Any possible STD?

I am a 45 year old male who received unprotected oral sex from a woman with genital herpes 16 days ago.  I have slight burning during urination (maybe psychological as I am stressed out) and no other physical signs of STD - should I be worried and is testing necessary?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Relax.  As by someone ahead of me already said (below), a person with genital herpes cannot transmit the infection by oral sex.  Conceivably you could have been exposed to oral herpes, if your partner also has that--but that risk was low if she didn't have an oral herpes outbreak at the time.  The symptom you describe is not typical of herpes.  And as I have said many times before, when a person suspects his or her own symptoms have a psychological origin, probably they usually are right.

See a health care provider if you develop more typical symptoms of herpes.  (If unfamiliar, read the article on herpes in the link STD Quick Facts and Articles on the STD forum home page.)  Otherwise, don't worry about it.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[GorshinF]

How could she have given you genital herpes through oral sex?

[Loranta]

Perhaps only if she (as majority population) has oral herpes too...

[bah1]

Vice versa, If a guy gives a girl oral for only a few seconds is he at risk of catching chlamydia or something else?

[mamamia359]

A related discussion, chlamydia was started.