[Question #5629] HSV Antibodies
20 months ago
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Hello,
When I was in college (20+) years ago I became sexually active. My memory is hazy due to the time that has passed. However, I remember having a group of bumps on my perineum that went away on their own. I also remember experiencing extreme itching and they were prickly and flesh colored. I do not remember any pain. At that time I was in a monogamous relationship. The relationship went on for 5 years after that. I never experienced another episode of those bumps since then. Also, since I was in College I don’t remember ever having them looked at, so I don’t know what it was. A couple of questions:
In 2017, after a current sexual encounter, I took the Western Blot test and it was negative for HSV 1 and HSV 2. Plus all IGG tests, since 2014 have also been negative.
- Given I took the Western Blot, 20+ years after the bumps, and it was negative can I be assured I don’t have Herpes? And that it would have picked up the antibodies?
- I have read that antibodies can disappear over time and become non-detectable to antibody blood tests (seroreversion). Is this possible? Would the Western Blot test of still picked up the antibodies if I was infected/exposed to HSV at one point in my life and was an latent infection.? My understanding is antibodies never disappear and are always detectable in our blood.
- My understanding as well. Is with HSV 2 if you had an initial outbreak then I would of experienced additional outbreaks? Is that correct?
Thank you for the time in answering this question. I’m in a new relationship and have confirmed with him that I am not infected with HSV, but these bumps haunt me since I never found out what they were and they haven’t returned, I am concerned all the testing I have done does not give confirmation I am free of the herpes virus. And the information on the web is very confusing.
Thank you.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
20 months ago
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