Aa
HSV concern IGM
On 11/17/23, she spit directly on my genitals to give me a handjob. On 11/19/23, I started having frequent urinations and pain after urinating. I setup a full sti lab check for 11/20/23. Everything was negative except HSV-1 61.80. I then called my primary physician and explained what was going on. She said if problems still exist in a day or two call her. I did and setup an appointment had more tests done at the hospital on 11/22/23 and all were negative. She didn’t include HSV-1 or 2. The doctor then referred me to a urologist. She performed more tests on 12/11/23 not including HSV1 or 2. All were negative and she then diagnosed me with a bladder infection with no meds. On 12/22/23, I went back to outside lab and had a full lab and everything was all negative with the exception of HSV1 57.20. The pain continued through January when I went back to the urologist. I told her I had been watching what I ate and I would like the cystoscopy to check out what was going on. After the cystoscopy, she determined I didn’t have a bladder infection and my prostate looked fine. I then asked her for an HSV test. She stated I didn’t need one because this symptom wasn’t directly associated with HSV but I figured I have no answers to what was causing the symptoms. The results were
IGG hsv 1 +
IGG hsv 2 –
IGM + 1.2.
On 01/24/24, I went to another urologist and was diagnosed with prostatitis and was given antibiotics.
On 01/30/24, I had HSV II and HIV tests performed at quest both were negative.
On 02/15/24,13 weeks from 11/17/23 I had HSVII test performed at quest which was negative with no lesions or blisters. However, I was on antibiotics for prostatitis.
Today, my primary doctor wants to start me on HSV antiviral meds. All those doctors are referring me to the positive IGM test. I read that IGM tests are not valid.
I thought if I made it to weeks 12 – 16 negative with no lesions I did not have HSV2. Is this true?
How many weeks negative would confirm no HSV2?
IGG hsv 1 +
IGG hsv 2 –
IGM + 1.2.
On 01/24/24, I went to another urologist and was diagnosed with prostatitis and was given antibiotics.
On 01/30/24, I had HSV II and HIV tests performed at quest both were negative.
On 02/15/24,13 weeks from 11/17/23 I had HSVII test performed at quest which was negative with no lesions or blisters. However, I was on antibiotics for prostatitis.
Today, my primary doctor wants to start me on HSV antiviral meds. All those doctors are referring me to the positive IGM test. I read that IGM tests are not valid.
I thought if I made it to weeks 12 – 16 negative with no lesions I did not have HSV2. Is this true?
How many weeks negative would confirm no HSV2?
COMMUNITY LEADER
So first, I'm sorry you're going through all this.
Since you tested positive on the HSV1 test a couple of days after the encounter, that is almost certainly a pre-existing oral hsv1 infection.
The IgM is an absolutely unreliable test. My own were positive when they should have been negative, and neg when they should have been positive. They are supposed to look for "new" antibodies, and by January, they would have dropped off for you, so it was pointless to do it for you then anyway.
If you had a genital hsv infection, and the presumption being that you had internal sores causing this pain, at some point, you'd get relief. Outbreaks heal.
You do not have hsv2. The test is definitive at 12 weeks.
Also, you didn't have a risk for it. All you did was get a handjob, right? There's no risk for STIs from that, even with spit.
Even if the IgM was reliable, there's no need to start on antivirals just because you have herpes. That's a personal choice, not a definitive treatment.
You can show your doctor this:
"Immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing for HSV-1 or HSV-2 is not useful because IgM tests are not type specific and might be positive during recurrent genital or oral episodes of herpes (460). Therefore, HSV IgM testing is not recommended."
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/herpes.htm - it's about 1/4 of the way down the page.
https://westoverheights.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Updated-Herpes-Book.pdf - the IgM is explained in more detail here, starting on page 11.
Antibiotics would not interfere with herpes or HIV testing, though you didn't have a risk for either one. Herpes is only transmitted through oral, vaginal or anal sex, or heavy genital rubbing/grinding while unclothed. HIV is transmitted only by unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
Here are some posts from our experts (when we had them) that may help -
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Nervous-about-mutual-masturbation/show/2183476
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Mutual-Masturbation-STD/show/1968429
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/mutual-masturbation-sti/show/1858544
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Understanding-the-risks-of-mutual-fingering/show/1516796
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Vaginal-fluid-on-hand-touched-inside-of-condom-and-head-of-penis/show/1119533 - read this thread thoroughly. There is an excellent explanation about why certain activities are not risks, and why others are.
Since you tested positive on the HSV1 test a couple of days after the encounter, that is almost certainly a pre-existing oral hsv1 infection.
