Should I western blot and disclose?

[Justmetrying]

(F) I had a limited weekend exposure to someone I since found out has hsv2 in March 2022. In April 2022, about six weeks later, I tested low +hsv2 IGG 1.77 LabCorp with positive supplemental. I just took a second test yesterday w/LabCorp and my HSV2 IGG is now 5.86, which I am assuming is a true positive? I have not had a breakout. Does it make sense for me to do the Western Blot at this point? I’m all kinds of upset at the idea of having to tell my current partner who I’ve only had penetrative sex with using a condom (although there has been unprotected oral) about my confirmation — I had thought (hoped) it was a false positive from initial testing given that I didn’t have a breakout. Please let me know your thoughts. I’m incredibly sad.

[Terri Warren]

I understand that you are sad.
I’m concerned that the timing of the tests and their results. To be honest, I think it is likely that you have HSV 2 but not for certain. I’ve seen false positives at this level, for sure. This is a lifelong issue and if you want to be certain, get the blot. Once you know for sure, I think you’ll know exactly what direction to go with this issue.

Terri

[Justmetrying]

Thank you. I appreciate the work you do.

I am fairly confident the right thing to do is to tell my partner, now, as objectively as I can. And blot. He’s been out of town since I got my results, so I’ve had some time to think and research. I want to be fair to him.

He will likely ask me the odds of transference from GHSV2 to oral given our history. I have read its odds are not high, but would like to confirm with you. I haven’t had a single breakout, so I am just guessing I have it genitally if I do have it. You may not have a number but how likely would you say that transference is?

My last question is re valtrex. My regular doc won’t prescribe it unless a person has 4+ breakouts a year (she acts like it’s no big deal, says antibodies mean exposure not infection, and suggests I don’t disclose). She’s giving me a get out of jail free card, but I don’t think that’s fair based on my research. Anyhow, my question is, to be the most responsible I can be for others, apart from abstinence or condoms, should I take a daily suppressive if I am sexually active?

Thank you.

[Terri Warren]

You are correct that if you have HSV 2 genitally, the likelihood of him getting it orally is really low.
Female to male transmission, having intercourse about twice a week for one year, with no meds and no condoms is about 4%. If you have brand new infection, it is higher. Meds reduce it by half, condoms by 65%.

Your doc is way out of touch with prescribing of antivirals. And if your blot is positive you are both infected and potentially infectious to others. So she’s wrong about that as well, sorry to say.

If your blot is positive, I would strongly suggest daily antiviral meds to reduce transmission to partners, yes. But do the blot – find out for certain

Terri

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