Herpes anxiety is crippling. Clinic won't give me a blood test

[stdanxiety10]

Five weeks ago I had an intimate handjob with a person I met online which I assumed to be low risk. I haven't been able to sleep or eat properly since because I'm absolutely terrified I contracted herpes. I know it sounds silly, but there was a lot of skin to skin contact such as naked thighs touching etc and I've read online that herpes is also transmitted that way, not just intercourse or oral.

I made an appointment with the clinic after 10 days because I had been experiencing an uncomfortable and persistent burning sensation in my penis which is worse after peeing. I tested negative for gonorrhea and chlamydia - which isn't a surprise as I made sure no oral or sex was involved as I was already fearful of STDs. They told me they do not test for herpes unless you have visible lesions or sores to swab. I have asked the clinic twice for a herpes blood test but they only offer swab tests.

I don't know what to do. I still have the burning symptoms and today I discovered a small amount of blood in my pre-cum so this has me especially worried. A herpes blood test is not available to me on the NHS (I'm in the UK) so I'm left worrying about the possibilities. A UTI is apparently very uncommon in young men due to the prostate and I don't think it's very likely to catch a UTI from a handjob?
If the burning symptoms were caused by herpes, would it last 5 weeks? I'm not sure how long symptoms would last during an outbreak. I have noticed some small spots on my penis but I'm pretty sure they're just papules or fordyce spots since they haven't changed at all from what i've noticed. My penis head looks noticeably red though (I could upload an image but I'm not sure if that is allowed here)

I should mention I suffer from GAD and health anxiety so perhaps this sounds irrational to you but it has become a major focus of my anxiety. It was also my first sexual encounter and I already deeply regret it. I'm unable to seek advice from my parents and friends so it has been very stressful trying to arrange appointments and things in secret, plus having nobody to talk to about it has caused me some upset.

to sum up: burning/tingling sensation for 5 weeks, small amount of blood in pre-cum, redness around urethra, no lesions or sores

Does this sound like herpes or UTI, maybe urethritis or some kind of NGU? is it even possible to develop a UTI from a handjob?

Any advice is very appreciated. Thanks for reading

[Life360_Dave]

Hi also, Don is correct that you had zero risk esp for NGU as nothing could get inside your penis with a handjob. Its an impossiblity and irrational. Since you have this anxiety about health i would strongly suggest restricting your sex life to finding a long term mono relationship only.

[feelingundone]

It takes skin to skin contact and friction to rub it in. Handjobs are zero risk. So is casual skin to skin contact. The penis skin is very very thin. This is why most infections happen on the shaft. It's a combination of high friction and thin skin. Now the skin on the thighs, scrotum and other areas are much thicker and very hard to penetrate. You will read all sorts of possibilities in theory. They however don't translate to the real world and you had a no risk encounter. That includes any bacterial infections like NGU...etc. I truly believe no std is the cause of your symptoms. Follow up with your Dr or see a urologist.

[stdanxiety10]

Do I understand correctly. Two naked persons engaging in mutual masturbation is zero risk for contracting herpes, as there's no intercourse or body friction that's involved with sex?

Thanks for you replies, it has relieved some of my worry but i am still concerned since it was not a clothed handjob.

[feelingundone]

Yes that is correct.

[feelingundone]

I will be happy to help. Your risk for hsv or other std's was zero. You absolutely did not contract hsv from your exposure. Nothing you describe would be hsv related.

[stdanxiety10]

Thanks for your reply!

The risk is still zero even when naked? I read online that skin to skin is the method of transmission. If herpes is ruled out in your opinion, what else is causing these symptoms? I don't believe the STD tests checked for UTI or NGU, are those a possibility?