Risk Assessment and Retesting

[kevin.smith1886]

Hello,

On 04/21/2019, I had protected oral sex and protected vaginal sex with a woman of unknown status. Lets assume that she’s high risk since I’m not sure. I noticed no bumps, blisters or lesions on her face or vagina but I cannot be too sure.

3 weeks post encounter, I took an HSV 1 & 2 IgG test from http://www.stdcheck.com via Quest Diagnostics and returned negative results, although they didn’t provide index values. Just <0.90.
6 weeks post encounter, I retook the HSV IgG tests and returned negative results again.
I’ve had no outbreaks of lesions, blisters, or sores. I did have some slight tingling on my penis by the opening of the urethra at the for about a week after the 3 week mark but I saw a two doctors and upon a visual inspection they did not think it was Herpes related and after urine tests concluded it was just irritation from masturbation or cleaning.

What is my estimated risk for contracting HSV-2 from this one time encounter? I’ve been extremely anxious and worried and plan to retest at the 8 week and 12 week mark.
Would getting negative results at the 8 week mark put me in the clear?

Thank You

[kevin.smith1886]

Forgot to add. I’ve been experiencing some mild “pain” or “fatigue” in my legs. Particularly on the inside of my knee and thigh area. I’ve attributed this to exercise on an elliptical machine. I also experience some random itch and tingling but are felt throughout the body. Sometimes its on my arms, sometimes legs, sometimes back. I’ve attributed this tingling to my high level of anxiety.

[Terri Warren]

Since both of your encounters were protected by condoms, the risk is very close to zero that you would acquire herpes. nothing that you have described causes me any concern, based on the same counter that you describe. A negative antibody test at 8 eight weeks has about an 80% chance of staying the same if you retook the test at 12 weeks

Terri

[kevin.smith1886]

Hi Terri,

Thank you for the response. Other than the outbreak of lesions, are there any other signs I should be looking for 6+ weeks after the encounter? On another medical question forum, other doctors have provided me with some reassurance that given a protected oral and protected vaginal encounter, my 6 weeks results should be considered accurate and they do not believe I’ve acquired herpes from this encounter but my anxiety won’t let it be put to rest until 12 weeks as I’ve read that 70% of people have detectable antibodies by 6 weeks. What causes others to take longer to have antibodies? I am not on any anti-viral medicines and I have a relatively good immune system. I have no medical issues other than gastritis.

In your medical experience, have you seen other encounters of this nature cause positive results at 12 weeks when condoms were used, there was no outbreak, and the person tested negative at 6 weeks?

Thank you for your time.

[Terri Warren]

Your statistics are correct. We don’t know exactly why some people take longer than others to seroconvert but likely some have taken antiviral medicine and then there is the lack of sensitivity of the test in general.
But no, never have I seen someone with your sexual encounter who is negative at 6 weeks go on to be positive at 12 weeks.

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Terri

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