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HSV-1 Scare, please help.
Hello Dr,
I am terrified. Two weeks ago my penis started to itch really bad. I went home undressed and noticed that the underside of my penis was swollen and red in one area. I immediately took a shower, washed my genitals and put some antibacterial cream on the area. Within the hour the swelling went down completely, but the redness of the area was still there. Earlier in the morning, I masturbated with Men's Vaseline "Cooling Hydration" lotion. One of its active ingredients was menthol. 3 days after this irritation started, I went and got tested for HSV. Both 1 and 2 came back negative. A week after the first irritation I accidentally used the lotion again and the same area swelled up again. I again took a shower and put some antibacterial cream on the area and the swelling went down right away. The area was red for a little while then completely healed within a week. No Ulcers or pus.
The last sexual contact that I had was 5 weeks earlier, oral and vaginal, without a condom. I was also with this individual for a total of 2 months previously to this last sexual contact with them. After the first irritation I told her to get tested. She tested positive for HSV 1 and negative for HSV 2. At this point I am terrified I may have contracted HSV-1 genitally via oral sex. I never experienced any symptoms before these 5 weeks.
1) Was this irritation more likely caused my an allergic reaction and masturbation from the lotion, or HSV-1?
2)Do you think that because I got this irritation 5 weeks after sexual contact it is unlikely it is HSV?
3)It has now been about 8 weeks from initial sexual contact, what is the accuracy of the HSV test at this time frame? I know it is optimal at week 12 but I am really freaking out and another test would calm me down.
4) From what I have researched, my symptoms of swelling and immediate relief from taking a shower and putting on the cream, do not match symptoms of genital HSV-1. Is that correct?
Thank you!
I am terrified. Two weeks ago my penis started to itch really bad. I went home undressed and noticed that the underside of my penis was swollen and red in one area. I immediately took a shower, washed my genitals and put some antibacterial cream on the area. Within the hour the swelling went down completely, but the redness of the area was still there. Earlier in the morning, I masturbated with Men's Vaseline "Cooling Hydration" lotion. One of its active ingredients was menthol. 3 days after this irritation started, I went and got tested for HSV. Both 1 and 2 came back negative. A week after the first irritation I accidentally used the lotion again and the same area swelled up again. I again took a shower and put some antibacterial cream on the area and the swelling went down right away. The area was red for a little while then completely healed within a week. No Ulcers or pus.
The last sexual contact that I had was 5 weeks earlier, oral and vaginal, without a condom. I was also with this individual for a total of 2 months previously to this last sexual contact with them. After the first irritation I told her to get tested. She tested positive for HSV 1 and negative for HSV 2. At this point I am terrified I may have contracted HSV-1 genitally via oral sex. I never experienced any symptoms before these 5 weeks.
1) Was this irritation more likely caused my an allergic reaction and masturbation from the lotion, or HSV-1?
2)Do you think that because I got this irritation 5 weeks after sexual contact it is unlikely it is HSV?
3)It has now been about 8 weeks from initial sexual contact, what is the accuracy of the HSV test at this time frame? I know it is optimal at week 12 but I am really freaking out and another test would calm me down.
4) From what I have researched, my symptoms of swelling and immediate relief from taking a shower and putting on the cream, do not match symptoms of genital HSV-1. Is that correct?
Thank you!
Doctor,
You're a badass
Thank you.
You're a badass
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your test result proves you do not have HSV-1, and therefore that herpes is not the cause of the "irritation" you are experiencing. What in heaven's name makes you think that every little itch or irritation of the genital region has to be herpes? Every human being experiences such symptoms from time to time. You don't have herpes and do not need any further testing. Get over it.
Hello Doctor,
I went and got tested at 12 weeks past exposure and my tests cam back negative again. The crazy thing is that the day I got my test results back a slight irritation occurred. That morning I shaved my genital region and masturbated. I wore the same brand of underwear I wore when both previous irritations happened (tight fitting). I noticed later in the day that there was a slight itching on the underside of my penis. I looked at it and there was a small swollen area that itched (exactly like the previous irritation, just WAY smaller). I put some neosporin on it and a band aid at night and the next morning when I woke up the area was not swollen anymore, leaving just a small red area. It then got dry and flaky, and disappeared. So the irritation was gone within two days. And now thinking about it, I do remember shaving my genitals prior to the first irritation I described to you. There was no ulcers, or crust like a deep scab. Again would herpes disappear this fast?
So my first irritation was 5 weeks after possible exposure, with symptoms of swelling that went away after a day, leaving only a red area on my penis. A week later, the same area became swollen because I feel that I applied a lotion that had menthol in it. Then 6 weeks later, the irritation I described to you. Tests done 5, 8 and 12 weeks after possible exposure.
For the love of god, can I put this to rest or should I go get further testing? The stress is slowly killing me.
