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Avatar universal

Concerned if I contracted genital HSV

4 wks ago, had unprotected oral sex with a sex worker but protected vaginal sex.  1wk later I woke up with a burning pain at the penis tip. Saw walk-in clinic doctor who inspected my penis; tested me for chlamydia and gonorrhea came out negative. Think I had discharge; not sure.  Felt there was some "dripping" inside my urethra.  
2nd-wk, felt intermittent tingling on scrotum, thighs and legs. Still felt burning pain on the tip of penis.  The head of penis was tender; no obvious lesions and sores.  Peeing was VERY burningly painful.  Experienced a left pink-eye that week (is this related?) that lasted for 10 days.
3rd-wk, pink-eye cleared. Peeing pain subsided. But, penis pain returned; frightened the possibility of herpes.  Went to a well-known STD clinic; the doctor examined and reassured me that not herpes.  Thinks yeast infection. On same day, returned to walk-in; requested culture swab on my urethra where there appears to be inflammation. That doctor also didn't think it was herpes.  IgM/IgG test were done.
4th-wk, returned to STD clinic; another doc examined my penis; also echos the other doc that it isn't herpes.  But, I get this intermittent diffuse burning pain (with tingling) around my genital area (butt, scrotum, thigh, leg, feet).
Today, results are in.  Culture swab -ve.  But, IgG +ve.  Canada doesn't have tests that tells you which type.  Diff doctor looked at my penis again today; couldn't find anything consistent with herpes sores/lesions; but thinks it's yeast ??

(1) Could 3.5 weeks of exposure likely to lead to IgG+
(2) Think genital herpes explains my symptoms for the last 4wks? i.e. all the doctors were wrong; that I am one of the few unlikely one with urethritis caused by HSV.  
(3) Should I care about IgM results?
(4) Should I care about the -ve culture swab results?
(5) Should I take a type-specific IgG test in future?  I figured if it shows I don't have type-2, I still don't know if I contracted hsv-1 genitally, which is now my concern.
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
My BF has wound in the pennis above and under the skin first it was like burned skin and  after it turned to a wound all over the pennis, he said he was allergy after drinking antibiotic cotrimoxazole do you think its possible he cant barely wear his brief cause it really hurt him he is putting deprogenta cream. what cause that? are you aware of fungi in the pennis? is it possible? where he get that?
Helpful - 1
55646 tn?1263660809
If you had contracted herpes through this sexual encounter, it could have led to a positive IgG antibody test, yes.  Also, just having one cold sore in your life as a 3 year old could have led to a positive IgG antibody test, since the test that you had done doesn't distinguish between HSV 1 and HSV 2.  It is basically useful and doing it, without typing, only served to get you agitated and worried, what a shame.  Ignore any IgM testing.  The negative swab test is good, but not definitive.  

Have you ever in your life had a cold sore on you lip?  If yes, then it is highly unlikely that you would contract HSV 1 genitally through receiving oral sex.  If you've never had a cold sore, then it is possible that you got HSV 1 genitally, though is you've never had HSV 2 or HSV 1 before, I would have expected a more significant presentation with first infection.  

I would recommend, to put your mind at rest, that you have type specific antibody test at some point in the future yes, at about 4 months from this incident.

Terri
Helpful - 1
55646 tn?1263660809
If your HSV 1 antibody test is positive, and you're not sure you've ever had a cold sore, then yes, your infection with HSV1  could be oral or genital, and there is no way to know which location unless you get an outbreak that can be swab tested and is positive.  

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Is it typical for first infection having not been exposed to either type HSV-1/HSV-2 to show significant presentation?  i.e., obvious blisters/sores?  

I don't recall if I ever had a cold sore.  So suppose I take the type-test and it shows HSV-2 is negative; then obviously HSV-1 will be positive.  The question then becomes which location?  Since I don't have any obvious blisters/sores during this initial outbreak (if it's even considered an outbreak??), they can't really culture it and check.  Please advise.

Thanks.
Helpful - 0

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