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Anxiety about possible HSV infection
Aprox. three weeks ago (Feb 4) I had protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex with a woman.
Since this experience I've had no open sores and nothing that "looks like" herpes. However I have had some strange sensations that cause me worry based on descriptions I've read of herpes infections.
Within a day or two I felt a mild itch in the pelvic area just above the base of my penis, and upwards towards the belt-area. The itch was very mild. It happened two or three times throughout the day and then disappeared.
Day five after contact I felt that same itch again for a few hours in the evening. This time it was more noticeable; the itch would come every ten minutes or so.
Days six and seven I felt the itch, as well as a strange feeling in my thighs. The feeling wasn't painful, but more of a mild itch or warmth or "burning". This alarmed me as I’ve heard this as a symptom of first infection.
On the evening of day seven I also noticed a small red bump on the head of my penis. It looked very much like a "penile papule", except it was slightly redder and seemed out of place, as well as being slightly larger in size.
Day eight spoke with doctor who advised me that the itch/burning was anxiety related. He inspected the bump and redness and saw no cause for concern. Bump/redness has not changed since.
I had flu-like symtpoms from days 15-20 (sore throat, sinus pain, body aches, fatigue). It is normal for me to get a cold around this time of year so I'm not sure what to make of this.
Things have been relatively the same since that point (day 21 now). The itch in the pelvis seems to return from time to time. Pelvis and thigh itch/burning seems to come and go. Everything “looks” OK.
Other than testing for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies is there any way I can be sure that I'm not infected and dangerous to others? I feel like I can't move on in my life until I resolve this. I am particularly concern about burning in thighs feeling based on what I've read.
Since this experience I've had no open sores and nothing that "looks like" herpes. However I have had some strange sensations that cause me worry based on descriptions I've read of herpes infections.
Within a day or two I felt a mild itch in the pelvic area just above the base of my penis, and upwards towards the belt-area. The itch was very mild. It happened two or three times throughout the day and then disappeared.
Day five after contact I felt that same itch again for a few hours in the evening. This time it was more noticeable; the itch would come every ten minutes or so.
Days six and seven I felt the itch, as well as a strange feeling in my thighs. The feeling wasn't painful, but more of a mild itch or warmth or "burning". This alarmed me as I’ve heard this as a symptom of first infection.
On the evening of day seven I also noticed a small red bump on the head of my penis. It looked very much like a "penile papule", except it was slightly redder and seemed out of place, as well as being slightly larger in size.
Day eight spoke with doctor who advised me that the itch/burning was anxiety related. He inspected the bump and redness and saw no cause for concern. Bump/redness has not changed since.
I had flu-like symtpoms from days 15-20 (sore throat, sinus pain, body aches, fatigue). It is normal for me to get a cold around this time of year so I'm not sure what to make of this.
Things have been relatively the same since that point (day 21 now). The itch in the pelvis seems to return from time to time. Pelvis and thigh itch/burning seems to come and go. Everything “looks” OK.
Other than testing for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies is there any way I can be sure that I'm not infected and dangerous to others? I feel like I can't move on in my life until I resolve this. I am particularly concern about burning in thighs feeling based on what I've read.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
I don't think you have anything to worry about with respect to herpes on account of the sexual encounter 3 weeks ago. Although herpes symptoms listed on many websites and other education resources include some of the symptoms you describe, they usually fail to clarify that such symptoms occur only in conjunction with typical herpes outbreaks -- i.e. blisters that become sores and heal with scabs, typically over 1-3 weeks. Occuring by themselves, without the painful or itchy lesions, do not suggest herpes -- and they especially are incompatible with a newly acquired HSV inection. In any case, you had a very low risk exposure with regard to herpes, especially since the vaginal sex was condom protected.
As you already apparently know, you could be tested for antibodies to HSV. Or you could speak with your partner; if she has been tested (or if were testedat your request) with negative results, then obviously there was no risk. (If you contact her, do it diplomatically and sensitively. And believe her if she is confident she isn't infected.) However, there is no other way to know until antibody tests are done at least 3-4 months after the exposure.
But I strongly recommend against testing at all. If you were to have a positive result for either HSV-1 or HSV-2, it would only mean you have asymptomatic HSV infection -- plus some other cause of your symptoms.
