t help but think I didn’t do enough to to make sure.
I don’t want to talk to the guy I’m dating about a rash scare. But I can’t help but think I didn’t do enough to to make sure.
You did enough. Your 6 month IgG is conclusive.
Why are you so convinced that it's herpes? It could be an allergic reaction that got worse with the antifungal cream. It could be a reaction to anything - toilet paper, tampons or pads, soap or a new laundry detergent, or really anything that comes into contact with your genital area.
I also wonder why you are hesitant to talk about this with your partner. Have you ever discussed STDs? Have you both been tested? Part of sexual health is open communication about things like this. I understand not wanting to share every itch and the details of discharge, but if you are concerned about your health, you should be able to share that with your partner. Give him a chance to be supportive, and if he isn't, that's something you need to find out now rather than later.
Why are you so convinced that it's herpes? It could be an allergic reaction that got worse with the antifungal cream. It could be a reaction to anything - toilet paper, tampons or pads, soap or a new laundry detergent, or really anything that comes into contact with your genital area.
I also wonder why you are hesitant to talk about this with your partner. Have you ever discussed STDs? Have you both been tested? Part of sexual health is open communication about things like this. I understand not wanting to share every itch and the details of discharge, but if you are concerned about your health, you should be able to share that with your partner. Give him a chance to be supportive, and if he isn't, that's something you need to find out now rather than later.
Thank you for your reply. I have spoken with my partner about having hpv in the past and I don’t want to freak him out over my anxiety with a rash.
The fungal cream cleared me right up. I guess it was more the guilt of sleeping with someone without protection that I didn’t know that well.
So do you think I should just let this go? Or take the western blot again?
The fungal cream cleared me right up. I guess it was more the guilt of sleeping with someone without protection that I didn’t know that well.
So do you think I should just let this go? Or take the western blot again?
We just started dating and I want to make sure I covered all my bases and this was infact just a rash.
No, you had an IgG at 6 months that was negative. You can trust that. You really can let this go.
Is anxiety a normal thing for you? Even if it's just centered on STDs, consider getting help for that. Guilt is usually an exhausting emotion, and so you slept with someone you didn't know well, without protection? Lots of us have done that at least once, and it doesn't make you a bad person, or stupid, or any of those things. One instance of a lapse in judgement - or even a few - doesn't define you.
HPV is an inevitability of being sexually active now. If your partner has had partners before you, he's had HPV, whether or not he knows it. There are no decent tests for men, and since a lot of the time, HPV doesn't give symptoms, men don't often know they have it. Some experts say 90% will get it, some say everyone will. It's like the common cold of STDs. If it's been more than 2 years since you've had it, and you've had normal paps, you don't need to tell anyone this. It's cleared from your body.
Is anxiety a normal thing for you? Even if it's just centered on STDs, consider getting help for that. Guilt is usually an exhausting emotion, and so you slept with someone you didn't know well, without protection? Lots of us have done that at least once, and it doesn't make you a bad person, or stupid, or any of those things. One instance of a lapse in judgement - or even a few - doesn't define you.
HPV is an inevitability of being sexually active now. If your partner has had partners before you, he's had HPV, whether or not he knows it. There are no decent tests for men, and since a lot of the time, HPV doesn't give symptoms, men don't often know they have it. Some experts say 90% will get it, some say everyone will. It's like the common cold of STDs. If it's been more than 2 years since you've had it, and you've had normal paps, you don't need to tell anyone this. It's cleared from your body.
Oh yes! I have been dealing with it my whole life. I’m on medication and am fully aware that I have ocd. Which makes these situations harder for me. Bc I think well if the igg is 92% accurate and the western blot is 99.9%.. then I should do the blot. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply to me.
Had i shaved before I got this rash I would have never given it a second thought.
Had i shaved before I got this rash I would have never given it a second thought.
Ohh that makes sense then. :) That's helpful to know, and thank you for sharing it with me.
