Asymptomatic, Questions about Test Results, Disclosure and anti virals

[kaimargonar]

Hi, I recently got an Igg screen for HSV 1 and 2 and the results both came back positive. I've never seen symptoms and I've heard their is a possibility of false positives with an Igg. Can anyone explain what the numbers on the test actually mean and give me advice if I should get retested? here are my numbers

 

Hsv 2 Igg, Type Spec 2.86

Hsv 1 Igg, Type Spec 48.20

 

My next question is about disclosure. Since I'm asymptomatic I don't know where the infected area is. Should I even mention that I'm asymptomatic during a disclosure or would that only make the conversation more complicated?

 

Finally on the subject of anti-virals, I don't like the idea of taking a pill everyday and not having sores makes it a little harder for me to want to do it. Would it be alright to just take the antivirals when I'm in a relationship to protect my partner or should I take them all the time for them to be effective

[Katidid]

Personally, I would take them everyday especially since it looks like you have both 1 and 2. I take one per evening. No side effects at all. I think it's pretty safe. However, I just started them about 5 weeks ago. I'm married 20 years and as far as we know, hubby is virus free. He is getting tested today, hopefully. He has never shown an signs. We have always used condoms or unprotected oral sex.

[optimist]

@kaimargonar - Your HSV2+ positive result is not particularly high, so you might want to consider doing a Western Blot to confirm the result. My understanding is that values under 3.5 are sometimes false positives.

 

If it turns out you are only HSV1+, and you have no symptoms, you would be like the majority of the adult population. I think it would be unusual to take antivirals under those conditions.

 

If it turns out your HSV2+ result is accurate, antivirals can cut the risk of transmission in half. If you choose to take antivirals, I believe it takes 10 days to build up in the system the ideal level to protect a partner from transmission.

[MMissouri]

As far as the antivirals, I would only take them if I was in a relationship where they were needed, OR if my outbreaks were unmanageable (which you don't have an issue with). I've only taken them during the last few weeks of pregnancy. I do think that letting your immune system do the work (when you are not at risk of exposing others) is the best thing to do.