Hvs -1 and Hvs 2 high index value and when I might have been infected

[Dee]

I was diagnosed with herpes hsv1 (index value 23) and hsv2 (12). What can the numbers tell me about when I was infected. I had a boyfriend for 17 years, during which time I don’t recall having symptoms or noticing any symptoms in him. Three years after we broke up, I had protected sex with an old friend, and a year later unprotected sex with that friend. My vagina was quite torn during our vaginal intercourse because of the years and year of celibacy. After that , I noticed a yellow/greenish discharge that was a little unusual even though I’ve had yeast infections before and currently take tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention which can cause a discharge. A month ago, I had unprotected sex for the first time in two years with a new partner and found out from an Igg blood test that I tested positive for Hsv1 and hsv2. What do my index numbers tell me about when I might have been infected? Thank you for your enlightenment.

[Terri Warren]

Unfortunately, your index values don’t say anything about how long you have been infected EXCEPT that this is not brand new. How long after the last intercourse did you have the antibody test or was it done before? What lab did the test? From your description, I don’t really thing the discharge was herpes related as that discharge tends to be clear and watery.

Terri

[Dee]

I had the IgG antibody test ten days after my last sexual encounter, and it was done by Labcorp. If the numbers don’t mean anything, why do they vary from person to person? Based on the three years of celibacy before the sex I had two years ago which caused torn vaginal skin (which I heard is a prime target for the infection), is there any possibility I could have been infected then?

Thanks Terri!

• This reply was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by Dee.

[Terri Warren]

The numbers don’t mean anything when they are that high. What it does mean in your situation is that you didn’t get it from the new partner, almost certainly. They vary from person to person because people vary in the immune response that they make to the virus and it will also vary in the same person from day to day. You could have been infected then, yes. Was the tearing obvious immediately or a few days later?

Terri

[Dee]

The vaginal tearing was immediate. We had long sex over a three and a half day period. The first two days were protected sex days, the last day and a half were unprotected sex days.

Thanks Terri!

[Terri Warren]

Then I don’t know when you got your herpes. If you told me that you didn’t notice the tearing until a few days later, then I would wonder if those were actually herpes lesions and you just got mixed up about what was going on but that isn’t the case. I know it can be very frustrating not knowing where this came from but in the end, it is what it is and now you have the task of adjusting to having this chronic but very manageable condition.
Also from your timing, I do not believe it came from the new partner. There wasn’t enough time from sex with him to development of that level of index value.

Terri

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