Are these herpes sores healed?

[Jaimy3322]

Hi experts,
I had protected sex with a woman and after that I did not notice anything abnormal in my genital area. This was 2 months ago.
Yesterday I read that herpes blisters/sores can appear on thighs.
I was looking at my outer thigh and found 3 healed pimples, or at least I thought pimples when they showed as I get often pimples in my thighs. Looking at all herpes blisters photos made me really worried.
Do you think these were herpes blisters and healed. And do they last for 2 months? Here are the images:
https://imgshare.io/image/Nx930u
https://imgshare.io/image/Nx9EUH
https://imgshare.io/image/Nx9dFd

[Sefo_123]

No it is not herpes, It is folliculitis which happens to everybody

[Jaimy3322]

Alright, thx for your answer

[auntiejessi]

It's hard to tell what a sore is from once they are healing, but herpes sores are blisters. They don't look like pimples. They also never last 2 months. At most, they last a couple of weeks.

Those look like they may be infected hair follicles, or yes, maybe pimples.

You can get herpes sores on your thighs, but it's far more common to get them in the genital area.

[Jaimy3322]

I have usually get these infected hair follicles and these ones did not look like blister and not clustered but I cannt recall exactly, the only thing is that I usually get one per time, these were three at time. I have cold sore and I know how lip herpes looks like. But what confused my some photos of thigh herpes blisters which looked like pimples

[auntiejessi]

I don't know what pic you saw that showed that, but pay attention to the source. I've also seen a lot of photos that have to be incorrectly captioned because they can't be what they are labeled, like HPV labeled as herpes, or chlamydia, etc.

What made you start looking up herpes pics in the first place?

[Jaimy3322]

The exposure I described above, I have a gf and was worried that I might got infected and transmitted it to her. As it was protected the risk of other STIs is not available. This made me think of herpes and then I saw these sores on my thighs. But it is no way that these are already visible for 2 months. I saw them few weeks ago i guess 2-3 weeks. Unless they are outbreak they cannot be an initial infection as the exposure was 8 weeks ago

[auntiejessi]

You had protected sex, so the chances of you getting herpes is about 1 in 10,000. Even if you were in a relationship with her, and she for sure had hsv2, if you used condoms every time, you'd only have a 2-3% chance of getting it over the course of a year.

I'd be very surprised if this was herpes. The only real way to know for sure is to get them checked out, but I'd be very surprised if it was.

[Jaimy3322]

I have thought it is easier to catch herpes specially if there is a breakout or shedding as called. I know these are scientific studies but I thought having herpes and touching it during sex practice would transmit it. Condom does not cover all genitals and there must be some skin contact. I would test them but they are already healed. Cannot do cultural test and blood test as reading in the community might come out false positive, specially in case of hsv1 available.

[auntiejessi]

Yes, if there is an outbreak present, it's much easier.

There have been extensive studies on herpes transmission. We know that shedding doesn't happen every day.

Shedding rates: (and you can find all this in the herpes handbook - https://westoverheights.com/herpes/the-updated-herpes-handbook/)

HSV 2 genital 15-30% (55-110) of days evaluated

HSV 1 genital 3-5% (10-18) of days evaluated
  
HSV 1 oral 25% (91) of days evaluated

HSV 2 oral 1% (~4) of days evaluated

We also don't know how much virus must be present in order to transmit, and it may depend on the person, the condition of the skin, and probably a lot of other factors. Presence of virus doesn't automatically mean transmission.

We know that a simple touch of skin to skin doesn't result in transmission. It takes some friction, usually the kind from penetration. In theory, heavy grinding or rubbing could do it, but penetration is far more likely, especially if an outbreak isn't present, and it has to be a mucus membrane. It won't be able to penetrate the thicker skin of your thigh, lower abdomen, butt cheeks, etc. Condoms cover a lot of your mucus membranes, making it less likely for you to get it from a female partner.

We also know transmission rates for hsv2.

Ghsv2 transmission, female to male, over the course of a year, assuming sex 2-3 times a week (I use "female" and "male" for brevity, but I mean nothing more than the parts you have. Your gender identity is yours.):

Only avoiding sex during an outbreak - 4-5%

Adding condoms OR daily suppression - 2-3%

Adding condoms AND daily suppression - 1-2%

We don't have rates for same sex partners. Typically, transmission of STDs is lower for women who have sex with women (and again, I mean those assigned female at birth) and higher for men who have sex with men (or those assigned male at birth).

So really, your risk is very low as you used a condom. Most experts don't even recommend testing if a condom was used.

[Jaimy3322]

These facts are quite relieving to be honest. I dk what her status was during the exposure but I guess she is mature enough to not have sex if she has an outbreak and she is aware of it. She says she has no stds but I cannot confirm that as many people, including me, do not know. Considering the 3% while having sex only two times and that the sores did not look like blisters before healing, I guess no need to worry a lot!

[auntiejessi]

The 2-3% is having sex 2-3x a week over the course of a year, as if you were in a relationship. That means if you were in a long-term relationship with her, you'd have a 97-98% of NOT getting it over the course of the year.

From a one time protected encounter, you really have very little to be concerned with. If it were me, I wouldn't worry at all. :)

[Jaimy3322]

I let someone from the std clinic see the sores and it was same suspicion, hair follicles. Thanks for your answers

[auntiejessi]

Good to know, and thank you for the update. That will help other readers who see it. :)

[Jaimy3322]

Happy to hear that this might help other readers
I saw your answers to other persons regarding trich and wish you can answer my last question
I tested at 17 days after exposure to trich, chalmydia and gonorrhea. All came negative. But reading infos about the test window for trich it says 3 to 4 weeks. Was i too early at 17 days? Do i need to retest?

[auntiejessi]

You used a condom. You didn't have any risk for trich, chlamydia and gonorrhea, and didn't need to test for those. Since you had no risk, your tests are conclusive. :)

[Jaimy3322]

Okey :) thx Auntiejessi
I was reading the post of the indian user this made me worried as he has 2 mins protected intercourse and came back positive :(
I could not see the photos, is it anything similar to the photos I shared? Should I post there? Excuse me for going back to the topic

[auntiejessi]

No, it is nothing like what you shared. I also think that he had it before this encounter because his symptoms were very mild, and typically, primary outbreaks are much worse than what he had. I think it just happens that he got symptoms after this encounter. The chances of him getting it after a 2 min protected encounter are very, very slim.

Honestly, I don't think you posting there would be helpful. You are someone who was just told you don't have it, and he just found out he does, ya know? Your symptoms are nothing alike, and he doesn't need to comfort anyone else's fears right now, if that makes sense.

You didn't get anything, and you can really relax. My advice would be to take the weekend and NOT spend it on the internet. You have no reason to worry about this anymore, or google it anymore. You really can let it go now. :)

[Jaimy3322]

That's why I did not post there. I can read how difficult for him to accept it, which I totally understand. I would do same I guess.
Yah the lady from the clinic could not say it is not definitely but she guessed that it was not a herpes. You are right, I should stop reading and googling and enjoy the weekend. Thanks again for all support you provide. Have a good weekend!

[auntiejessi]

You too! :)

[Jaimy3322]

Some closer photos
https://imgshare.io/image/Nx98wg
https://imgshare.io/image/Nx9XK7
https://imgshare.io/image/Nx9AIx