As for "I can't move on in my life until I resolve this", that's a rather substantial overreaction. Nobody wants genital herpes, but it's not that big a deal for most infected people. In any case, combining the low risk nature of your exposure plus the absence of symptoms that suggest herpes, I suggest you do your best to put this event behind you and move on.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
I don't think you have anything to worry about with respect to herpes on account of the sexual encounter 3 weeks ago. Although herpes symptoms listed on many websites and other education resources include some of the symptoms you describe, they usually fail to clarify that such symptoms occur only in conjunction with typical herpes outbreaks -- i.e. blisters that become sores and heal with scabs, typically over 1-3 weeks. Occuring by themselves, without the painful or itchy lesions, do not suggest herpes -- and they especially are incompatible with a newly acquired HSV inection. In any case, you had a very low risk exposure with regard to herpes, especially since the vaginal sex was condom protected.
As you already apparently know, you could be tested for antibodies to HSV. Or you could speak with your partner; if she has been tested (or if were testedat your request) with negative results, then obviously there was no risk. (If you contact her, do it diplomatically and sensitively. And believe her if she is confident she isn't infected.) However, there is no other way to know until antibody tests are done at least 3-4 months after the exposure.
But I strongly recommend against testing at all. If you were to have a positive result for either HSV-1 or HSV-2, it would only mean you have asymptomatic HSV infection -- plus some other cause of your symptoms.
As for "I can't move on in my life until I resolve this", that's a rather substantial overreaction. Nobody wants genital herpes, but it's not that big a deal for most infected people. In any case, combining the low risk nature of your exposure plus the absence of symptoms that suggest herpes, I suggest you do your best to put this event behind you and move on.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Thank you for your reply Doctor, I appreciate your advice.
I feel like I should clarify myself a little here. The reason why this is such a concern for me is that I dread the possibility of being a "silent carrier" of an STD and unwittingly infecting someone else.
With respect to the partner in the encounter, we did have a long conversation about this. She has never had any sort of symptoms of HSV to her knowledge, nor has her last partner (whom she was in a three-year relationship with). As far as both of us know we've never had cold sores either (if I have it was when I was like, five years old or something). Based on that conversation I would feel quite comfortable with the situation as I do trust that she is telling me the truth and also seems to be quite concerned about her health as well.
However, the feeling of itching/burning is what caused alarm. Had I experienced not symptoms I would have thought nothing of the encounter. However I experienced something that is listed in places as being a typical reaction to a first time HSV infection (though it sounds like you disagree with this statement).
Combining that with things I keep reading like "1/3 people with genital herpes are unaware they are affected and can infect others" and "people who are infected often don't experience/notice symptoms, or mistake those symptoms for something else", I'm left with no choice but to wonder if I'm in that category, and I feel like I need to be sure that I'm not. It's especially difficult since I can't find an explanation for those symptoms.
You recommend that I not be tested for antibodies as it could just mean I have an asymptomatic infection. Wouldn't that mean that if I were to test positive I could still be a carrier and therefore a risk to infect others? I feel like if that's the case I should be aware of that. Unless I misunderstanding how these test results work.
I feel like I should clarify myself a little here. The reason why this is such a concern for me is that I dread the possibility of being a "silent carrier" of an STD and unwittingly infecting someone else.
With respect to the partner in the encounter, we did have a long conversation about this. She has never had any sort of symptoms of HSV to her knowledge, nor has her last partner (whom she was in a three-year relationship with). As far as both of us know we've never had cold sores either (if I have it was when I was like, five years old or something). Based on that conversation I would feel quite comfortable with the situation as I do trust that she is telling me the truth and also seems to be quite concerned about her health as well.
However, the feeling of itching/burning is what caused alarm. Had I experienced not symptoms I would have thought nothing of the encounter. However I experienced something that is listed in places as being a typical reaction to a first time HSV infection (though it sounds like you disagree with this statement).
Combining that with things I keep reading like "1/3 people with genital herpes are unaware they are affected and can infect others" and "people who are infected often don't experience/notice symptoms, or mistake those symptoms for something else", I'm left with no choice but to wonder if I'm in that category, and I feel like I need to be sure that I'm not. It's especially difficult since I can't find an explanation for those symptoms.
You recommend that I not be tested for antibodies as it could just mean I have an asymptomatic infection. Wouldn't that mean that if I were to test positive I could still be a carrier and therefore a risk to infect others? I feel like if that's the case I should be aware of that. Unless I misunderstanding how these test results work.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I saw this before my reply above.
Also, I should indicate that I have been tested for gonnorhea, syphillis, and clamydia and everything is OK there.
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.
