Hsv 1 false positive/confusion

[Girl123]

Hi Terri,

Last week i went in for full panel std screening. As i realized i had only been tested for hsv 2 in the past and i wanted to know about hsv 1. As it turns out i am positive for hsv 1 on the IGG test. But here is where it gets confusing I never had an outbreak and my doctor said its a low positive(3.4). She thinks it could be a false positive especially with the lack of breakouts. Im not too bothered by having HSV 1, i know more than half of America has it as well, my problem/question is how do i disclose, without having a breakout and with a low positive because even as common as it is i dont want to pass anything on. And should i get a confirmatory test, or do you recommend one?

[Terri Warren]

If you really want to know if you have HSV 1, you could do the western blot. it is likely to confirm as positive. Have you ever had a cold sore on your lip or nose? If the answer is no, then you cannot know if your infection is oral or genital. Yes, this infection is very common. In terms of disclosure, I think I would simply tell partners, before giving oral sex, “i have tested positive for the cold sore virus, but I’ve never had an outbreak anywhere.”

If you have ever in your life had a cold sore, that’s why you have antibodies. But if you’ve not and have received oral sex, then it is possible that this infection is genital. Without an outbreak, it isn’t possible to know where your infection is.

Terri

[Girl123]

I understand its probably positive, turns my mom just found out she HSV-1 positive a couple years ago (she’s asymptomatic and never took any medicine) but my dad is negative, which is interesting because they been married for 25 years LOL.
I dont recall having a cold sore and my parents said they dont either, my dad is doctor, so he knows I could have been exposed as a kid from my mom and just never had symptoms just like her.

all that being said im 90% sure it is oral. BUT yes i have received oral sex before so i can’t be 100% without a breakout. You mentioned telling partners before oral sex, But since it possibly could be genital do i mention before intercourse? Even it’s protected sex (i almost always use condoms anyway)

[Girl123]

Also, my last 3 sexual partners over the last 4 years are all negative (they all got blood tested last week). Two of which i was with for over a year, so lots of sex, oral sex and kissing, so i can assume my infection is very inactive. Does that change the way i disclose? Thank you so Much for this advise, i can’t get into to talk to my OBGYN til October so this is so helpful.

[Terri Warren]

If you’ve had HSV 1 since childhood, it may not be very active right now or since the test misses 30% of HSV 1 infections, they could be infected and not know it because the test is poor.
I still think you should confirm with the blot

Terri

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