Aa
Was this my primary OB?
14 April - Protected intercourse with new partner. Slight amount of genital rubbing prior to intercourse.
19 April - Woke up with a throat that was sore when swallowing and swollen lymph glands.
20-22 April - Sore throat seems to dissipate.
23 April - Woke up and sore throat was much worse. Felt similar to strep throat I've had in the past. Went to the doctor and got antibiotics. Throat swab was negative for strep, but symptoms went away with antibiotics.
27 April - Developed symptoms of a yeast infection. I've had them in the past and chalked it up to a side effect of the antibiotics. Self treated with an OTC ovule, and the symptoms went away within a week.
21 May - HSV-2 IgG of 2.77 at my annual STD screen. I'm stunned.
Now, my three questions.
1) Could this have been my initial OB? I have read that many initial OBs are coupled with flu-like symptoms, headache, swollen glands and a sore throat. I only had the sore throat and swollen glands.
Is it possible that my IgG was 2.77 only 1 month after possible exposure?
2) I am fully aware that it was a waste of time/money, but I've done the IgG test 4 times in the past 4 months.
May 21 - 2.77
May 25 - 4.35
July 15 - 2.55
Aug 30 - 4.44
I've read a lot about the fluctuation of IgG numbers being pretty much meaningless and dependant on lab practices, etc, but this does seem like quite the wide variation of numbers in such a short period of time.
Is there any significance to my numbers? When my antibody level is high, does that mean my body is controlling the virus better? Or is it really 100% insignificant and meaningless so long as the number is consistently positive?
3) Since my diagnosis in May, I've felt consistently 'off' in the vaginal area. Random strange sensations, occasional burning with urination, itching, pings, discomfort in tight pants. I know about genitally focused anxiety, but is it possible that HSV-2 causes your genital area to feel consistently odd for four straight months?
19 April - Woke up with a throat that was sore when swallowing and swollen lymph glands.
20-22 April - Sore throat seems to dissipate.
23 April - Woke up and sore throat was much worse. Felt similar to strep throat I've had in the past. Went to the doctor and got antibiotics. Throat swab was negative for strep, but symptoms went away with antibiotics.
27 April - Developed symptoms of a yeast infection. I've had them in the past and chalked it up to a side effect of the antibiotics. Self treated with an OTC ovule, and the symptoms went away within a week.
21 May - HSV-2 IgG of 2.77 at my annual STD screen. I'm stunned.
Now, my three questions.
1) Could this have been my initial OB? I have read that many initial OBs are coupled with flu-like symptoms, headache, swollen glands and a sore throat. I only had the sore throat and swollen glands.
Is it possible that my IgG was 2.77 only 1 month after possible exposure?
2) I am fully aware that it was a waste of time/money, but I've done the IgG test 4 times in the past 4 months.
May 21 - 2.77
May 25 - 4.35
July 15 - 2.55
Aug 30 - 4.44
I've read a lot about the fluctuation of IgG numbers being pretty much meaningless and dependant on lab practices, etc, but this does seem like quite the wide variation of numbers in such a short period of time.
Is there any significance to my numbers? When my antibody level is high, does that mean my body is controlling the virus better? Or is it really 100% insignificant and meaningless so long as the number is consistently positive?
3) Since my diagnosis in May, I've felt consistently 'off' in the vaginal area. Random strange sensations, occasional burning with urination, itching, pings, discomfort in tight pants. I know about genitally focused anxiety, but is it possible that HSV-2 causes your genital area to feel consistently odd for four straight months?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The number can vary widely; it's a natural consequence of the biochemistry of the test. Unlike some antibody tests, the number does not reflect the amount of antibody in the blood. When such variation occurs entirely with the negative range, or entirely with positive numbers, it makes no difference in interpretation. When the variation crosses over the usual cut-off for positive-negative, as in your case, it is difficult to interpret the meaning. However, as in my main reply, I'm pretty sure you are infected with HSV-2.
I haven't read the article you have cited, but either you misinterpreted it or it is inaccurate, maybe citing older research that used culture rather than PCR to detect viral shedding. Using PCR, almost all people with genital HSV-2 shed virus some of the time.
Why are you waiting until October to have the WB? There is no reason to delay. In any case, this is my last comment until you report that result.
I haven't read the article you have cited, but either you misinterpreted it or it is inaccurate, maybe citing older research that used culture rather than PCR to detect viral shedding. Using PCR, almost all people with genital HSV-2 shed virus some of the time.
Why are you waiting until October to have the WB? There is no reason to delay. In any case, this is my last comment until you report that result.
Thank you for the reply. Dr H.
I am negative for HSV-1, so I realize this makes it very probable that I do have HSV-2. I will be getting the WB in October.
