Herpes or not?

[nutmeg33]

A number of years ago I naively had oral sex with someone who had a cold sore present at the time.  Two weeks later I developed an infection, the symptoms being: profuse vaginal discharge, burning sensation, redness and swelling (however, no significant blisters) This lasted for about three weeks.  I was very concerned so I went to a sexual heath clinic to be tested but I was given the all clear.  When the infection recurred a few months later I went to the heath clinic again but after taking swabs etc. no herpes infection was found. I was told that there may be a 50% chance that I had the infection but that nothing could be diagnosed for certain. Years later when the herpes blood tests were introduced, I pursued this line of diagnosis in the hope that I would at last find out for sure if I had the infection, therefore, I had a HSV type specific blood test the results of which showed negative for HSV I and HSV II infection.  In order to get a second opinion, I had a repeat blood test peformed at another clinic, the results of which were negative also.  Does this mean that I do not have the herpes virus at all, or is is true that antibodies for herpes fade with time?

I have had the flu jab in the past, in the same year as I had the blood tests, and was concerned that this may have interfered with the blood test results?

Also, years ago, at the same time that I thought I had picked up herpes, I had just completed a three months course of anti-biotics for acne and the completion of the course coincided with me picking up what I thought was the herpes infection?

I do still get recurrences of what I think may be herpes, but do not get any visible blisters - only occasional spots that resemble follicitus.

[parfa50]

Seven months ago I had unprotected sex with someone I didn't know after drinking a lot of alcohol.  Since then I was tested twice for HIV/Hep./Clamidia/Gonorrhea through blood test but I have been looking for signs of STDs that can't be tested for like Herpes.  I was alarmed five months after the sexal contact to find a bump forming at the base of my penis where it meets the testicles.  It didn't hurt for the first few days but after about five days it grew to the size of a pea, maybe about 1 cm  or a little less from the base, and it began to feel irritating.  This continued for another 3-5 days, then, it developed a small pimple-like white dot on the end.  Later, over the course of the next few days it became less irritated and it eventually disappeared leaving no apparent marks.  It's been three months since then and there have been no reoccurances.  I'm wondering if this could be herpes or and ingrown hair?  Because there are a lot of hair folicals right there at the base of the penis.  What are the possibilities for symptoms like this?  Thanks,

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Your symptoms do not sound typical of herpes.  Also, the blood tests are negative.  If you had a positive test for HSV-1 ("cold sore" herpes), it wouldn't tell you whether the infection was oral or genital.  However, a negative test means that you don't have herpes period, anywhere.  The antibodies do not fade with time.

I think therefore that you need to come to terms with the fact that you don't have herpes.  As to what you do have--folliculitis, perhaps--you'll need to see a doctor when it's fresh and undisturbed (no rubbing or irritation).

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Jerefrancis]

Testing over and over again for herpes and it still comes back negative.....doesn't convince me you have HSV1 or 2.  Perhaps you need psychological counseling to deal with your hypochondira?