[Question #8315] Follow up to #10584
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46 months ago
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My pervious post was answered by Dr. Handsfield and he was extremely helpful but I'm still having some trouble moving on with my life. Its been 12 weeks since my exposure and I still worry about HSV2. I haven't had any symptoms I'd consider very concerning but I have had some tingling and a kind of menthol feeling on my penis a couple of times that subsided after after about 24 to 48 hours. I had some razor burn after shaving twice that also went away in about 48 hours after using some lotion many times throughout the day. Finally I had a few white heads that I popped and went away 48 hours after and may have been result to the amount of lotion I had been putting on the razor burn. Dr. Handsfield advised against an Igg test and said my exposure was so low risk I had a much better chance of having a false positive than actually having herpes.
1. Should I get an igg test to help with my anxiety or should I just really try and move on with my life without worry? There seems to be so many different opinions on this with Terri and Dr. Handsfield sometimes not in total agreement on testing for HSV2. On one hand I'd probably feel better if I had a negative test and the other hand the thought of a false positive really concerns me more than anything and having to get the western blot would probably drive my anxiety to extreme heights. I'm very sorry for essentially asking the same question as before but I'm struggling.
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46 months ago
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Sorry it looks like the correct number is #8221
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
46 months ago
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You are correct that we aren't always in agreement on the issue of HSV testing. For seven years, our clinic kept track of all IgG results for our patients (we always ordered an IgG test as part of STI Screning and sent low positives for western blot confirmation). During that time, consistently we found that about 5-7% of patients tested in the low positive range (1.1 to 3.5) and about half of those turned out to be false positive results.
I do think that having a negative antibody test can really be most about peace of mind. But perhaps in your situation, you should start with the western blot instead? What do you think about that? It is expensive, true, but would the peace of mind be worth it for you?
Terri
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46 months ago
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I'm not sure I'm really ready to go that route just yet. If I'm being very honest I was really hoping you'd agree with Dr. Handsfield that my exposure was so low risk that you didn't think it needed testing and that my symptoms had little or nothing to do with HSV2. I think that if I do end up testing I'd probably do the IGG test and go from there.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
46 months ago
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Oh, I do agree that your risk does not require testing at this point. We do not disagree on your situation, though we may on other situations. I should have been clearer about that in my response. But you mentioned that you are having trouble moving on with your life. I'm just saying if you NEEDED more reassurance and didn't want to risk a false positive but wanted to test, the western blot would avoid the false position option.
Terri
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46 months ago
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Terri you were right I needed piece of mind and decided to get tested. I tested negative for HSV2 via IGG but was surprised to test positive for HSV 1 at 19.30. I dont really ever remember having a cold sore but I have had acne my entire life starting in my teen years all the way till now 20 years later. I have had small zits on my lip but they have never lasted long. My first girlfriend when I was 15 had cold sores and we always abstained from kissing when she had them but we dated for several years and did lots of heavy kissing but nothing else.
1. Is this likely a long standing oral HSV1 infection that I was just unaware of?
2. Could this have anything to do with my exposure if there was no kissing or oral?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
46 months ago
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1. Yes, given the number, it is very likely a longer standing infection.
2. No.
Remember that about half the population in the US has HSV 1 infection so you are certainly not alone!
Terri
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