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Worried about risk of transmission
Hi,
-Male, 28, not immuno-compromised
-Had sex w/ a woman 1 year ago, she told me she had HSV-2 after. I waited 14 weeks, test was neg. for 2, pos.for 1 (known for awhile--> cold sores), makes me extra conscious now though
-Screwed up 2 weeks ago, had unprotected sex with a woman for 10 min., stopped when I had a moment of clarity about the risk, was not overly vigorous, washed up immediately after.
-Concerned about HSV-2, heard b4 that there's a 'process' it goes through before permanent embedding w/n ganglia. Next morning dug up 8 months past expiration acyclovir. Refilled with new next day. Self medicated total 1 day expired meds, 5 days fresh meds, 800mg every 4-5 hrs. Was hoping to kill virus during process, I theorized this as possible.
-Keeping all factors in mind; presence of HSV-1 antibodies, not long duration for encounter, washing, acyclovir, healthy immune, what are risks of transmission?
-By self medicating, did I screw up the timeline and/or increase possibility for false negative testing? How long to wait for accuracy? When can this wait period end?
-Experiencing 'prodromal' style tingling in the tip of penis, possibly psychosematic, but hard to tell. If I am hypersensitive to symptoms, will the symptoms be obvious if I am constantly aware and checking? Are all red bumps and itches potential concerns, or would there be definitive pain, kind of a you'll-know-it-when-you-feel-it? Already cleared for all bacteria STD's.
-She says she gets tested regularly, all neg., informed her that HSV2 test is not routinely performed, she still refuses follow-up, brushes it off.
-I don't know how to proceed or handle this, read all the articles and watched the Westover Heights video, now just wait, or what? Any advice is appreciated. So frustrated and worried. Thanks.
-Male, 28, not immuno-compromised
-Had sex w/ a woman 1 year ago, she told me she had HSV-2 after. I waited 14 weeks, test was neg. for 2, pos.for 1 (known for awhile--> cold sores), makes me extra conscious now though
-Screwed up 2 weeks ago, had unprotected sex with a woman for 10 min., stopped when I had a moment of clarity about the risk, was not overly vigorous, washed up immediately after.
-Concerned about HSV-2, heard b4 that there's a 'process' it goes through before permanent embedding w/n ganglia. Next morning dug up 8 months past expiration acyclovir. Refilled with new next day. Self medicated total 1 day expired meds, 5 days fresh meds, 800mg every 4-5 hrs. Was hoping to kill virus during process, I theorized this as possible.
-Keeping all factors in mind; presence of HSV-1 antibodies, not long duration for encounter, washing, acyclovir, healthy immune, what are risks of transmission?
-By self medicating, did I screw up the timeline and/or increase possibility for false negative testing? How long to wait for accuracy? When can this wait period end?
-Experiencing 'prodromal' style tingling in the tip of penis, possibly psychosematic, but hard to tell. If I am hypersensitive to symptoms, will the symptoms be obvious if I am constantly aware and checking? Are all red bumps and itches potential concerns, or would there be definitive pain, kind of a you'll-know-it-when-you-feel-it? Already cleared for all bacteria STD's.
-She says she gets tested regularly, all neg., informed her that HSV2 test is not routinely performed, she still refuses follow-up, brushes it off.
-I don't know how to proceed or handle this, read all the articles and watched the Westover Heights video, now just wait, or what? Any advice is appreciated. So frustrated and worried. Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Actually, in my part of the country, most NGU is not chlamydia or gonorrhea, and is far more common than either bacterial infection. Other things that cannot be tested for cause NGU, though the preferred treatment is 1 gram of azithromycin. Doxy should work OK too. You symptoms really aren't herpetic, but if they continue to worsen, I would go back again, for sure, and perhaps try another antibiotic. Keep an eye out for specific sores, of course. But I am still thinking your situation was low risk (but not zero risk) for herpes.
Terri
Terri
Hi Terri,
Well the situation has changed over the past couple of days. The 'tingling' in the tip of the penis progressed to a constant ache about 3 days ago. When it rubs against the underwear it is painful. The interior bottom of the urethra is bright red and I am experiencing discharge. The exterior bottom of the tip is red and swollen. I went to the Dr. to check for bacterial infection (UTI/bladder infection) and the test was negative, but he agreed after visual inspection that there was obviously some sort of inflammation. They told me I have non-specific urethritis and gave me doxycycline 100mg x 2/day. Now I am sitting here with negative chlamydia, gonnorrhea, syphilis, and bacterial tests. No recent sexual activity, no new soaps, and no new detergents (possible allergens) that would explain this inflammation, nor have I really had a problem like this before, yet I have these symptoms.
In an attempt to prevent myself from going back to worrying about HSV-2 I feel that I have gone through a process of elimination to try and attribute my symptoms to something else, anything else. I feel like I have eliminated everything else that it could be. Attributing this to 'non-specific urethritis' when I do not have a history of problems, nor can I think of any causes, leads me to think that the Dr. just wanted to give a 'blanket diagnosis' and move on to the next patient. My line of thinking leads me back to the swollen area at the tip being a possible outbreak site, but there are no definitive sores. Or, perhaps I am having these symptoms without visible signs, or perhaps they are in conjunction with a visible sign I cannot see/find. I have been on the doxy and cranberry juice regimine for 2.5 days now and, if anything, the symptoms are becoming worse. I am not sure what to do or think here. I am not sure how many responses I can receive per post from you, but I could really use some insight here...
thanks.
