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DO I HAVE GENITAL HERPES?
I had an oral sex with a girl on Saturday night (04/16).
Later than night, I noticed something on the side of her lip (not actually on the lip, but adjacent to the corner of her mouth) and began to look closely at it while she was sleeping. I noticed a bit of scabbing and if I was not imagining it, 2 small white dots (each surrounded by a red base).
The next morning (approx. 8 hours later), a yellow/brown scab crusted over the entire area. I pointed it out to her and she peeled it off (scab was one piece). Underneath was a smooth pink bump with circles of dry skin around it. It did NOT ooze or bleed. She admits having HSV-1 but denies that this was a cold sore!
I washed my penis with hot water and soap within a half hour after ejaculating. I have been tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 just recently and negative for both.
It is now a little over 4 days now and NO sores. However, I started feeling for groin lymph nodes on Tuesday and realized that the ones at the top corners of my pubic area (closer towards the center of my body) are a little tender when I apply firm pressure...more significant on my left side. I could also feel a tiny lump (smaller than the size of a pea) on my left side. All other lymph nodes in the area seemed to be normal and NO tenderness.
Today, the tenderness has reduced but I can still feel a bit of a lump...BUT, still NO signs of sores.
I am EXTREMELY worried and would like your opinion. Do you think the tender lymph nodes are a good indication of infection? Would they be affected that quickly? Does this symptom usually appear BEFORE an outbreak or DURING one? Would all lymph nodes in the area be affected if this was a symptom or just these specific ones (same location on both sides)?
If I don't have an outbreak within 10 days, is this a very good sign? I am going in to visit an internist today to check the lymph nodes. Hope to hear from you soon! I am scared to death. Thank you.
Later than night, I noticed something on the side of her lip (not actually on the lip, but adjacent to the corner of her mouth) and began to look closely at it while she was sleeping. I noticed a bit of scabbing and if I was not imagining it, 2 small white dots (each surrounded by a red base).
The next morning (approx. 8 hours later), a yellow/brown scab crusted over the entire area. I pointed it out to her and she peeled it off (scab was one piece). Underneath was a smooth pink bump with circles of dry skin around it. It did NOT ooze or bleed. She admits having HSV-1 but denies that this was a cold sore!
I washed my penis with hot water and soap within a half hour after ejaculating. I have been tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 just recently and negative for both.
It is now a little over 4 days now and NO sores. However, I started feeling for groin lymph nodes on Tuesday and realized that the ones at the top corners of my pubic area (closer towards the center of my body) are a little tender when I apply firm pressure...more significant on my left side. I could also feel a tiny lump (smaller than the size of a pea) on my left side. All other lymph nodes in the area seemed to be normal and NO tenderness.
Today, the tenderness has reduced but I can still feel a bit of a lump...BUT, still NO signs of sores.
I am EXTREMELY worried and would like your opinion. Do you think the tender lymph nodes are a good indication of infection? Would they be affected that quickly? Does this symptom usually appear BEFORE an outbreak or DURING one? Would all lymph nodes in the area be affected if this was a symptom or just these specific ones (same location on both sides)?
If I don't have an outbreak within 10 days, is this a very good sign? I am going in to visit an internist today to check the lymph nodes. Hope to hear from you soon! I am scared to death. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No!! EWH
Dr. Hook...is diarrhea a symptom of herpes infection?
I had a bad case on Monday. Ever since, I had loose stools...not diarrhea, but softer than usual.
I had a bad case on Monday. Ever since, I had loose stools...not diarrhea, but softer than usual.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Take care. EWH
LOLLL...the mind is VERY powerful! Thank you, Dr. Hook.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
None of your "clarifications" change anything I have said or my recommendations. I know she had oral herpes (just like 60% of American adults) and a visible sore.
As far as your buring senstation is concerned, in the absence of lesions this is not something to worry about. In fact, such sensations are one of the most common manifestations of post-exposure, anxiety driven non-STD genital complaints we see, both on this Forum and in our practices. EWH
As far as your buring senstation is concerned, in the absence of lesions this is not something to worry about. In fact, such sensations are one of the most common manifestations of post-exposure, anxiety driven non-STD genital complaints we see, both on this Forum and in our practices. EWH
My scrotum now has a burning sensation. Is this a herpes symptom?
But in this case, she had ORAL herpes and I am worried about acquiring it on my genitals. Also, she had a visible sore at the time...however, not sure at what stage (i.e. weeping or crusting) at the time of exposure.