The specificity - the ability of a test to correctly identify those without a disease - of the IgG in hsv2 is 98%, assuming the correct time has passed, which it has. Since it cleared up so quickly with the antifungal, and didn't make you burn like fire - and seriously, it would, and I've been there - I think you can safely say you don't have herpes.
However, I don't have OCD. Talk it over with your therapist (and if you don't have one, get one), and try to determine if if getting a WB would feed your anxiety or make you better. :)
The specificity - the ability of a test to correctly identify those without a disease - of the IgG in hsv2 is 98%, assuming the correct time has passed, which it has. Since it cleared up so quickly with the antifungal, and didn't make you burn like fire - and seriously, it would, and I've been there - I think you can safely say you don't have herpes.
However, I don't have OCD. Talk it over with your therapist (and if you don't have one, get one), and try to determine if if getting a WB would feed your anxiety or make you better. :)
Thank you! It’s reading things like the western blot picks up 8% more than the IGG (per terri warren) is enough to send me over the edge. It’s not unusual for me to have dry skin down there but this rash was something very new. Herpes blisters don’t appear like glands do they? Bc my glands did open but healed so quickly. It was red down there and just irritated and enough to freak me out.
I’m always what if everything to the point of exhaustion. And worry that I put my partner at risk.
I’m always what if everything to the point of exhaustion. And worry that I put my partner at risk.
No, herpes sores are either blisters or like paper cuts.
What glands opened up? Bartholin glands? Oil glands?
Healing so quickly doesn't suggest herpes. That would take at least a week if it were herpes.
Has your partner ever been tested for herpes? That might help put your mind at ease. I'm guessing your OCD isn't new to him if you've been dating for awhile (and please don't tell me you've hidden that from him - if you've been dating for any kind of time, you deserve to share your real self with someone and have them accept and love you).
Have you spoken to Terri Warren or just read her stuff? She's also said many times that a 6 month IgG is conclusive.
What glands opened up? Bartholin glands? Oil glands?
Healing so quickly doesn't suggest herpes. That would take at least a week if it were herpes.
Has your partner ever been tested for herpes? That might help put your mind at ease. I'm guessing your OCD isn't new to him if you've been dating for awhile (and please don't tell me you've hidden that from him - if you've been dating for any kind of time, you deserve to share your real self with someone and have them accept and love you).
Have you spoken to Terri Warren or just read her stuff? She's also said many times that a 6 month IgG is conclusive.
I’m not sure my dr just called them glands? We have just started getting to know each other .. so it’s been about a month and half and just slept together for the first time on Friday. He does know i have anxiety and shared with me that he does as well. (Another reason I don’t want to bring up a rash if that’s all it was) lol.
Yes I have spoken with terri, she did my western blot for me last year and is the one who told me about the 8%. Which was all my ocd brain had to hear to reset the panic button. I had the blot done last year bc I was getting thin fissures on my labia and wanted to be for sure that everything was good. Literally the day i sent the test i slept with this guy after too many drinks and 23 days later I had the rash.
I just want to put it all behind me. Know for sure I do not have the virus and that I didn’t put my partner at risk.
Yes I have spoken with terri, she did my western blot for me last year and is the one who told me about the 8%. Which was all my ocd brain had to hear to reset the panic button. I had the blot done last year bc I was getting thin fissures on my labia and wanted to be for sure that everything was good. Literally the day i sent the test i slept with this guy after too many drinks and 23 days later I had the rash.
I just want to put it all behind me. Know for sure I do not have the virus and that I didn’t put my partner at risk.
The rash was under the public hair.. if that helps.
Okay, so I have no idea what glands he meant, unless he means oil glands.
Do you shave or trim? Could it be folliculitis?
I don't blame you for wanting to know for sure. I don't have OCD or anxiety, but I don't do well with unknown things, or waiting. Loose ends are awful.
