A bit nervous about herpes

[Howdy1234]

Hello.

Facts:  32 yr. old/divorced straight male.  Have only had 2 partners in the last 12 years.  Only one in the last 6 months which is why I am here.  After my divorce, I had unprotected vaginal/oral (recv) sex with a woman who I didn't know.  Not sure of her history, but I wouldn't say she was REALLY high risk.  Anyways, I don't do that sort of thing, so I went to a clinic after 4 months and was cleared of HIV, syph, gonh, etc.  The clinic doesn't test for herpes, and that one worries me.  

Symptoms:  Mild aching (not all the time), a small amount of sticky/clear discharge from penis (Not a lot and occurs a couple mins after urination)  Usually just a drop or 2.  The area near the tip always seems to be moist too.  One thing that is odd, but not really a symptom is that the head of the penis seems to want to retract inward.  The foreskin tends to want to roll forward over half of the head (circumsized).  I have yet to have any blisters or scabs.  It has been almost 6 months.  Haven't been tested because I am currently uninsured and money is a bit tight.  The thing of most concern is the clear/sticky discharge.  I have not been sexually active since this incident, so I doubt it it pre-***.  One final note, these symptoms seem to have been more significan since about the 4 month mark.  Is that common for herpes.  My other Q's:

1)  Odds of getting herpes after 1 incident?
2)  What else could cause the discharge?  I have been cleared of most other STD.
3)  If I have herpes, is it common to not show symptoms for 3-4 mths and then get them?

Thank you much.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

See several other strings for more detailed answers and other pertinent information about herpes.

1) Very low.  Higher of course if your partner is known to have herpes, and higher still if she was having an outbreak at the time.  That she said nothing probably means the answer to both is low.

2) Whatever is causing the discharge, herpes isn't it.  HSV never causes painless urethritis; herpes in the urethra is excrutiating.  Your discharge may be physiologic, i.e. mucus, which is suggested by it's clarity (most infections cause cloudy discharge).  It is conceivable you have nonchlamydial, nongonococcal urethritis; your STD work-up probably included a test for chlamydia, but might not have tested for other evidence of urethral infection.  If in doubt, go to an STD clinic for re-evaluation, preferably when you haven't urinated for at least 4-5 hours or overnight.  But the odds are it is nothing significant.

3) Initial herpes symptoms can be delayed for several months or even years.

If the STD clinic doesn't do herpes blood tests, it shouldn't be hard to find a provider who does.  Although I am convinced you don't have genital herpes, a negative HerpeSelect test for HSV-2 would nail it down for sure.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Howdy1234]

I should also add that I have had the very occasional odd feeling on my buttcheeks.  It is not pain, but feels a little wierd.  It may be do to me starting to workout again, but I thought it worth mentioning.  I guess I worry most about herpes since it seems that it is SOOOOOOO easy to get (from what I have read).

I also wanted to take the time and thank you for your service.  I ran out of room on the main thread.  I think it is a great thing that you do.  It is hard to find someone who is A) knowledgable about STD and B) someone who doesn't judge or preach. Fro the threads that I have read, I think you help a lot of folks rest a little easier.  So many other STD wensites try to scare the **** out of you instead of help.  Thank you.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Those additional symptoms don't make me any more concerned about herpes.  Herpes indeed is common, but I wouldn't classify it as "Sooooo easy to get."  Many couples in which one person has genital herpes and the other doesn't successfully go for years without transmitting the infection, without even trying all that hard.

Thanks for the compliment.  We try to help.

HHH, MD