Second opinion?

[skelaorez]

Had sex with a girl a few weeks ago, we used protection, but the condom broke before I could realize that.  A week later she contacted me saying that she contracted STD - genital herpes.  She said that she hasn't had any other sexual encounter for the past year so it must have come from me.  
I went to my physician for blood work and he told that I tested negative for HSV2 but positive for HSV1 - which is usually associated with oral herpes (i.e. "cold sore").  The girl said she was diagnosed with HSV2.  
I've never had any symptoms of herpes (that I can think of) but in the past few days (while I was waiting for the blood work results and freaking out) I began paying closer attention to my body and noticed that I was experiencing some discomfort in my penis and minor pain when I urinate, but there are no visible sores on my penis, just a little red (not necessarily unusually red) under the skin (I am uncircumcised).  I tried to schedule an appointment with a urologist, but was told that they don't deal with STDs.  I am wondering is this psychological, is it possible that the blood work doesn't show something, should I go for another opinion and if so what kind of doctor should I contact.  

Thank you!

[waringblender]

Actually, your partner could have had herpes long before she had sex with you. Just because she didn't have symptoms for a year, or didn't get tested for a year, doesn't mean she wasn't positive for type 2. Did she tell you how she was diagnosed? Was it a blood test, or was it a culture of a genital lesion? If it was by a blood test, there is no way antibodies would have shown up that quickly after having sex with you for her to hae contracted it from you.

And just because you had sex with her doesn't mean you will contract it. It sounds like it is too soon to get tested for this particular sexual episode, but 3 months out from it, you should be tested again with a type-specific blood test (both 1 and 2) to see where you stand. Your risk from one sexual encounter with a broken condom to contract herpes is REALLY low.

I know condoms break and cr*p does happen, but make sure you know how to put on a condom correctly. That's the #1 reason condoms break. Also, try different ones to make sure you use a condom that fits for your anatomy.

[waringblender]

You don't need to be seen for generalized redness on your penis. You need to be seen if you have overt lesions or sores so they can swab them. And you need a blood test about 3 months out from the sexual episode.

[skelaorez]

Thanks for your reply waringblender, she had an outbreak so the tests were done on a culture of a genital lesion.  Do you know what doctor would specialize in STDs particularly herpes.  I was surprised to hear that urologist won't deal with STDs.  I don't have lesions or sores, but feeling a bit of itchiness and discomfort when urinating but can't quite pinpoint the exact location.  

[waringblender]

See your family doctor. That's the place to start.

[skelaorez]

My physician did my blood work, he's convinced that I am clean, but without offending him, I'd like a second opinion and preferably a specialist.  

[waringblender]

That's overkill. In order to see a specialist, you'll either have to pay out of pocket for the consult, or get your family doc to refer you. There aren't many family doctors around who will do that for the symptoms you have based on the story you've presented here.

You are freaking out about something that is not worth losing sleep over. You don't exhibit any symptoms of herpes from what you have described, and unless you get obvious lesions or sores on your penis, you need to drop this and move on. Seeing a "specialist" is not the appropriate next course of action here.

The word "clean" used to describe being STD-free is highly offensive, by the way. Find another word.

[waringblender]

By the way, don't you find it interesting that your symptoms started AFTER your partner told you she was diagnosed with herpes? You said a week went by before you heard the news. You yourself said you are overthinking this and overexamining yourself and there could be a functional basis for your symptoms, so just move on. Is there nothing else you can do other than examining your genitals?

[skelaorez]

My apologies, "clean" is an inappropriate term, it is the word that the doctor used, but he is old and comes from the old school, which means that he is a thorough physician but sometimes lacks certain sensitivity and sometimes a little outdated on certain issues.  I was actually looking for a new physician (but it's hard to find one that would be as thorough).  
Why I am looking for a specialist is so I could get a definitive answer for a piece of mind.  Now that things didn't work out with this woman (she's not interested in talking to me even though as you suggested there is a possibility that she might be the source in this case), the last thing I want is inadvertently pass the herpes to someone else.  

Thank you very much for your feedback.

[waringblender]

"Why I am looking for a specialist is so I could get a definitive answer for a piece[sic] of mind."

You don't need to see a specialist. Family docs are, for the most part, well-equipped to handle herpes symptoms and their diagnoses. Your problem is you continue to believe you have herpes when your symptoms indicate otherwise.

"Now that things didn't work out with this woman (she's not interested in talking to me even though as you suggested there is a possibility that she might be the source in this case), the last thing I want is inadvertently pass the herpes to someone else."

You appear to be a selective reader. As I stated in my first post to you, just because you had sex with someone who has herpes does not mean you have been infected.  You didn't notice ANY symptoms until she told you she had herpes. The symptoms you described in your initial post don't indicate herpes. You yourself suggested your symptoms could be psychological. You do the math.

You don't have any symptoms of herpes at this point. If you develop overt lesions or sores, get them cultured. At 3 months out, get a blood test. In the meantime, practice safe sex!  It's not rocket science. Really.

But it sounds like you've gone off the rails just like a couple of other men around this forum. Can't put it to rest; can't let it go; won't believe anything anybody tells you. I would suggest that you pay 20$ on the doctor's STD forum and post your symptoms over there, but I'm afraid it wouldn't do you any good. You'd still be freaked out.


  

[dp426]

You do not need a specialist... If you have pain go to a doctor... if you go to a STD clinic they have a lot of knowledge in the matter...

oN testing, What you should do is re-test after 3 months from the day of possible exposure. Have them do a igg hsv 1 & 2 test, if it comes out negative your ok, stay away from the igm, that is not a good test...

here is something you need to know about HSV 1 & 2. HSV is transmitted by skin to skin contact, it is possible to catch HSV 1 & 2 while using a condom, if you kiss someone with hsv 1 you can catch it... if you use a condom your risk are very low but still possible but again very, very low...

Facts:

80% of the population has HSV 1 oral herpes, this is very common.... 1 out of 5 people have HSV 2, most of them do not know they have it because they do not have any signs of the virus... HSV is a virus, similar to mono or even chicken pox...


I know it's scary but you need to relax and do the test in 3 months from when you thought you got contact...if you continue to have pain you should go to the doctor...

Hope this helps... don't forget your chances are very low for catching a STD, using a condom correctly helps your risk even lower but the only way for 100% of not catching a STD is not having sex...