The transmission of this is low as well? I apologize for all the questions!
The transmission of this is low as well? I apologize for all the questions!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Observation of thousands of patients exposed to partners with genital herpes tells us that transmission does not occur. Most experts agree that the per exposure risk of getting genital herpes when exposed to an infected partner is less than 1%. When couples in which one person has known genital herpes and the other doesn't, infection occurs at a rate of about 7% per year.
Finally, please note that despite the fact that, statitically, over half of the people you have ever kissed have oral HSV-1 infection, your blood tests indicate that you have not gotten it.
All of this validates my statement that most exposures to infected partners does not result in transmission of infection.
Try to control you anxiety. There is nothing you can do one way or the other at this time but wait and see what happens. EWH
Finally, please note that despite the fact that, statitically, over half of the people you have ever kissed have oral HSV-1 infection, your blood tests indicate that you have not gotten it.
All of this validates my statement that most exposures to infected partners does not result in transmission of infection.
Try to control you anxiety. There is nothing you can do one way or the other at this time but wait and see what happens. EWH
Thank you, Dr. Hook. I will have my doctor inspect me today.
You mentioned that "odds are that you will not get herpes from this exposure". Would you please let me know why? I keep reading on the Internet and they say it is very easy to acquire HSV-1 through oral-genital contact. Is it the location of the cold sore? The fact that I washed up a while later?
You mentioned that "odds are that you will not get herpes from this exposure". Would you please let me know why? I keep reading on the Internet and they say it is very easy to acquire HSV-1 through oral-genital contact. Is it the location of the cold sore? The fact that I washed up a while later?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Again, the way to sor this out is not to seek answers over the internet or through self examination but to be examined by an experienced clincian who, if appropriate can perform a culture or PCR test. Cutaneous discomfort in the absence of lesions is unlikely to be HSV and could be a manifestation of attention/focus on the area. EWH
Today, I feel a slight burning sensation on my penis. Not sure if it is because I have been checking it so often for sores and irritating it.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. What you describe does sound like a cold sore on your partner's mouth. Despite that, and despite the absence of studies to give you a precise estimate of your risk, odds are that you will not get herpes from this exposure. Most people do not.
The tenderness and possible lymph nodes you have detected may or may not be lymph nodes and even if they are, that is not necessarily a sign of HSV. Detection of swollen glands is a medical "art form". Clinicians train hard to detect subtle abnormalities and to try to detect them in yourself is fraught with error, both because you might miss them and, if they are present, interpretation of why they are present is difficult. This is because "glands" are lymph nodes which can swell due to any of a large number of infections both viral and bacterial, as well as due to allergic reactions, due to autoimmune disorders and other problems. For this reason we encourage clients who are concerned about swollen glands to check with their own health care providers rather than try to diagnose themselves and, if swollen lymph nodes are present, not to worry about them in relationship to HSV or other STDs because they are such a non-specific problem. Further, I would point out that the tenderness you have noted may be a result of your self-examination, not infection.
My advice is to watch for lesion. If they appear, a culture or PCR test will tell you if they are HSV (BTW, HSV lesions do not need to be blisters or ulcerated sores to be tested, some doctors are not aware of this).
Typically the lesions of HSV appear within 4-14 days of exposure, If you do not develop lesions, this is indeed a good sign that you did not acquire herpes from this possible exposure. EWH
The tenderness and possible lymph nodes you have detected may or may not be lymph nodes and even if they are, that is not necessarily a sign of HSV. Detection of swollen glands is a medical "art form". Clinicians train hard to detect subtle abnormalities and to try to detect them in yourself is fraught with error, both because you might miss them and, if they are present, interpretation of why they are present is difficult. This is because "glands" are lymph nodes which can swell due to any of a large number of infections both viral and bacterial, as well as due to allergic reactions, due to autoimmune disorders and other problems. For this reason we encourage clients who are concerned about swollen glands to check with their own health care providers rather than try to diagnose themselves and, if swollen lymph nodes are present, not to worry about them in relationship to HSV or other STDs because they are such a non-specific problem. Further, I would point out that the tenderness you have noted may be a result of your self-examination, not infection.
My advice is to watch for lesion. If they appear, a culture or PCR test will tell you if they are HSV (BTW, HSV lesions do not need to be blisters or ulcerated sores to be tested, some doctors are not aware of this).
Typically the lesions of HSV appear within 4-14 days of exposure, If you do not develop lesions, this is indeed a good sign that you did not acquire herpes from this possible exposure. 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.