Terri's awesome. Maybe talk to her again and see what she thinks, if it will make you feel better. I don't think you need another test, but if it rests your mind, go for it. If you do another test, do the WB, not another IgG. There is too much room for a false positive on the IgG, and I'd hate for that to cause any more anxiety for you.
Do you shave or trim? Could it be folliculitis?
I don't blame you for wanting to know for sure. I don't have OCD or anxiety, but I don't do well with unknown things, or waiting. Loose ends are awful.
Terri's awesome. Maybe talk to her again and see what she thinks, if it will make you feel better. I don't think you need another test, but if it rests your mind, go for it. If you do another test, do the WB, not another IgG. There is too much room for a false positive on the IgG, and I'd hate for that to cause any more anxiety for you.
Thank you. I hadn’t shaved so it wasn’t from that but typically I do... was on a hiatus at the time.
Maybe he meant hair follicles but I didn’t see any hair in them.
Anyway, i really appreciate you and your taking the time to respond to me. If you were me would you just trust the igg and move on?
I would rather not spend all that money again if this sounds like just another case of my anxiety.
Maybe he meant hair follicles but I didn’t see any hair in them.
Anyway, i really appreciate you and your taking the time to respond to me. If you were me would you just trust the igg and move on?
I would rather not spend all that money again if this sounds like just another case of my anxiety.
Or would the fact that it was 23 days later cause concern for you?
I know I sound nuts lol and thank you for not judging me. I realize I saw three drs and it healed in just days... but I never had anything like that before.
I know I sound nuts lol and thank you for not judging me. I realize I saw three drs and it healed in just days... but I never had anything like that before.
If it were me, I'd trust the IgG and move on. I'd probably wonder for awhile what it was, and then write it off as an allergy (I'm allergic to everything), and try for awhile to figure out the allergy, and then forget about it unless it happened again. Then I'd wonder why I didn't spend more time figuring out the allergy before lol.
But I wouldn't worry about herpes again if I had a negative 6 month IgG test.
And we don't judge here, but even so - nothing to judge you for. We all have something we deal with. Yours is just anxiety. :)
But I wouldn't worry about herpes again if I had a negative 6 month IgG test.
And we don't judge here, but even so - nothing to judge you for. We all have something we deal with. Yours is just anxiety. :)
Lol thank you for all your help. I’ll chock the 23 days as a coincidence and I too have super sensitive skin and hope that is does not happen again!
One last question.. I had a dr appt this morning and asked for my print out. My scores were as follows ...
Hsv1 .22
Hsv2 .22
IGm .48
So all clearly negative but the igm has me a bit concerned bc that’s a higher negative. I’ve never seen a numerical value with that test. Usually just negative. Any reason to think I may have recently been infected and it’s climbing?
Hsv1 .22
Hsv2 .22
IGm .48
So all clearly negative but the igm has me a bit concerned bc that’s a higher negative. I’ve never seen a numerical value with that test. Usually just negative. Any reason to think I may have recently been infected and it’s climbing?
Or coming down from being positive? Thanks again!
Ok so ignore the IgM entirely, but I'll get to that in a minute.
First though, the numbers don't mean anything except that you are definitely negative. I've had hsv2 for 15+ years. I could test today, and the result could be 9.78. I could test tomorrow, and it might be 7.65, and the following day could be 11.34.
It doesn't mean that tomorrow I have less of an infection than I do today or the day after tomorrow. Some of it is just kind of background noise on the test.
The only important thing is that you are definitely well under the positive range.
Now, the IgM test. It is an unreliable test that shouldn't be done on adults. It can cross-react with other herpes family viruses, like the chicken pox, and can sometimes be positive during a recurrence, and it's just not reliable. My own IgM was negative when it should have been positive, and positive when it should have been negative.
It looks for a certain type of antibody that is only there in new infections. If this was your 6 month results, then it shouldn't have been done at all. The IgM antibody would only be present for 2, maybe 3 weeks.