I realize that the IgG number isn't necessarily indicative of anything as long as the values are continually in the positive range, but what could cause the significant spikes in the numbers? Is it really possible that it jumped 2 whole points in the matter of five days back in May?
Does a higher number indicate your body is currently fighting an infection? Or is it indicative of your body has launched a strong defense and been able to control the virus, hence why people's symptoms get better over the course of a lifetime?
Why would the values fluctuate so significantly?
I read an article that states that only 55% of asymptomatic people are shedders. So 45% of us could possibly not shed at all? Is there any truth to that?
http://www.healthassist.net/conditions/herpes.shtml
Thank you again for the reply, and I will post again once I have my WB results.
I am negative for HSV-1, so I realize this makes it very probable that I do have HSV-2. I will be getting the WB in October.
I realize that the IgG number isn't necessarily indicative of anything as long as the values are continually in the positive range, but what could cause the significant spikes in the numbers? Is it really possible that it jumped 2 whole points in the matter of five days back in May?
Does a higher number indicate your body is currently fighting an infection? Or is it indicative of your body has launched a strong defense and been able to control the virus, hence why people's symptoms get better over the course of a lifetime?
Why would the values fluctuate so significantly?
I read an article that states that only 55% of asymptomatic people are shedders. So 45% of us could possibly not shed at all? Is there any truth to that?
http://www.healthassist.net/conditions/herpes.shtml
Thank you again for the reply, and I will post again once I have my WB results.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I forgot to comment on the last question. Even if it turns out you have HSV-2, I'm sure it's not the cause of the vague genital sensations you are experiencing. Your own suggestion of genitally focused anxiety sounds more likely.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for an interesting question.
Most likely you are infected with HSV-2. However, it isn't definite; I agree the variation in the numerical result is somewhat atypical, and two of your four results are in a range that sometimes is falsely positive. What were the numerical results of your HSV-1 tests each time? If negative for HSV-1, that would raise the probability you have HSV-2. Either way, I recommend you arrange for an HSV Western blot, the definitive HSV blood test. It will tell for certain whether you are infected with either or both HSV types. I don't want to mislead you. I would put the chance you truly have HSV-2 at around 90%, so you should expect the WB to be positive.
Now to your primary question: Your blood test results say absolutely nothing about when you were infected with HSV-2. If you had had only the first two test results, I would have said the April exposure and illness indeed reflect your initial infection. But the later fluctuations create doubt about it. From the blood tests alone, you could have been infected for several years.
Your symptoms don't help much one way or the other. Although it is often said that herpes can be mistaken for vaginal yeast infections, that's mostly in women who don't know how to recognize typical yeast symptoms. If your symptoms were typical of past ones, then yeast is the best bet -- especially in the context of antibiotic treatment that could have triggered it. And sore throat, without simultaneous genital symptoms, is quite atypical for initial herpes.
So I'm afraid that if and when a WB test confirms you have HSV-2, most likely you'll never know when you were infected. However, one option would be to contact your April partner and discuss the situation. Whether or not he has known genital herpes -- and, if he agrees, an HSV blood test -- might sort it out.
If you go ahead with WB, please return with a follow-up comment with the result.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
Most likely you are infected with HSV-2. However, it isn't definite; I agree the variation in the numerical result is somewhat atypical, and two of your four results are in a range that sometimes is falsely positive. What were the numerical results of your HSV-1 tests each time? If negative for HSV-1, that would raise the probability you have HSV-2. Either way, I recommend you arrange for an HSV Western blot, the definitive HSV blood test. It will tell for certain whether you are infected with either or both HSV types. I don't want to mislead you. I would put the chance you truly have HSV-2 at around 90%, so you should expect the WB to be positive.
Now to your primary question: Your blood test results say absolutely nothing about when you were infected with HSV-2. If you had had only the first two test results, I would have said the April exposure and illness indeed reflect your initial infection. But the later fluctuations create doubt about it. From the blood tests alone, you could have been infected for several years.
Your symptoms don't help much one way or the other. Although it is often said that herpes can be mistaken for vaginal yeast infections, that's mostly in women who don't know how to recognize typical yeast symptoms. If your symptoms were typical of past ones, then yeast is the best bet -- especially in the context of antibiotic treatment that could have triggered it. And sore throat, without simultaneous genital symptoms, is quite atypical for initial herpes.
So I'm afraid that if and when a WB test confirms you have HSV-2, most likely you'll never know when you were infected. However, one option would be to contact your April partner and discuss the situation. Whether or not he has known genital herpes -- and, if he agrees, an HSV blood test -- might sort it out.
If you go ahead with WB, please return with a follow-up comment with the result.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
