Yes, it can present itself in different ways. A follow up test will give more accurate results.
Terri
Ok I am only at 5 weeks so I do not think that would be a feasible test yet. I went to the Dr and he didn't see any bump and I have noticed that sometimes you can see it sometimes you can't. So getting it looked at didnt provide any real insight. I think I might get another igG blood test done in another 6 weeks or so but my Dr said he didn't really see a point in it. But I have read, and I don't know how true it is, that herpes can manifest itself like a bug bite that never opens up. Is that true in some cases?
It is accurate after 16 weeks from the time of the possible exposure.
Terri
How long after exposure is the western blot test effective?
The problem with waiting to have it looked at is that it can change or go away over time and then you won't know what it was/is. If it hasn't changed at all in one week and there is only one, it seems unlikely that it would be herpes, but I obviously can't be certain.
I personally would not advise putting anything on it since you have no idea what it is and nothing really rings a bell with me.
Terri
Thanks Terri. Yes it is a bump on my penis. I do not believe I have ever had a cold sore on my lip but I know people that have and it doesn't really look anything like that.
I read that genital warts likely don't show up for 3-6 months after an encounter that you would obtain the infection so I kind of ruled that one out. The bump looks kind of like a bug bite and has not changed in size or in physical appearance since I noticed it a week ago.
How much longer would you give for the bump to go away before having it looked at? Should I try some of the antifungal cream or steroid cream that I have and see if that helps? It really doesn't look like molluscum and doesn't really look like genital warts from pictures I have seen. Thanks for responding and thank you foe your time.
A single bump of this size and description coming this late after a sexual encounter is very unlikely to have anything to do with herpes. Where on your body is the bump, on your penis? Have you ever in your life had a cold sore on your lip? The kind of herpes you could contract from an oral encounter is more likely HSV 1, not HSV 2, and you have a negative antibody test (it is not necessarily conclusive for HSV 1, however).
1) a herpes lesion would break in a few days, and it would need to be a blister, not a bump, to open up.
2) Yes
3) the blood test results have nothing to do with if you have symptoms at the time it is taken
4) could be. It could also be a genital wart or molluscum. If you have continue to have it, it should be looked at.
Terri