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Another Probably Unnecessary Fingering Question
I am HSV-2(-) but HSV-1(+) on lips only. I saw an escort 9 days ago, received protected oral sex (not worried about that) and gently fingered her vagina with my middle finger for about 5 to 10 seconds before stopping. Had a hangnail on the right side of my fingernail but no visible cuts I could see. After reading this forum, I probably know the answer to my own question, but I would like some clarification on a couple of things because for the past week I’ve been experiencing varying degrees of an aching, pressing, throbbing pain in my middle fingernail, the nail groove area on the sides, the tip of my finger and some burning achiness in areas on the upper half of the middle finger. I have not seen any obvious lesions or water blisters on any of my fingers, but am worried to use my middle finger to put on contacts or touch any other area of my body.
1. Can herpes or HPV be a cause of what I described, or can it be pre-symptoms before blisters appear?
2. Can vaginal fluids get underneath the fingernail through the bottom front or sides of the fingernail causing HSV or HPV infection?
3. If I don’t get any blisters on my finger up to 21 days can I assume I don’t have herpes? Can I be infected without any blisters appearing?
4. On some posts, you say there’s no way you can get herpes or any STD from fingering, but in other posts you say there is a slight, slight possibility. Can you explain why there’s a difference in response albeit very minor? Which one applies to me?
5. The odd pain and sensations on my middle finger are real but have only started occurring since i met with the escort. If it's not due to herpes or HPV, what is the most likely cause? Focusing on it too much? Anxiety?
6. Are my concerns irrational? Is there something you can say to put me at ease?
I'm tired of thinking that my aching throb is due to herpes or HPV and avoiding using my middle finger, but it's hard to shake off when i feel discomfort in my middle finger. Thanks for your time.
1. Can herpes or HPV be a cause of what I described, or can it be pre-symptoms before blisters appear?
2. Can vaginal fluids get underneath the fingernail through the bottom front or sides of the fingernail causing HSV or HPV infection?
3. If I don’t get any blisters on my finger up to 21 days can I assume I don’t have herpes? Can I be infected without any blisters appearing?
4. On some posts, you say there’s no way you can get herpes or any STD from fingering, but in other posts you say there is a slight, slight possibility. Can you explain why there’s a difference in response albeit very minor? Which one applies to me?
5. The odd pain and sensations on my middle finger are real but have only started occurring since i met with the escort. If it's not due to herpes or HPV, what is the most likely cause? Focusing on it too much? Anxiety?
6. Are my concerns irrational? Is there something you can say to put me at ease?
I'm tired of thinking that my aching throb is due to herpes or HPV and avoiding using my middle finger, but it's hard to shake off when i feel discomfort in my middle finger. Thanks for your time.
Next time wear latex gloves?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Tis will be your last post as there will be no further answers and further "what if" questions of the sort you are asking will be deleted without comment. You seem to want to think this is HSV rather than seeking the evaluation I recommended if you were unable to put your fears aside whic, apparently, is the case. A
Answers to your questions:
1. No I have not
2. Yes they would
3. Prodromes last a few hours, not days. This is not a prodrome
4. Your HSV-1 antibodies would not change the course of infection if that was what had happened.
5. 14 days is the guideline we use.
6. Herpetic whitlow causes blisters. The other findings are associated with them.
7. You do not have a herpetic whitlow
8. I told you to seek evaluation. I doubt that this is an infection from vaginal yeast or bacteria but to tell you need to be evaluated, not trying to figure this out yourself and not seekng answers from me or anyone else over the internet.
You can post again if you get evaluated to report what the Dr. tells you. Otherwise this thread is over. EWH
Answers to your questions:
1. No I have not
2. Yes they would
3. Prodromes last a few hours, not days. This is not a prodrome
4. Your HSV-1 antibodies would not change the course of infection if that was what had happened.
5. 14 days is the guideline we use.
6. Herpetic whitlow causes blisters. The other findings are associated with them.
7. You do not have a herpetic whitlow
8. I told you to seek evaluation. I doubt that this is an infection from vaginal yeast or bacteria but to tell you need to be evaluated, not trying to figure this out yourself and not seekng answers from me or anyone else over the internet.
You can post again if you get evaluated to report what the Dr. tells you. Otherwise this thread is over. EWH
Dr. Hook, thank you for your patience with me. I'd like to add some final points after reading some past posts:
1) In 30 years of seeing patients for STDs, both you and Dr. Handsfield have never seen a case of herpetic whitlow on a man from fingering a woman correct?
2) If I did acquire HSV-2 on my finger, would the blisters/lesions be very obvious and noticeable?
3) Are prodromal symptoms constant or get worse as time goes on or can they change in intensity throughout the day? And do prodromal symptoms only affect the possible infected finger or can it manifest itself in other fingers or even the hand?
4) Having HSV-1 antibodies, if I got HSV-2 from fingering would I still get blisters, and within the normal time frame, or could having HSV-1 antibodies cause prolonged prodomal symptoms, like what I'm experiencing which are burning, pain, stinging, tingling and some itching, without any blisters? Or even get blisters much later than a day or two after symptoms start?
