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Further testing? Transmission risk?

I am 41 y.o. woman. In 2010 I asked GP to test me for STI upon learning of husband's affairs.
type specific antibody test results:
negative, < 0.9 HSV-1 IgG
positive, 1.39 HSV-2 IgG
husband took same test; negative for HSV-1 and HSV-2
I did not retest. I never experienced outbreak: oral or genital, thought my result could be false positive since husband and I had been having unprotected sex for 15+ years nd that I would retest down the road.
In 2012, I asked to test for all STI, this time OB/GYN. I did not specifically ask for HSV test. All results negative.
Now, 2014, I have new partner.  I just learned that I was not tested for HSV in 2012.
Last week I received the following type specific results:
Negative, <0.9 HSV-1 IgG
Positive, 1.19 HSV-2 IgG
Based on ex-husband's negative results in 2010, if I have HSV-2, I've had it since the mid 1990s from someone else. This is not impossible based on sexual history, although I never had sex with someone with visible outbreak.
Over years, more in early/mid 20s I experienced yeast infections that required prescription anti-fungals but did respond to treatment.  I also had BV a few times and various discomfort/itching at sporadic times in my genital area. No docs mentioned HSV.
I want to give new partner as much info as possible. (He knows all of the above, he's recently been tested and is negative for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. we have had unprotected sex a couple of times a week for 9 months or so, until I learned I wasn't actually tested and negative in 2012).  I know his recent test only shows whether he got it from me 3+ months ago.
1) should I invest in Western Blot test?
2) if I am positive, can I assume because my ex-husband never contracted HSV-2, that I don't shed virus very often or that ex-husband was just lucky not to catch it?
3) new partner not inclined to use condoms. If I am positive, should I go on suppressive medication and how much will that reduce likelihood of transmission?
6 Responses
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Posts was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Herpes Chances was started.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Follow up - now indeterminate WB HSV-2 was started.
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55646 tn?1263660809
If your partner is negative, there is an excellent chance you are too, but with no HSV 1, I really do think that you need confirmation of this result.  

terri
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Avatar universal
Yes, thanks. I will order Western Blot. And, if I have it I will go on suppressive meds.
New partner took type specific test and was negative <0.9 IgG for both HSV-1 and HSV-2. He is in the loop on all my info to date.

Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
Your test result index value has consistently been in the low positive range.  There is an 85% chance that this is a false positive and a 15% chance it is a true positive.  So yes, you definitely need a western blot.  

If you are positive and your husband did not contract it then, yes, you may not shed much.  You really don't need to disclose the herpes information to the news partner (unless you already have) until you confirm with a western blot.  Or until you have sex, whichever comes first.  

Yes, if you are positive, you should begin suppression to offer him the greatest opportunity for protection. Suppression reduces the risk of transmission for about 50%.   However, I also think he should be tested.  Since 80% of people with HSV 2 don't know it, he could be infected, you could not be and then get it!  Knowing what everyone has and does not have provides a very open slate of information for beginning a sexual relationship.  If he is infected and so are you, then there is no issue.  If he is infected and you are not, then he needs suppression.

Does that help?

Terri  
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