This is why I hate doctors sometimes, and I try really hard not to "hate" anything. But really, most don't know enough about herpes testing to get it right, and it sends people into these anxiety spirals needlessly, even people without anxiety.
First though, the numbers don't mean anything except that you are definitely negative. I've had hsv2 for 15+ years. I could test today, and the result could be 9.78. I could test tomorrow, and it might be 7.65, and the following day could be 11.34.
It doesn't mean that tomorrow I have less of an infection than I do today or the day after tomorrow. Some of it is just kind of background noise on the test.
The only important thing is that you are definitely well under the positive range.
Now, the IgM test. It is an unreliable test that shouldn't be done on adults. It can cross-react with other herpes family viruses, like the chicken pox, and can sometimes be positive during a recurrence, and it's just not reliable. My own IgM was negative when it should have been positive, and positive when it should have been negative.
It looks for a certain type of antibody that is only there in new infections. If this was your 6 month results, then it shouldn't have been done at all. The IgM antibody would only be present for 2, maybe 3 weeks.
This is why I hate doctors sometimes, and I try really hard not to "hate" anything. But really, most don't know enough about herpes testing to get it right, and it sends people into these anxiety spirals needlessly, even people without anxiety.
Ok so the number for the igm means nothing? I did take this test 6 months from rash and like week or so after being with a new partner. Should I be concerned perhaps it was on the rise? Or just negative is negative.
Thanks! I wish I could hug you. I’m very good at giving advice for people with my condition but never take my own!
Thanks! I wish I could hug you. I’m very good at giving advice for people with my condition but never take my own!
Lol most of us suck when it comes to taking our own advice. :)
Negative is negative, and don't compare it to the IgG - totally different test. Just because it's .26 higher means nothing - it's still significantly below the positive cutoff. Negative is negative.
If you are concerned about your new partner, the best and most timely thing to do is ask him to test. You can do this in a way like, "Hey, we should really test for STDs, since we haven't, ya know?", which is always a good idea. Tell him you want to make sure you don't have anything you could give him as much as making sure he doesn't have anything, either.
It always makes me suspicious when people won't test at their partner's request. STD testing is reasonable at the start of a new relationship. It's smart. If he won't, that's a red flag to me, unless there are financial concerns, etc. (If there are, I can help you all find a free or low cost clinic near you.) If he doesn't have insurance, there are ways to test, too.
Anyway, your tests prove you don't have herpes from your rash awhile ago. That's for absolute sure. :)
Negative is negative, and don't compare it to the IgG - totally different test. Just because it's .26 higher means nothing - it's still significantly below the positive cutoff. Negative is negative.
If you are concerned about your new partner, the best and most timely thing to do is ask him to test. You can do this in a way like, "Hey, we should really test for STDs, since we haven't, ya know?", which is always a good idea. Tell him you want to make sure you don't have anything you could give him as much as making sure he doesn't have anything, either.
It always makes me suspicious when people won't test at their partner's request. STD testing is reasonable at the start of a new relationship. It's smart. If he won't, that's a red flag to me, unless there are financial concerns, etc. (If there are, I can help you all find a free or low cost clinic near you.) If he doesn't have insurance, there are ways to test, too.
Anyway, your tests prove you don't have herpes from your rash awhile ago. That's for absolute sure. :)
Thank you! I am not longer with that guy and try to avoid any communication with him.
So as long as I don’t have to worry about numbers climbing with the igm and negative is negative. I’m good and thank you!
So as long as I don’t have to worry about numbers climbing with the igm and negative is negative. I’m good and thank you!
You're welcome!
We're here if you need anything. :)
We're here if you need anything. :)
Last thing bc I can’t help myself... i don’t need to explore that igm to make sure it didn’t turn positive? Then I promise I’m done! I’m gonna sit on my hands !
No, please don't take another IgM test. They have a high rate of false positives, and I don't want to see you go through that.
