[Question #10585] Testing Concerns

Avatar photo
21 months ago
Hello i had a question i went to mexico to get a general check up i asked them to do STI testing here are my results 

Chlamydia IGG   0.20 
Chlamydia IGM 1.10 
reference 
0.90-1.1 Equivocal 
>1.1 Detected  
What does this mean ? I havent had a exposure in 2 months and that was protected sex and my urine test in the US where negative 2 weeks and 3 weeks after exposure does IGM mean i had it in past wouldnt that be the IGG that stays detected not IGM ? 

Also 

My hsv IGG was negative for both hsv1 and hsv2 but the igm was equivocal what does this mean? I got tested here in the US IGG test and negative again. 8 weeks post exposure, No sores my exposure was penis touched another penis for few seconds. Protected anal protected vaginal. What are odds i caught something would you recommend western blot before having unprotected sex with my Spous again to be sure ? 




Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 months ago
Welcome to our Forum.  Thanks for your questions.

It appears that you were tested with blood tests for chlamydia and herpes.  These are not recommended tests for a general check-up.  Blood tests for chlamydia are not well standardized  and cannot tell you whether an infection is present or not.  Blood tests for herpes cannot tell you reliably whether or not you are infected either.  In particular IgM tests of all sorts are unreliable and often falsely positive.  Without more context, these test results are useless for telling you if you have been infected or not.  Nor can the tell you whether you have an infection at this time.  

If your only exposure was that your penis touched another penis and condom protected anal and vaginal sex, it is most unlikely that you have any sort of STI and, in the absence of symptoms, I see no need for testing of any sort.  Nothing you have said suggests any need to abstain from unprotected sex with your spouse. 

I hope that his information is helpful.  If you wish to provide more information or any part of this response is unclear, please feel free to use your two follow-ups for clarification.  EWH



---
Avatar photo
21 months ago
Thanks Doc
Wouldnt the penis rubbing against another penis pose a risk for HSV2? I gave Fellatio also and my lips where chapped so im scared it might have entered my body oraly or through the penis touching other penis rubbing for 5-10 seconds. Anal was protected. Same day i also had vaginal sex with a woman protected no oral. Never noticed any symptoms on my genitals or mouth I tested at 8 weeks so far i am negative. Im having a hard time understanding what the window period is Terri claims 3 months is conclusive but Dr Handsfield claims 4 months, Google says it can take 6 months or longer so im not 100% sure on what i need to do. Please help me out. Im affraid since i read that 90% of people with new herpes infection never have a primary outbreak. 




As far as Syphillis i have never had a reactive RPR im scared my i might have got my partner infected while she was pregnant after they tested her on the third trimester  i made a big mistake and had a mistep never had any symptoms never got tested. Until 7 months after the baby was born RPR negative and had the mother of baby tested as well 7/8 months after birth and negative. Is it possible she could have had it when giving birth and cleared it by the time she got tested 8 months later making the RPR negative without treatment? I had a TPPA test done and it was non reactive but i read online on the CDC website that some people will go negative on the TPPA i never got treated but what if i un intentionally cured myself by taking antibiotics for other issues without knowing and caused my TPPA to go negative. Or what if my immune system suppressed it before TPPA turned positive but still infected my partner. How likely is that ? 
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 months ago
My sense is that your guilt over this exposure, combined with the birth of your child are making you worry unnecessarily.  The exposures you describe were low risk (even with chapped lips), the absence of lesions since then, and your negative tests all indicate that you were not infected.   

Herpes blood tests are not recommended in situations such as your and your negative results so far are evidence that you were not infected.  There is some debate among experts as to how long it takes for HSV blood tests to become positive.  The available scientific data indicate that nearly everyone who is going to be positive will have a positive test by 10 weeks but even then some infections are missed.  The number of tests which then go on to become positive at 10 weeks or even 12 weeks (4 months) is quite small.  You have lots of evidence that you did not get HSV from the encounter you describe. My recommendation to you is to stop worrying about HSV and to not test further.  

The combination of your negative test results and negative test results in your partner are strong, reliable evidence that you did not acquire syphilis.  Further testing at this time (of any sort) is not going to change the results.  You need to move on.

From the sound of things, the best thing you might do for peace of mind is to seek confidential counseling to help address the guilt and anxiety you are experiencing.  Further testing will not help that.  Furthermore, and just in case, please stay off the internet regarding your concerns.  It will only mislead you and worsen your anxieties.  EWH
---
Avatar photo
21 months ago
Thanks Doctor but how would my testing be proof i wasnt infected ? You just stated it may take up to 12 or 16 weeks or 6 months to show positive IGG for herpes ? My test was done around 8 weeks. Wouldnt that have been to soon? Isnt there a chance it can turn positive at 12 or 16 weeks or even 6 months? 



Also regarding Syphillis why do you and Dr Handsfield suggest a negative TPPA is proof you never had syphillis ? The CDC site says that 10-15% of people so seroconvert to negative on a treponemal test ? Wouldnt you guys saying negative tppa is proof never had infection be wrong info if the CDC says otherwise? I just want to make sure my child is safe in case i infected my partner after her 3 trimester RPR like i said she got tested 7 months after birth but i am unsure if she had taken any antibiotic in that time to make RPR go negative. My RPR was also negative 7 months after baby was born but i am also unsure if i took any antibiotics that could have cured me 5 months later i took a TPPA and it was negative. Since then i have taken another 2 TPPA and they been negative. 
Avatar photo
Edward W. Hook M.D.
21 months ago
Sigh.  You are being argumentative.  The exposure you describe was virtually no risk.  You had no lesions or signs of infection.  Based on the information you have provided and the epidemiological science your risk of infection is about the same as your risk of being struck by lightening today.  IF you wish to act on that chance, please feel free to do so.  In my professional opinion it is a waste of time, resources and effort.

Sigh, regarding syphilis, more unfounded arguments.  Persons with primary syphilis who are TREATED for their infections sometimes have reversion of their TPPA.  You do not mention lesions and do not mention antibiotics.  (How could you not know that you might have taken antibiotics?) In the absence of these and given the information you have provided, any concerns about syphilis are misplaced

With all due respect, there is no reason for concern about STIs from the information you have provided and no laboratory evidence of infection.  There is no reason for concern.  If you choose to test further, that, of course is up to you but I see no reason whatsoever for concern.  I urge you to put your concerns ( and guilt) aside and move forward.  If you cannot, my suggestion would be to seek counseling, not more unneeded testing.   

As you know, we provide up to three responses to each client's questions. This is my 3rd reply.  Therefore there will be no further replies and the thread will be closed shortly.  I wish you the best.  EWH
---