[Question #9515] Likelihood of STDS/STIs
 |
31 months ago
|
Hello, I just wanted some overall guidance on std/sti risk as it relates to my encounters and history.
June - had unprotected sex with someone I was dating, and diagnosed with chlamydia in July. He didn’t know it was from a previous partner and I put my trust in him so it was hard to deal with. I ran a full comprehensive panel 4 weeks post exposure and was negative for everything including HSV2. I have had HSV1 for 25 years. He got a panel as well and said he was negative for everything after his doxycycline treatment. We were both nervous wrecks, never having STDs before. He ensured me this test included HSV1/2 but who really knows.
August - had protected sex with a friend, it didn’t last long and the condom was rolling down when we went to switch positions. We stopped altogether. No signs of anything after. Later on got a yeast infection but was swabbed for chlamydia, gonorrhea and trich. All negative. I don’t know his std status.
Today - had protected sex with a guy I’m seeing. The condom stayed in tact the entire time. Eventually we took it off and just went to oral sex. We are both HSV1 positive and getting STD tests tomorrow, because we’d like to be forward and honest before we stop using condoms, when the day comes. Is there any chance I may have passed anything to him based on my history? Any chance Ive passed HSV2? I’m just a nervous wreck here. I’ve been working through it all in therapy as STDs have been an ongoing fear of mine. I feel like I’ve risked his safety here. But maybe I’m overthinking. I’d just like to know the likelihood of me having HSV2 from the August encounter or the July blood panel since it was only 4 weeks post exposure.
 |
Edward W. Hook M.D.
31 months ago
|
Welcome to the Forum. Thanks for your questions. You don't mention treatment following your diagnosis of chlamydia in July but I presume you were treated. If so, based on your treatment which is highly effective as well as your subsequent negative tests, you can assume there are no new STIs in the picture. As far as a risk for HSV-2 from your July exposure, I would not worry about it. Your partner states his tests were negative for HSV-2 and most people do tell the truth. More importantly, in the unlikely event that he had HSV, most exposures to infected partners do not lead to infection and you have apparently not experienced lesions which would suggest that you were infected. FYI, as a rule we do not recommend blood tests for HSV as the tests are, overall, unreliable both because of lack of sensitivity of tests for HSV-1 and problems with falsely positive results for persons on the HSV-2 tests.
My sense is that all is well with you, based on your reports and testing history. Your plans to continue testing until you have both tested is a good one which will virtually eliminate your risk for STIs at this time.
I hope this information and advice is helpful. I would not be worried at this time. If any part of my response is unclear or there are further questions, please use your up to two follow-ups for clarification. EWH
--- |
31 months ago
|
Thank you so much for the responses. Yes I was treated with doxycycline in July. Both my ex partner and I made full recoveries.
To recap, just so I’m understanding, I should trust the blood test from July with the HSV2 being negative 4-weeks post exposure? I read 12 weeks is the most accurate reading but I don’t know if that’s true.
Is there a risk of acquiring HSV2 from the August encounter that was protected?
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
31 months ago
|
Not quite. Four weeks is a bit early to be sure that you did not acquire HSV from your encounter HOWEVER, the combination of negative tests and absence of lesions (which would typically occur within 10 days of an exposure) is STRONG evidence that you did not acquire HSV-2. Further, as an FYI, the presence of prior HSV-1 as you have is also associated with diminished risk for acquisition of HSV-2. Taking all of these things into consideration, my advice is not to worry.
In the spirit of full disclosure however, the data are that somewhere in the range of only 90% of persons who acquire HSV-2 will develop positive tests and while most become test positive within 6 weeks of exposure, for a minority it may take as long as 6 months for everyone who is going to develop antibody to do so.
Condoms reduce the risk for acquisition of HSV substantially but are not fully protective. When condoms roll down they are less protective than when they stay in place.
All said I would urge you not to worry overly about having acquired HSV-2 from the exposures you describe. I hope this perspective, even with all of the exceptions I've mentioned, is helpful and will enable you to move forward without concern. EWH
--- |
31 months ago
|
Thank you, Dr. Hook, for your valuable advice. Both my current partner and I tested negative for HSV-2 as you predicted. Thank you for giving me peace of mind and being a sounding board for those who are sexually active and looking to make wise and healthy decisions. It means a lot. Moving forward, I will be requesting all partners perform an STD test to eradicate any future potential fear or worry of mine.
|
Edward W. Hook M.D.
31 months ago
|
Thanks for your thanks. I agree that testing by both partners early in a relationship is a great way to start a trusting relationship.
This completes this thread. EWH
---