Go out and do something fun. Hang out with friends, go to a movie or a sports event or whatever it is that you like to do. Do something that brings you comfort and peace, too. :)
Go out and do something fun. Hang out with friends, go to a movie or a sports event or whatever it is that you like to do. Do something that brings you comfort and peace, too. :)
I meant should I take another igg? To make sure it wasn’t heading towards or back down from positive.
And yes I will def do something I enjoy later... I swear it must be a full moon bc the anxiety is evaluated! How did you get involved with this site? I would love to talk to people suffering from anxiety. Like I said give the best damn advice but never listen to my own! Lol
And yes I will def do something I enjoy later... I swear it must be a full moon bc the anxiety is evaluated! How did you get involved with this site? I would love to talk to people suffering from anxiety. Like I said give the best damn advice but never listen to my own! Lol
IgG tests don't become negative after they're positive.
The ONLY reason you may want to test is because you had a recent exposure that isn't covered under your tests. You don't need to do that now, though. Wait a few months and then test.
I got involved on this site because I worked in the field, and was on a different herpes site, and a friend told me about this site. It's been 12 years.
We have an Anxiety forum and an OCD forum. Please, please visit both. We always love new members.
https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Anxiety/show/71
https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-OCD-/show/231
A list of all our forums - https://www.medhelp.org/forums/list
:)
The ONLY reason you may want to test is because you had a recent exposure that isn't covered under your tests. You don't need to do that now, though. Wait a few months and then test.
I got involved on this site because I worked in the field, and was on a different herpes site, and a friend told me about this site. It's been 12 years.
We have an Anxiety forum and an OCD forum. Please, please visit both. We always love new members.
https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Anxiety/show/71
https://www.medhelp.org/forums/Obsessive-Compulsive-Disorder-OCD-/show/231
A list of all our forums - https://www.medhelp.org/forums/list
:)
By exposure do you mean recently was sexually active with someone?
I know I’m sorry I didn’t explain myself correctly.. the igm (if was heading towards positive) would eventually cause the igg to be positive... so is my igm kinda high for a negative and should I take another Igg? It’s been since April. So plenty of time has passed. Or does the .48 mean nothing?
Thanks! I would love to look into that!
I know I’m sorry I didn’t explain myself correctly.. the igm (if was heading towards positive) would eventually cause the igg to be positive... so is my igm kinda high for a negative and should I take another Igg? It’s been since April. So plenty of time has passed. Or does the .48 mean nothing?
Thanks! I would love to look into that!
Ohhh ok I get it.
So the IgM, assuming it works correctly, looks for a type of antibody that develops in new infections. For herpes, those antibodies only linger for a couple of weeks, maybe three. A negative test means you don't have those antibodies. You have them or you don't. They don't develop into IgM antibodies - that's an entirely different kind of antibody that develops after the IgM antibody disappears.
Your IgM isn't actually high for a negative, or at all. It's actually quite low. I wouldn't even be concerned about it unless it was maybe .9 something, and even then, as I said, it's just not that reliable of a test, and you shouldn't have had it done as an adult.
It's more reliable in other conditions, but not in herpes.
No herpes test is ever a true zero.
And yes, but recent exposure, I mean the last time you were sexually active with someone. You mentioned that you had sex with someone last Friday. Am I confused about that?
So the IgM, assuming it works correctly, looks for a type of antibody that develops in new infections. For herpes, those antibodies only linger for a couple of weeks, maybe three. A negative test means you don't have those antibodies. You have them or you don't. They don't develop into IgM antibodies - that's an entirely different kind of antibody that develops after the IgM antibody disappears.
Your IgM isn't actually high for a negative, or at all. It's actually quite low. I wouldn't even be concerned about it unless it was maybe .9 something, and even then, as I said, it's just not that reliable of a test, and you shouldn't have had it done as an adult.
It's more reliable in other conditions, but not in herpes.
No herpes test is ever a true zero.
