Communicating with partners

[Learningmore]

Hi, Terri!

Thank you for your support! Please let me know if I’m submitting this incorrectly. I recently tested 2ish Igg for HSV2 (waiting on a second test) following concern about a previous partner’s honesty. He tried to have vaginal sex without a barrier but ultimately we had oral sex and touched one another. I’ve had slight tingling and itching that have been unclear but no outbreak/sores so far.

1. I recently performed oral sex once with someone prior to learning and testing for hsv2 (informed by discouraged testing by professionals). I am preparing to share this test result with him and want him to leave with a general sense of his risk, hsv2 in general, and ideally some hope about the possibility of continuing to get to know one another. WHAY DO YOU BELIEVE WOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR HIM TO KNOW? My understanding is his risk is low based on that interaction, but I’m concerned about the possibility of HSV2 being located orally. The guilt that I may have passed it to him without getting tested sooner is the hardest piece of this so far even though I know I sought medical guidance and ultimately am doing what’s right.
2. I feel disheartened and overwhelmed by the information I find about risk of passing this to a future partner. It seems like someone can get it by just about anything (kissing but unlikely, touch less likely, and oral, vaginal, or anal sex). WHAT IS A LIST OF WAYS TO BE PHYSICALLY INTIMATE WITH SOMEONE RANKED BY RISK AND NOTED TOOLS TO MITIGATE THAT RISK? I know that’s a big question and I can resubmit separately.
3. The symptoms I’ve noticed are a low-grade fever a few days after a partner in January and minor tingling and itching at times. Also minor burning on lips. WHAT DO THESE SYMPTOMS MEAN AND SPECIFICALLY SO IN RELATIONSHIP TO FUTURE PARTNERS? I know some of this is nebulous but without clear outbreaks, how can I know I’m the most at risk of passing it? I really appreciate your support, Terri! Thank you for your help.

[Terri Warren]

And it is likely that your HSV to result is a false positive. Based on previous IgG test as compared to western blot results, people who get an index value in the range of two probably have about a 60% chance of this being a false positive. Before you go much further, I highly recommend obtaining a confirmatory test. The best test is the herpes western blot done at the University of Washington. I can answer the questions that you have asked but I think it’s too early to decide that you have HSV infection. And if you do my 95% of the time, at least, the infection is genital not oral. That means that you would not transmit it to a partner by giving them oral sex. If it turns out that you are truly HSV-2 positive, then partners using condoms and you taking daily antiviral medicine are the best tools to reduce transmission.
Minor tingling and low-grade fever and itching could be related to so many different things. I would not jump to the conclusion that they’re related to a possible HSV-2 infection. You definitely need a confirmatory test.

Terri

[Learningmore]

Thank you for your response! I left you a voicemail and will keep trying the website, but have had difficulty setting up a time to connect. I should be flexible this week and already have ordered the western blot. I just need support with the paperwork and believe talking might be more efficient if you have any openings. Only sense of urgency I have at this point is feeling a need to disclose more to someone I recently gave oral sex. Thank you for your help, Terri! I look forward to hearing from you.

[Terri Warren]

There are lots of openings on my schedule now – check it out.

Terri

[Learningmore]

I’m scheduled to meet with you Sunday. On Monday, I learned that an igm (I know not helpful), igg hsv 1, and igg hsv 2 all came back negative. The igm had a .3 ish index value and the igg tests didn’t have index values; they were just listed as negative. I tried not to read too much into this, have a western blot kit ready to go and an appointment for labs Monday after I speak with you, but it has been hard not believing that I may actually be negative at this point. I don’t really have additional questions other than what I’ve shared but look forward to speaking further this weekend..I know there’s a lot to cover so if you have additional thoughts to the questions I asked, please let me know. Otherwise I’ll plan for Sunday! Thanks.

[Terri Warren]

I believe we’ve already connected!

Terri

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