Need to put my mind at ease...

[Mttsnook]

From what I have read this seems like a very respectable website so here goes.  My girlfriend and I have been having sex for 2 months now and have had no other partners for 4 months. We are both also convinced that our previous partners were clean due to testing.

We have sex quite often (maybe once or twice a day). On Thursday night last week we had sex for quite some time, maybe 30-45 min. Afterwords she went to the bathroom to wash off and noticed a small cut on her clitoris maybe 1 mm round. She didn't want to take any chances so made an appt the next day to see the obgyn. The cut looks just like a simple skin abrasion to me. The doctor ordered a blood test anyway which I think was a good idea. But we won't get the results for a few days. The cut healed almost completely in 3 days. I think it was just from rough sex.

Here's where we both got scared. Two days ago I noticed a small round cut on the base of my penis that randomly appeared. It just looks like the top layer of skin was removed in a 3 mm circle. It does not hurt, itch, bleed, or even feel uncomfortable and is almost healed today.  

I am worried that we might have a low virus load of herpes type 2. She is extremely worries about it and any insight to ease our minds would be more than appreciated.

[Mistakeguy789]

What you want to make sure and I know I sound like a broken record player here is that it is type specific igg.  Some companies will say type specific igm or or hsv 1 and 2 which is an igm test.  My concern and that of other regulars here is that imporper testing leads to false positives which leads to more freaking out. We attempt to curb that by telling people in advance the type specific igg testing is what you want and not the "igm" testing and if she did get it to be aware that it will lead to false information when dealing with herpes.  :-)

[Mttsnook]

I agree completely with the use of he word "dirty" and I apologize.  I only meant that I understand that a shower could not get rid of or prevent stds. It just makes it less likely for a uti or other infection to occur. And if nothing else it makes you feel a little better.

The lack of lube you mentioned is what I originally suspected this random occurance to be from. That and using saliva which I know is highly discouraged.

Her test on Friday was specifically for herpes type 1 and 2 I will also be given a blood test next week as soon as possible.  I want to be reasonably sure that we are both STD negative.

[gracefromHHP]

showering after sex only makes you smell better. it doesn't decrease std risk.

we discourage the use of the word "clean" around here when it comes to std's. It implies that someone who has a std is "dirty" and that goes completely against the message we like to give around here.  It' s preferable to use the phrase std negative instead. thank you for your understanding about this :)

Odds are that neither you nor your partner have ever been tested for herpes before. typically when you ask for std testing, you only get tested for 2 -3 std's but no one ever tells you that. You and your partner should both consider looking more info your prior std testing to see exactly what it entails.

could both of you having breaks in the skin around the same time mean anything? Well it most likely means that you aren't using enough lube with all the sex you are having but certainly ruling out herpes is worthwhile to cover all your bases.

grace

[Mttsnook]

Thank you! We are both getting tested before any more sex occurs. I'd just feel a lot better and I know she will as well. Her test results will be back on Tuesday and she is freaking out until then...as expected. I just think its a very bad coincidence that I get a cut between when she found hers and when her results come back. Bad luck maybe? Or an actual problem.

We are both extremely clean when it comes to sex and are very aware of the risks of not being clean. A shower is alway taken right after having sex.

I really appreciate the response!

[Mistakeguy789]

I am glad you got your partners testing for being clean.  I mean you need to know that they shower.  Being clean has nothing to do with one's std status.

We don't measure virus load of herpes.  Just because the location is genital doesn't mean that it is HSV-2.  It could be HSV-1 as well.

First off you never assume with STD's based on your previous partners testing.  You BOTH should get tested to know your status.  Most STD tests don't test for HSV.  You would need to request a type specific igg hsv test.  If your girlfriend wasn't tested using that (a type specific igg test) then her testing was done wrong and results shouldn't be trusted (IgM testing is sometimes used for herpes and is very flawed.)  

Now her getting tested is great you need to be tested yourself.  If in fact you have HSV and she was recently infected her blood tests won't show that. It takes time for HSV antibodies to show up int he blood.  Chances are what you are both experincing is not herpes related.   Get tested to know your own status.  Make it a date and promise her a good dinner afterwards.