And yes, but recent exposure, I mean the last time you were sexually active with someone. You mentioned that you had sex with someone last Friday. Am I confused about that?
So I hit the 6 month mark at the end of April... I was currently dating someone during this time. We slept together about two weeks or so before I took the test.
We stopped dating end of May. This past Friday was a new guy that I’ve been seeing and why my anxiety is through the roof. I would never want to knowingly give someone anything.
Today at my exam I asked my gyno for the print out of my results from April (prior to today I only knew it was negative bc she called to confirm)
So the worry is if it was .48 and maybe those igm were just starting to be detectable.. could it mean that a week later I may have tested positive for the igm?
I could go have the igg done again but I’m kind of embarrassed at this point. But knowing my anxiety it always wins .
I know in passed things I have read that terri has sad the numerical value of the igg can change as an infections is coming to light and since I have never seen a numerical value for the igm.. I’m worried about the same now .
We stopped dating end of May. This past Friday was a new guy that I’ve been seeing and why my anxiety is through the roof. I would never want to knowingly give someone anything.
Today at my exam I asked my gyno for the print out of my results from April (prior to today I only knew it was negative bc she called to confirm)
So the worry is if it was .48 and maybe those igm were just starting to be detectable.. could it mean that a week later I may have tested positive for the igm?
I could go have the igg done again but I’m kind of embarrassed at this point. But knowing my anxiety it always wins .
I know in passed things I have read that terri has sad the numerical value of the igg can change as an infections is coming to light and since I have never seen a numerical value for the igm.. I’m worried about the same now .
Don't do the IgG again now. You were definitively negative before this guy. Yes, the IgG may rise as new infections come to light, but at 6 months, you're conclusively negative. You wouldn't have an infection coming to light at that point.
Do not do the IgM again ever. Ever. It gives way too many false positives, and right now, you can't handle the possibility of that. Most people have a hard time with that.
Go read what Terri says about the IgM.
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/herpes-igm/
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/that-nasty-igm/
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/igm-reliability-vs-igg-and-retesting/
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/the-old-igm-vs-igg-struggle/
There are more, but you get the point. Don't get any more IgMs.
Do you have a therapist? This would be a good time to call her if you do. If you don't, its a good time to find one. :)
Do not do the IgM again ever. Ever. It gives way too many false positives, and right now, you can't handle the possibility of that. Most people have a hard time with that.
Go read what Terri says about the IgM.
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/herpes-igm/
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/that-nasty-igm/
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/igm-reliability-vs-igg-and-retesting/
https://westoverheights.com/forum/question/the-old-igm-vs-igg-struggle/
There are more, but you get the point. Don't get any more IgMs.
Do you have a therapist? This would be a good time to call her if you do. If you don't, its a good time to find one. :)
So the igm wouldn’t have been in response to the guy I was seeing and slept with two weeks ish before I took it? Lol I’m googling therapists as we speak.
In theory, the IgM would be for the guy you slept with 2 weeks-ish prior to the test. It is negative, so you can assume that you didn't get herpes from him, but to know for sure, you'd need an IgG test at 4 months.
As I've said before, it's just not a good test. It may be right for you, but since it's so unreliable, we really know about as much as if you didn't take the test.
As I've said before, it's just not a good test. It may be right for you, but since it's so unreliable, we really know about as much as if you didn't take the test.
Well bc I’m crazy ... I took the igg on weds night.. since this encounter was from April (when I was last tested) and more than enough time had passed and happy to report all still negative and specifically told the dr nooooooo igm! Thanks for everything! I want to start focusing on how to break the anxiety.
Congrats! And congrats for telling the doc no IgM! :)
Have you found a counselor? Focus on your mental health - that is just as important as your physical health.
Congrats again! I'm happy for you :)
Have you found a counselor? Focus on your mental health - that is just as important as your physical health.
Congrats again! I'm happy for you :)
Thanks again for everything you do for everyone on this site. You are a special person! Xo
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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.
