[Question #4727] HSV2 RISK

80 months ago

Hi there,

I currently have genital HSV 1 for 7 years ago as doctor checked me in that time ( HSV1 IGG positive, HSV2 IGG neg) and i had one time sores and it did not come back again since that time . but I engaged in penile-anal contact ( no penetration ) with another man while i was doing massage on Nov. 4 this year for less than 30 seconds ( I was receiver ) I stopped him . I forgot what happened since it was too short time of contacting and i was traveling in that time , but after 4 weeks of exposure I've developed symptoms similar to when I had my first outbreak after being infected with type 1 .. Very bad itching in anal, feeling fatigued, swollen groin lymphs,tingling, burning sensation ,headache , ( NO LESIONS DEVELOPED , but maybe there was and I did not noticed somewhere in my body ). BTW the pain is stronger 10 times than I had before 7 years ago, the questions are:

1) I know the symptoms show up after 2-10 days, but is there chance because I have Genital HSV1, the symptoms delayed and sore will not develop? (I should mentioned also I took course of valtrex after the first day of symptoms, it was really painful )

2) 6 weeks of exposure and test is not reliable now, I remember when I did test for HSV1 the test became positive after 16 weeks (12 weeks was neg) , how can i make sure I do not have HSV2

3) How likely if I have HSV 2 will infect my partner without developing lesion in case I have sex with her now ? (I hope she stays safe) , I know herpes is not the end of the world but I need all around me to be safe .

Thank you in advance

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

80 months ago

So I'm a little confused - did you have a swab test done of the one time sores? The blood test being positive for HSV 1 does not tell you where you have HSV 1, only that you have it.

While it is theoretically possible for you to have contracted HSV 2 at this encounter, I think it is extremely unlikely, given no penetration and 30 seconds of contact. Herpes is not all that easy to contract.

I am interested in your test for HSV 1 - did you take medication prior to testing? What was the index value of your HSV 1 antibody test?

When you say you took Valtrex because it was painful - what was painful?

Terri

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80 months ago

Hi Doctor

Thank for your quick reply , regarding the HSV1 doctor he put me on valtrex for 5 days ( 1000 mg/day ) in the third week of my exposure as i remembred after looking to my sores and i described him about my exposure ( oral sex ) and he told me to do IGG test after 12 weeks and 16 weeks and the result became positive after 16 weeks , ( sorry doctor i do not remember the index this was before 7 years ago ) , regarding my second exposure i took valtrex myself without checking with any doctor with the same dose for 5 days ( exactly in week number 4 after the exposure ) since it was the same symptoms and it was really painful ( the burning sensatin and bugs biting arournd my buttocks and legs ) but after second day of medication I remembered the new exposure and i started thinking of HSV 2

I know this is wronge to do but i did it !! My bad !!

After all this info what is your recommendations and what is the answers for my three questions in the first thread

Thank you again doctor for your help !!

Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner

79 months ago

It's OK that you took Valtrex for five days.

So you really have never been accurately diagnosed with HSV 1 - an antibody test that is positive for HSV 1 does not tell you that have genital HSV 1. And the reason I asked about the index value is that going from negative to positive at 16 weeks suggests that you may have had a low positive index value that may not have been accurate - there are some false positives at low levels. We cannot know that from what you have said here.

1. It is possible to have acquired HSV 2 without remarkable symptoms, yes

2. The vast majority of people who become positive on an antibody test do so within 12 weeks. At 6 weeks out, 70% of those who are going to become positive are positive.

3. If you are truly infected, yes, you could infect your partner.

I think you have jumped to several conclusions here that may not be accurate including a diagnosis of genital HSV 1. it is certainly possible that the sores that you experienced were HSV 1 but there is just no evidence for that that you have described here. If you get any other sores, either oral or genital you should have them swab tested.

Your risk at this most recent encounter is not substantial at all

Terri

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