5) I saw in prior posts where you or Dr. Handsfield said if you don't get blisters within 10 days then you don't have herpes. Other times it's 14 days or 21 days. It's been 10 days for me without any blisters. Can I confidently say I'm in the clear?
6) I read in a prior post where redness, swelling, and pus can be symptoms of a herpetic whitlow. Is that true even in the absence of blisters? Because when I have pain around the fingernail the skin may look like it's slightly swollen and red, but once the pain subsides it looks normal
7) If my finger was infected, is it contagious in the absence of blisters/lesions?
8) Can this be a fungal or yeast infection from the vagina?
I anticipate this being my last post unless you ask me a question or unless I do develop blisters. Thank you once again. Your expertise is very appreciated.
1) In 30 years of seeing patients for STDs, both you and Dr. Handsfield have never seen a case of herpetic whitlow on a man from fingering a woman correct?
2) If I did acquire HSV-2 on my finger, would the blisters/lesions be very obvious and noticeable?
3) Are prodromal symptoms constant or get worse as time goes on or can they change in intensity throughout the day? And do prodromal symptoms only affect the possible infected finger or can it manifest itself in other fingers or even the hand?
4) Having HSV-1 antibodies, if I got HSV-2 from fingering would I still get blisters, and within the normal time frame, or could having HSV-1 antibodies cause prolonged prodomal symptoms, like what I'm experiencing which are burning, pain, stinging, tingling and some itching, without any blisters? Or even get blisters much later than a day or two after symptoms start?
5) I saw in prior posts where you or Dr. Handsfield said if you don't get blisters within 10 days then you don't have herpes. Other times it's 14 days or 21 days. It's been 10 days for me without any blisters. Can I confidently say I'm in the clear?
6) I read in a prior post where redness, swelling, and pus can be symptoms of a herpetic whitlow. Is that true even in the absence of blisters? Because when I have pain around the fingernail the skin may look like it's slightly swollen and red, but once the pain subsides it looks normal
7) If my finger was infected, is it contagious in the absence of blisters/lesions?
8) Can this be a fungal or yeast infection from the vagina?
I anticipate this being my last post unless you ask me a question or unless I do develop blisters. Thank you once again. Your expertise is very appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said, this really does ot sound at all like HSV and the additonal information makes it sould less so. The throbbing is typical of any sort on inflammation of the finger and again, is not particularly suggestive of HSV. EWH
Sorry, I forgot to add a couple of things. When I have the throbbing pain I press on that area and it feels sore and hurts. And with the stinging sensations comes soreness. Also, let's say worst case I did get infected. Is my finger only contagious after the blisters appear or can I auto-inoculate myself even before the blisters appear? Thanks.
I did have a hangnail but no open sore, more like dead skin peeling away. Anyways, even though blisters would be small, how noticeable would they be? I don't see anything that resembles a blister but I do sometimes have stinging sensations in the upper finger area near the cuticle in both my middle finger and my index and ring finger at times. You said if I am concerned I could ask my doc to take a swab whether there are blisters or not, but there's no cuts, swelling or redness anywhere so where would I take a swab and is it even worthwhile? For the most part, most likely there's no way I could have infected correct?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. Your risk of HSV from the exposure you describe is miniscule and there is no risk for HPV. There is a very rare problem called a herpetic whitlow which occurs when a HSV virus (type 1 or 2) infects a cut on the finger. When this occurs it is typically quite painful and does present with small blisters of the sort you describe. Herpetic whitlow used to be more of a problem for dentists and respiratory therapists before the current era in which they wear gloves. Theoretically, if your partner had HSV and if you had an open sore (like a hangnail) you could get a whitlow but it would be very, very unusual and what you are experiencing does not sound like a whitlow. If you are concerned you could ask for a doctor to take swab a herpes culture or blood test to check out the possibility (a blood test is useless but a swab can be taken from any location, whether there are blisters or not).
With that, let's address your questions:
1. See above, If this were a developing herpetic whitlow it would go from pain to blisters in a day or two at the most.
2. No. the only way they would cause infection would be through a scratch or other open area on the finer, not under the nail.
3. Correct. If you get infected, there will be blisters.
4. see above. In science you can never say never but the risk of very, very small.
5. Several thoughts. If it is red and swollen the hangnail you mentioned may have become infected with bacteria in a way which is unrelated to your encounter with the escort.
6. Irrational, no, I don't think so but highly unlikely, yes.
I urge you not to worry. EWH
With that, let's address your questions:
1. See above, If this were a developing herpetic whitlow it would go from pain to blisters in a day or two at the most.
2. No. the only way they would cause infection would be through a scratch or other open area on the finer, not under the nail.
3. Correct. If you get infected, there will be blisters.
4. see above. In science you can never say never but the risk of very, very small.
5. Several thoughts. If it is red and swollen the hangnail you mentioned may have become infected with bacteria in a way which is unrelated to your encounter with the escort.
6. Irrational, no, I don't think so but highly unlikely, yes.
I urge you not to worry. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
