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Hi Terri
Thank you for your time!
I am a 35 years old heterosexual male. I had protected sex twice with a woman (unknown status) four month ago. I started a new relationship recently, very soon after having unprotected sex with my new girlfriend she had her first GHSV outbreak, that she is aware off
She had a swap test done, which confirmed a HSV 2 infection. ( no blood test done).
I started to think that may have been me that could have passed the Virus to her, as an asymptomatic HSV 2 carrier.She never tested her blood and never had any GHSV symptoms to her knowledge. Her last sexual encounter was almost 9 month before me. I would also like to point out that she had a full blown out brake. From what I understand that happens most of the time at the first time, very soon as an individual contract the virus (am I wrong?)
I had and IGG and IGM test done 3 days after her lab result came back positive and approximately 2 weeks after having unprotected sex with her.
I have never noticed any sores or symptoms in my life.My IGM came back negative and my IGG came back positive for HSV 1 but Equivocal for HSV 2. Unfortunately I was not able to get the exact numbers of the test from the lab. They told me to do it again in 2 weeks.
I am very confused with the seroconversion window of time. Some people say 3 month other say 4, others 6.
If my IGG came back equivocal after almost 4 month of exposure to my previous partner.
is it safe to assume that I did not have HSV 2 before this current relationship, and there may still be a chance that I may not have HSV 2 at present moment ?
Should I still think that in spite all this I may still not be infected with HSV 2 and my high HSV 1 and previous chicken pox is altering the IGG HSV 2 test result making it equivocal ? Or this is most likely a new exposure from my current relationship?
If I did not have HSV 2 before meeting my new girlfriend. How easy would have been to get infected with HSV 2 if I had unprotected sex 3 days before her Outbreak?
I would like to know my status, where should I go from here?
Thank you so much!
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It would be useful for your current partner to get an IgG antibody test. If she has a high HSV 2 index value, this indicates a recurrence rather than a first infection. Then, if you are equivocal, this could mean that you are newly infected and your future IgG will be higher. Or it could be a red herring equivocal and mean nothing.
If you are indeed not infected (or were not infected before you had sex with her) then if she does have established infection and just didn’t know it, there is some risk of you acquiring HSV 2 from her having sex 3 days before her outbreak.
The best way to make sense of all this would be for her to have had a swab test accompanied by an IgG antibody test. Then you could have known if this was or was not her first infection.
I think it is unlikely that you acquired HSV 2 4 months prior and still had an equivocal IgG result.
Did I miss anything?
terri
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Yes, you may not have the virus, correct. With an equivocal result, it is really not possible to know right now if you are making antibody due to a new infection or its not positive, period.
Sometimes negative people DO get equivocal results, certainly.
Figuring this out involves waiting and retesting, no way around that. I do not think your equivocal is due to the previous partner but could be due to the person who tests HSV 2 positive now.
If you were our patient, we would likely test you in four weeks and see where things stand. If you are still equivocal, then I don’t think you are in the process of developing antibody due to a new infection or it would very likely be significantly higher. If it is still equivocal later, then I would probably recommend a western blot at 16 weeks post last sex with this person.
Terri
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Hmmmm. There are no Quest labs near you? They give a numeric value. I know Mayo does not – I’ve been round and round with them about this and they are so backwards about the research on low positives – kind of stunning from a place with their reputation. I don’t think you should do the western blot now, too soon, a positive would tell you what you need to know but a negative would not and if money is an issue, I would wait. I have been able to get index values from Mayo in the past but it is NOT easy. I think you might just need to wait and do the western blot at 16 weeks, I don’t see a lot of other options unless you want to travel to another state.
Terri
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Yes, this is the place you should go. You want an HSV IgG type specific antibody test. Do you think your doctor could order this for you? Someone has to order this – you can’t just show up there for the test without some kind of order
Terri
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Yes, you should trust the test results, but remember that these results are always a moving target when you are having sex with some one who is HSV 2 positive. The reflect infection status about 3 months ago and backward. And yes, your statistic is correct.
Terri
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