The IgM is an absolutely unreliable test. My own were positive when they should have been negative, and neg when they should have been positive. They are supposed to look for "new" antibodies, and by January, they would have dropped off for you, so it was pointless to do it for you then anyway.
If you had a genital hsv infection, and the presumption being that you had internal sores causing this pain, at some point, you'd get relief. Outbreaks heal.
You do not have hsv2. The test is definitive at 12 weeks.
Also, you didn't have a risk for it. All you did was get a handjob, right? There's no risk for STIs from that, even with spit.
Even if the IgM was reliable, there's no need to start on antivirals just because you have herpes. That's a personal choice, not a definitive treatment.
You can show your doctor this:
"Immunoglobulin M (IgM) testing for HSV-1 or HSV-2 is not useful because IgM tests are not type specific and might be positive during recurrent genital or oral episodes of herpes (460). Therefore, HSV IgM testing is not recommended."
https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/herpes.htm - it's about 1/4 of the way down the page.
https://westoverheights.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Updated-Herpes-Book.pdf - the IgM is explained in more detail here, starting on page 11.
Antibiotics would not interfere with herpes or HIV testing, though you didn't have a risk for either one. Herpes is only transmitted through oral, vaginal or anal sex, or heavy genital rubbing/grinding while unclothed. HIV is transmitted only by unprotected vaginal or anal sex.
Here are some posts from our experts (when we had them) that may help -
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Nervous-about-mutual-masturbation/show/2183476
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Mutual-Masturbation-STD/show/1968429
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/mutual-masturbation-sti/show/1858544
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Understanding-the-risks-of-mutual-fingering/show/1516796
https://www.medhelp.org/posts/HIV---Prevention/Vaginal-fluid-on-hand-touched-inside-of-condom-and-head-of-penis/show/1119533 - read this thread thoroughly. There is an excellent explanation about why certain activities are not risks, and why others are.
8 Comments
Thanks so much for the response. It was only a handjob but she spit directly on my penis before I could do anything and also used lotion. I was thinking the pain caused 2 days after which two months out and a second urologist diagnosed with prostatitis and all the other tests were negative except for hsv1 that the igm must be right.
I paid for Terri's advice on her forum on 2/29/24. I also saw a few people on these forums where they igm turned negative and igg turned positive after 16 weeks no many but. I am not a doctor so was taking advice I never took antivirals only antibiotics for prostatitis glad I did. Thanks again ma'am
Haven't received response from her I guess she is busy. I appreciate what you all do.
Terri can take awhile to respond to questions. DO NOT bump it up with another post to your question. She answers by oldest first, and if you add another post to your thread, it will make it look newer, taking it longer for her to get to yours.
Spit doesn't transmit herpes, and to even get hsv2 from saliva, you'd have to assume she had oral hsv2, which is uncommon. When it does happen, it rarely recurs, rarely sheds, and therefore, rarely transmits from the mouth. It would be highly, highly unlikely for her to transmit it to you if she had oral hsv2 and gave you full on oral sex, much less spit on you for a hand job.
She could have had an oral infection that transmitted with the saliva - there are all kinds of bacteria that live in the mouth, or it could have been strep, adenovirus (causes upper respiratory infections), covid, etc., etc., that caused your prostatitis.
Unfortunately, you'll likely never know, but it isn't herpes, we know that for sure. Hang in there. :)
Spit doesn't transmit herpes, and to even get hsv2 from saliva, you'd have to assume she had oral hsv2, which is uncommon. When it does happen, it rarely recurs, rarely sheds, and therefore, rarely transmits from the mouth. It would be highly, highly unlikely for her to transmit it to you if she had oral hsv2 and gave you full on oral sex, much less spit on you for a hand job.
She could have had an oral infection that transmitted with the saliva - there are all kinds of bacteria that live in the mouth, or it could have been strep, adenovirus (causes upper respiratory infections), covid, etc., etc., that caused your prostatitis.
Unfortunately, you'll likely never know, but it isn't herpes, we know that for sure. Hang in there. :)
Thanks so so much..
You're welcome. :)
How do I post questions to you all on the expert forum? Are responses answered faster?
Also, have you ever heard of infect saliva travel up the urethra causing prostatitis?
Also, have you ever heard of infect saliva travel up the urethra causing prostatitis?
Our expert forums have been closed for many years.
This forum is only for questions about herpes, and those questions have been fully answered. We strongly suggest you see a doctor for diagnosis of any medical issues you're experiencing.
************ THREAD CLOSED ************
This forum is only for questions about herpes, and those questions have been fully answered. We strongly suggest you see a doctor for diagnosis of any medical issues you're experiencing.
************ THREAD CLOSED ************
This discussion was closed by the MedHelp Community Moderation team. If you have any questions please
contact us.
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.
