Where do I go from here

[22questions]

Hi Terri, my girlfriend is HSV2 Positive and we have been having unprotected sex. She has been taking Acyclovir which I know reduces the risk of transmission but I recently have tested positive for both HSV 1&2 via IGG Blood test. I have not had any symptoms at all. I have checked daily for swollen glands in throat and groin area. No fevers or colds either. Also, no lesions anywhere on my body. The closest I have seen is an ingrown hair which I know is not a symptom.

My first test I took
HSV 1 IGG 1.09
HSV 2 IGG 2.46

My second test I took
HSV 1 IGG 1.18
HSV 2 IGG 2.49

These test were taken 6 weeks apart. Would this be confirmatory that I am in fact positive seeing that the number has increased some over the 6 week time frame. If this is not confirmatory in all truthfulness what is the likelihood with these scores that if I take a western blot that I will not come back positive. The second test coming back positive and the increase in scores is what has me doubtful and uneasy on next steps such as western blot. Have people in my position with a positive partner, unprotected sex, and two scores that have increased actually came back as false positive in the past?

[22questions]

Quick second part to the initial question. On average how far usually does a positive test score increase in 6 weeks.

[Terri Warren]

The increase between the two numbers is in no way significant. With these numbers there is probably a 50-50 chance that this is real. If you were my patient, I would recommend the western blot. But if you are continuing to have unprotected sex with our partner, do you want to do this now?

Terri

[22questions]

So I have stopped having unprotected sex with her and now I am using a condom as I figure everything out. Two quick factors is that she has had HSV 2 for ten years now and we have been dating on and off for two years. Just want to make sure I provide all of the details.

What difference does me stopping have unprotected sex make with rather I take the test now or not? Is there a waiting period I need to take on before taking the test or would I need to take two tests over a certain amount of months.

[Terri Warren]

Well, if you had continued to have unprotected sex with her, then it is always a moving target about testing. We like to have 12 months from any concerning encounter (and these are concerning encounters) to do the blot. If you did the blot now and it was positive, then that would be the final answer. But if it’s negative, then testing in the future would give you more information. To be real, condoms reduce transmission from females to males by 65% so good, but not perfect.

Terri

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