Well the situation has changed over the past couple of days. The 'tingling' in the tip of the penis progressed to a constant ache about 3 days ago. When it rubs against the underwear it is painful. The interior bottom of the urethra is bright red and I am experiencing discharge. The exterior bottom of the tip is red and swollen. I went to the Dr. to check for bacterial infection (UTI/bladder infection) and the test was negative, but he agreed after visual inspection that there was obviously some sort of inflammation. They told me I have non-specific urethritis and gave me doxycycline 100mg x 2/day. Now I am sitting here with negative chlamydia, gonnorrhea, syphilis, and bacterial tests. No recent sexual activity, no new soaps, and no new detergents (possible allergens) that would explain this inflammation, nor have I really had a problem like this before, yet I have these symptoms.
In an attempt to prevent myself from going back to worrying about HSV-2 I feel that I have gone through a process of elimination to try and attribute my symptoms to something else, anything else. I feel like I have eliminated everything else that it could be. Attributing this to 'non-specific urethritis' when I do not have a history of problems, nor can I think of any causes, leads me to think that the Dr. just wanted to give a 'blanket diagnosis' and move on to the next patient. My line of thinking leads me back to the swollen area at the tip being a possible outbreak site, but there are no definitive sores. Or, perhaps I am having these symptoms without visible signs, or perhaps they are in conjunction with a visible sign I cannot see/find. I have been on the doxy and cranberry juice regimine for 2.5 days now and, if anything, the symptoms are becoming worse. I am not sure what to do or think here. I am not sure how many responses I can receive per post from you, but I could really use some insight here...
thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If you have HSV 1 in the form of cold sores, it is correct that you would be very unlikely to get herpes in the eye because of your immune response, and the antivirals always help reduce viral load. In terms of taking antivirals as a plan B, so to speak. There is a mouse study that did that, and some of the mice that were infected intentionally with herpes and then immediately were given antivirals did not develop latent infection. But some certainly did. I think the point is, if you take medicine immediately, not the next day, it could help and there is little downside.
And you are most welcome, thank you for the kind words.
Terri
And you are most welcome, thank you for the kind words.
Terri
Thanks, that is what I figured as well but I think I needed a little reassurance over the guilt of having put myself in an at-risk situation. Not my normal M.O. It is helpful to hear an expert's reassurance that the risk is low. I will continue to try and get her tested to ease my mind... but I do worry that she might be positive which will cause me to worry... I guess that is just something I will have to deal with if that is the case. As I am curious about HSV 2 in general, I was wondering if you could respond to my query about the use of acyclovir to prevent the virus from gaining a 'foothold' and becoming permanent. Is it wrong to assume that antivirals can potentially be used as sort of a 'plan b' option in case I make this mistake again? Please keep in mind that I would never use this as a reliable method of protection, nor would I recommend it to others, but I am genuinely curious about it.
This is coming from a conversation I had with one of your practitioners at Westover Heights via phone about a year ago. I had a cold sore at the time and was drinking water when it splashed right into my eye. I was concerned about ocular herpes. When I do get cold sores they are large, painful, and last a long time. Due to this I have a standing script for acyclovir that I take to try and shorten the duration/intensity of the sores. When I told the Westover Heights practitioner that I was already taking my normal acyclovir course for the sore she told me something to the effect of, 'continue taking the antivirals for the prescribed course as the virus has to go through a process and infection is not immediate. The combination of antibodies and antivirals will go a long way to help.' This could have been a tactic to calm my nerves, but if it is true I was wondering if the same theory applies to HSV 2 after exposure.
By the way, I have more than a few friends who are affected by HSV 2 (two have your book), and I am sure they would want you to know your efforts toward advocacy and stigma removal are appreciated.
This is coming from a conversation I had with one of your practitioners at Westover Heights via phone about a year ago. I had a cold sore at the time and was drinking water when it splashed right into my eye. I was concerned about ocular herpes. When I do get cold sores they are large, painful, and last a long time. Due to this I have a standing script for acyclovir that I take to try and shorten the duration/intensity of the sores. When I told the Westover Heights practitioner that I was already taking my normal acyclovir course for the sore she told me something to the effect of, 'continue taking the antivirals for the prescribed course as the virus has to go through a process and infection is not immediate. The combination of antibodies and antivirals will go a long way to help.' This could have been a tactic to calm my nerves, but if it is true I was wondering if the same theory applies to HSV 2 after exposure.
By the way, I have more than a few friends who are affected by HSV 2 (two have your book), and I am sure they would want you to know your efforts toward advocacy and stigma removal are appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I think your risk of acquisition is very low. Have you offered to pay for her testing? You didn't screw up testing timeline unless you keep treating, so don't. I do think your symptoms right now are hypervigilance for our circumstance.
Your best bet to stop worrying is to get her tested, so I would work on that, but don't push too hard, she may run away.
If you can't get her to test, I would repeat the IgG test in 3-4 months, but 10 minutes of unprotected sex really is low risk, though not zero.
Terri
Your best bet to stop worrying is to get her tested, so I would work on that, but don't push too hard, she may run away.
If you can't get her to test, I would repeat the IgG test in 3-4 months, but 10 minutes of unprotected sex really is low risk, though not zero.
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
