Partner Herpes Results

[Prostitutes]

I recently found out that my spouse of 3 years has been seeing prostitutes and having unprotected sex. I also found out that his former wife was a prostitute, and was still practicing during their marriage (with his encouragement). Ugh.

So, I went in for STD testing. My GP said it was all good except a little high on the herpes but not to worry. When I went to my gyno she said we should rerun the test. My soon to be former spouse went to our GP.

These are our test results:

HIM:
HSV ½ Ab Igm.HSV 1 IgG.HSV IgG Herpeselect Type Spec

HSV- IGM .90 (Equivocal)

HSV 1 <0.2 AI
Specific AB IgG negative

HSV 2 <0.2 AI negative
Specific AB IgG

Syphilis Scrn w/ rflx RPR and Titer or TPPA
Syphilis Antibody Nonreactive
Syphilis Antibody Total 0.1 flag range <0.8

Me:
Quest Labs- appears to be Diamedix test and had outbreak visually confirmed by gyno (she said outbreak was probably brought on by stress of situation)
HSV 1 (IgG) 0.2 reference <0.9 Negative
HSV 2 (IgG) 4.3 reference <0.9 Positive

I never tested positive before, and find it hard to believe that I would be positive with a limited sexual history while he is negative with a history that includes frequenting prostitutes and apparently ‘swingers’ clubs.

Any advice? Are there medications that can interfere with test results?

[Terri Warren]

An index value of 4.3 does indicate with a high degree of certainty that you are infected with HSV 2. While I have seen false positives in this range, they are not common, though I have had three above this in the past six months that do not confirm with western blot. Women are more easily infected than men and even though he has had far more risky behavior than you, I think it is likely that you are infected and he is not. There are no medicines that I know of that would make a person look positive for herpes when they are not, no.

You might consider a western blot, just to be certain.

Terri

[Prostitutes]

Doesn’t it seem odd that so many men test negative and women test positive? How is it being spread except from the men? It also seems odd to me that a man who actually makes out with (he left detailed reviews of his and those of his prior wife encounters on a forum), wouldn’t even test positive for HSV 1 given the prevalence in the population. He is in his 60’s . I just really don’t get it. My Ex husband says he tests negative, and otherwise I have had protected sex with one other partner in the last 20 years. Could it possibly be that some men respond differently to the virus and those results are not showing up on the IgG tests? Where they are just carriers?

• This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by Prostitutes.

[Terri Warren]

Women are more likely to have HSV 2 because they are receptive with intercourse. If you put a penis in a vagina surrounded by susceptible mucous membrane and rub it around really well, that is more likely to transmit the virus than a penis approximating a labial lesion intermittently during intercourse. As for the HSV 1, the screening test misses 25% of HSV 1 infections compared to western blot so he may well be HSV 1 positive. The herpes western blot is far more sensitive for HSV 1 detection. And yes, some men and women are resistant to acquiring virus, particularly if they are exposed to it multiple times and don’t get it.

Have you actually seen his test results?

Terri

[Prostitutes]

I received a scan copy of them, but they are from the same GPS office that said mine were a little high but not to worry. He is claiming that I was obviously unfaithful too (I wasn’t), and his ex from yen years ago says he had herpes back then.

[Prostitutes]

I have also found Llysine and a diaper rash ointment prescribed to him in 2008, that seems to often be used by men who have herpes. Following back surgery, he also got an unusual rash on his lower back and buttocks that he had me put a special ointment on that I don’t recall the name of.

[Terri Warren]

You could try insisting that he get a western blot = it will pick up a few more cases of HSV 2. But if you aren’t going to be with him then what is the point?

Terri

[Terri Warren]

I’m sorry but you are out of questions at this time. If you have more questions, feel free to renew.

Terri

[Prostitutes]

Picture of rash on incision and drainage incisions.

[Prostitutes]

Based on the exes information, I believe that he purposely exposed me. He had tiny pimply looking things on his penis at one point, but told me they were eczema. The other point is just trying to understand this. If some people can be continuously exposed, or have herpes, and test negative. It seems that if some are ‘immune’ that would be interesting to research for a cure. If others are carriers that test negative, that should also be known and researched.

[Prostitutes]

As to me, since my outbreak in mid-May, I had continuos symptoms for a month. I also got a rash on my hands that blistered and peeled but without fluid and have tingling sensation in mouth. I was on antivirals but experienced extreme diarrhea. Doctor switched antivirals but I had the same side effect. I cleared up after about a month, but symptoms reoccured this week. I had bronchitis and extreme stress prior to initial outbreak that I am aware of, but it seems to me that if I had had this for years- I would have known. My outbreaks have not been mild and the symptoms aren’t something you could overlook since sitting down is painful.

[Terri Warren]

The incision looks very much like normal healing and scabbing to me but I”m not there to know for sure.
I did not know that you had an outbreak in May – I thought you just had a blood test to know that you had herpes. Have you had herpes isolated from a swab from an outbreak?
You could probably get him to take a western blot to find out if he is truly infected or not, I supposed. Do you think he would do that?
I doubt that your hand symptoms are herpes.

Terri

[Prostitutes]

I plan on contacting your clinic and going through the process for the Western Blot, and doing the swab testing. Wether or not he will, is questionable, but I would prefer to have the best info for myself. Messy legal issues all around and I am still emotionally devastated- way more over the degree of almost constant lying than the herpes. Honestly, sex with anyone is the furthest thing from my mind and it seems that it isn’t very communicable outside of that. At first, I was bleaching everything in the house and had hand sanitizer constantly with me out of fear of passing it to my son. I was iffy on wether the hand symptoms were from the constant washing and sanitizing or the herpes, so that’s a relief! My Gyno did a visual confirmation, but no swab. It seems like it will be easier to just have the swabs with me than to run to the Doctors office and sit around for hours until they can fit me in. Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

I can totally understand why you are devastated. Anyone would be in your situation. If you weren’t I would wonder what the heck was wrong with you!
A visual exam for herpes is unreliable. Can you tell me the timing of when you symptoms started and when exactly you had the blood test done? When did you last have sex with your husband?
We can also send you swabs to gather at home to see if these “outbreaks” are actually herpes outbreaks.

Terri

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