HSV 1 Question

[MR123456]

So, a couple of months ago I had a one night stand with someone I knew from a few years back. She performed oral sex unprotected and we had protected intercourse. After, I decided to get an IGG blood test, which came back positive for HSV 1. Up until this point (sex and blood test in January 2014), I have never showed symptoms until this past sunday. Im not sure if this is due to masturbation, did it three times on sunday with no lubrication. But, I have a streaky rash on the underside of my penis shaft with a few red blotches around it. It is not painful/ does not itch and it seems to already be clearing up. In addition, the area is flaking skin. No ulcers or bumps are present. I feel like I may have a cut in one section, but it doesn't hurt/ smaller than a pencil point. So, my question is could this be an HSV 1 flare up after having no signs 3 months prior? Im going to the doctors tomorrow and I feel their really isn't anything to culture. Plus the idea of being hSV 1 positive has stopped me from meeting women all together in fear of passing it to them... whether it be oral or genital. Please advise.

Thank you Drs.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Blood in the urine sometimes indicates a serious health problem and always should be professionally evaluated.  However, it is not a symptom of herpes, HIV, or any other STD.

That will end this thread.  I won't have any more comments or advice.

[MR123456]

Thank you for the reply doctor. Is there any chance blood in urine being affiliated with an std?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome back.  However, this forum is limited to questions about HIV; your questions should have been posted in the STD forum (as clearly described in the disclaimer message before you posted it).  Since it's the wrong forum, we'll have to limit discussion -- there won't be an opportunity for follow-up questions.

Your January blood test, combined with the test you had in 2011, indicates you probably acquired HSV-1 between the two tests.  I say "probably":  the HSV-1 blood tests miss 10-15% of all infections, so you might have had the virus before 2011.  However, most likely you acqured it more recently.

Assuming a recently acquired infection, it is more likely oral than genital.  Your current symptoms are not typical of herpes, and the large majority of genital skin rashes are not caused by STDs.  Among the many, many causes of skin rash anywhere on the body, most sometimes can involve the penis or other genital skin.  And herpes doesn't cause skin redness with flaking.  I'm confident your doctor tomorrow will confirm this isn't herpes.

You are wrong to be avoiding meeting women because of your HSV-1 status.  Half of all adults in the US have positive HSV-1 blood tests -- more or less frequently in other countries.  Do you suppose all those people avoid meeting potential partners and don't have active sex lives?  Of course not.  You should ignore herpes entirely and move on with your life.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD