Could bumps be herpes?

[llle]

I have been in a monogomous marriage for 10 years.  We have a great marriage but 7 weeks ago, I did a stupid thing. I was overnight with a male coworker for a meeting who I have been friends with for years.  He is married as well although they have engaged in "threesomes" occasionally in the past.  Things got heated, a lot of kissing and mutual genital touching.  I gave him a hand job and wiped off the semen from both of us with a towel.  Never did the semen touch anything but my hand. Although neither of us washed with soap and water.  We also did a lot of genital rubbing but only with my thong and his underwear on, never skin to skin that I noticed.  No oral sex.  No apparent lesions on his genitals or mouth.  I even asked him about STD's and he said absolutely not, that they have quit having threesomes for that reason, but I don't know if he has been tested.  About 3 days after the event, I came down with what appeared to be the flu, high fever, malaise, fatigue.  No lymph node involvement. It lasted about 8 days.  Nothing since until 4 days ago, I developed what I thought was a yeast infection, and at the same time, a sore on my lip that does not look like a typical cold sore.  It is not raised, just a small ulcer that was never white or bubbled.  It looked more like a fat lip with a ulcer but I didn't hit my lip.  I treated the yeast infection and it has been relieved much, however, still have lots of itching and raised red spots on the inside of the labia that are sore. Could be white spots next to bumps or just in my mind. Just so you know, I am one to be very influenced by the power of suggestion. Could this be an initial herpes outbreak or a recurrent outbreak, even though I've had no symptoms in 7 weeks?  No swollen lymphs, sore throat, headache, etc.  Just a hemmroid last week as well.  Is this all in my head?  Is my risk of contracting something there?  Any cross-contamination possible during rubbing or touching?  I hope I am just being paranoid.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The most important part of your message is near the start:  "...a lot of kissing and mutual genital touching. I gave him a hand job and wiped off the semen from both of us with a towel. Never did the semen touch anything but my hand."

Those exposures cannot transmit any STD, period.  Your symptoms suggest a garden variety viral infection, nothing more.  "Paranoid" is too strong a word; you're just concerned.  But you really have nothing to worry about from the exposure you describe.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[llle]

Thank you for your response.  I am relieved to hear this and hopefully, the red bumps and burning/itching will be gone soon.  I am more worried about contracting an infection like HSV or HPV from the genital rubbing, regardless of the underwear.  I have read where it doesn't take much touching to contract any of these.  Am I right?

[llle]

Oh, an one more thing, if he was infected and touched himself, then touched my genitals, still no chance?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I don't know what you read "it doesn't take much touching", but HSV, HPV, or other STDs are not transmitted through clothing or by the indirect genital-hand-genital route you suggest.

HHH, MD

[llle]

Thank you again for your comments.  You have put my mind at ease and I greatly appreciate it.

[llle]

Here's my update for you with a few more questions...
The "yeast infection" I had 3 weeks ago was red/inflammed/burning with some red blotches on my labia, not a lot a discharge.  Treated it with monistat 1 day, symptoms (including red blotches) gone within 3 days.  In the past, the 1-day treatment has not always relieved symptoms and had to re-treat immediately, with resolution.  Now, 3 weeks later, having intermittent-continuous burning around vaginal opening.  Some days more burning than others. (Seems like it's more burning when I think about it or have been checking frequently). Has been burning more the last couple of days, and noticed the red spots mostly yesterday and today but no progression.  Seems more like very small bumps or blotches.  Also, have some labial folds from childbirth.  The blotches seem more in there by my vaginal opening than on the outside. Can only see real red blotches with bright light.  Is not painful to touch, but burns afterwards.  Does not really burn with urination.  Not a lot of discharge again. External monistat cream causes burning, then not.  I would normally think that this is a recurring or not resolved yeast infection from 3 weeks ago. But can't get it out of my mind that I could have possibly picked up something during my "incident".  I keep thinking it's not possible based on my "exposure" and what you said previously, however, I have never had this recurrence or problem before.  It's been ten weeks now since the incident.  Could this be from my anxiety and guilt?  Or actually is something?  My husband has not shown any signs/symptoms whatsoever although we did not have sex during either "yeast infection".  I am confused as to what this is?  Should I re-treat it with Monistat and see what happens?  I am very worried that this could be herpes.

[llle]

One more thing, I have been somewhat avoiding sex with my husband for fear of this.  Please help!!  I certainly hope this is all anxiety and guilt.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the additional donation, but it wasn't necessary.  I would have responded here.

This still sounds like yeast, not herpes; and I am still 100% certain you could not have acquired herpes or any other STD during the exposure you described above.  Whatever is going on, it is possible intercourse would irritate it and perhaps make your symptoms worse.  But in terms of risk to your husband, there is no reason not to have sex.

But my main response is that you should stop trying to diagnose yourself, treating yourself for presumed yeast without medical advice, or looking for answers by online description.  See a health care provider.

HHH, MD

[llle]

I will.  Should I get a HerpeSelect or not?

[idontknowwattodo]

about a week and a half ago this girl gave this guy a blow job, then the next day is wen i meet her, and we are at the movies and we start making out, well a few days later the boy she gave a bj to called and said he gave her some disease and it lasts for like 3-5 years that are bumps on your lip, well i was wondering if i could have gotten them, because there was an ulcer then a few days later it went away, then i see a little white bump on my lip, theres only one, and im afraid if the 3-5 years thing could be rong and i might have herpes, it doesnt burn or sting, and it doesnt look like its a cold sore, also its the size of the tip of a pen,please help me and thank you in advance

[llle]

Dr. H - I took your advice and called my physician who could not see me for a couple of weeks.  So I went to the Planned Parenthood clinic here (also the only STD clinic around) and saw a provider there. I told here everything I had told you.  She also said it sounds unlikely that I caught anything from the described exposure, however, upon physical exmination, she said  everything looked normal except the one spot on my labia that had been irritating me.  She said there was a red spot there with one bump.  Not typical for herpes but could be a mild outbreak.  She didn't think so but cultured it anyway for herpes.  She did not start me on any antivirals.  I looked at this spot later and it is a very small red spot with a small bump on the tissue.  I have noticed it before because of the irritation but it has been there for 3-4 weeks without change (also more red at times than other times). She said this can still be an initial outbreak.  Is this true?   I was completely calm after your comments and went in to see what it was.  Now that this has been brought up along with her comments, I am again concerned.  My gut tells me it will come back negative, but I guess my question to you  is could this actually be a outbreak (either initial or recurrent) that I had missed before?  It seems unlikely without any progression and has been here this long?   I guess I am a little confused and feel you are more the expert so I am posting again. Thank you for your tolerance and advice.  I do appreciate it. If this comes back negative (hopefully) I will certainly schedule an appointment with my GYN to see what this is.  Again, just confused...