I went and got tested at 12 weeks past exposure and my tests cam back negative again. The crazy thing is that the day I got my test results back a slight irritation occurred. That morning I shaved my genital region and masturbated. I wore the same brand of underwear I wore when both previous irritations happened (tight fitting). I noticed later in the day that there was a slight itching on the underside of my penis. I looked at it and there was a small swollen area that itched (exactly like the previous irritation, just WAY smaller). I put some neosporin on it and a band aid at night and the next morning when I woke up the area was not swollen anymore, leaving just a small red area. It then got dry and flaky, and disappeared. So the irritation was gone within two days. And now thinking about it, I do remember shaving my genitals prior to the first irritation I described to you. There was no ulcers, or crust like a deep scab. Again would herpes disappear this fast?
So my first irritation was 5 weeks after possible exposure, with symptoms of swelling that went away after a day, leaving only a red area on my penis. A week later, the same area became swollen because I feel that I applied a lotion that had menthol in it. Then 6 weeks later, the irritation I described to you. Tests done 5, 8 and 12 weeks after possible exposure.
For the love of god, can I put this to rest or should I go get further testing? The stress is slowly killing me.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Repeat testing is up to you. In my opinion, there is under 1 chance in 1,000 that you were infected and that a repeat test would be positive. Most people would live with those odds without additional testing; certainly if I were in your situation, I wouldn't do it. But I'm not you; only you can decide whether you're sufficiently reassured that you don't need an additional test.
Doctor,
Do you think it is necessary for me to go get tested again at 12 weeks? With this test coming back negative at 8 weeks, and my symptoms not matching that of herpes, is it necessary or can I put this behind me?
Thank you!
Do you think it is necessary for me to go get tested again at 12 weeks? With this test coming back negative at 8 weeks, and my symptoms not matching that of herpes, is it necessary or can I put this behind me?
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You're welcome. That's why we're here; glad to help.
Doctor,
I just got another blood test on Tuesday. 8 weeks after possible exposure. Both tests came back negative. I am now confident I do not have HSV. Your words have kept me calm.
Thank you so much for your guidance and help. Your services are a God send.
Thank you!
I just got another blood test on Tuesday. 8 weeks after possible exposure. Both tests came back negative. I am now confident I do not have HSV. Your words have kept me calm.
Thank you so much for your guidance and help. Your services are a God send.
Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I reviewed Terri's responses to the same questions on the herpes forum. I agree with her reassurance that herpes is an unlikely cause of your symptoms. In fact, she might not have gone far enough: in my view herpes is even less likely than Terri seemed to think.
Before I get to your specific questions, I think you are overreacting to the possibility of genital herpes due to HSV-1, as reflected by your username and the opening line "I am terrified". If one has to get genital herpes, HSV-1 is the preferred type. Recurrent outbreaks are infrequent in most people and sexual transmission to partners probably is uncommon. It's a very different scenario than with HSV-2. Try entering "genital HSV-1" into this forum's search window; over 1,400 threads will come up, and most of what you find should be quite reassuring.
Also, oral to genital HSV-1 transmission is unlikely from any single contact, even with a partner with positive blood test for HSV-1. If your partner did not have an overt oral herpes outbreak (cold sore) at the time of exposure, it is very unlikely you were infected. And as discussed below, the time frame isn't right. I think you overreacted by asking your partner to be tested in this circumstance. I hope you were diplomatic about it; if not, you owe her a nice dinner and flowers.
1) Your description doesn't sound much like herpes, in particular no blisters or sores. I can't comment on other possibilities, allergy or something else. Most of the innumerable causes of skin rash anywhere on the body sometimes can affect the genitals: eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, fungal infections, etc, etc.
2) 5 weeks is too long. Initial herpes generally shows up 3-5 days aftrer exposure and probably never more than 2-3 weeks.
3) For HSV-2, about 80% of newly infected persons have positive results by 6 weeks. It's probably about the same for HSV-1, but hasn't been studied as carefully. I recommend waiting until 12 weeks for further testing, at which time testing will be around 90% reliable.
4) I agree herpes would not behave in the way you describe.
My advice is to see a health care provider, preferably a dermatologist, to learn the real cause of your penile rash. While it isn't possible to give you 100% assurance about herpes, it seems quite unlikely.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Before I get to your specific questions, I think you are overreacting to the possibility of genital herpes due to HSV-1, as reflected by your username and the opening line "I am terrified". If one has to get genital herpes, HSV-1 is the preferred type. Recurrent outbreaks are infrequent in most people and sexual transmission to partners probably is uncommon. It's a very different scenario than with HSV-2. Try entering "genital HSV-1" into this forum's search window; over 1,400 threads will come up, and most of what you find should be quite reassuring.
Also, oral to genital HSV-1 transmission is unlikely from any single contact, even with a partner with positive blood test for HSV-1. If your partner did not have an overt oral herpes outbreak (cold sore) at the time of exposure, it is very unlikely you were infected. And as discussed below, the time frame isn't right. I think you overreacted by asking your partner to be tested in this circumstance. I hope you were diplomatic about it; if not, you owe her a nice dinner and flowers.
1) Your description doesn't sound much like herpes, in particular no blisters or sores. I can't comment on other possibilities, allergy or something else. Most of the innumerable causes of skin rash anywhere on the body sometimes can affect the genitals: eczema, psoriasis, allergic dermatitis, fungal infections, etc, etc.
2) 5 weeks is too long. Initial herpes generally shows up 3-5 days aftrer exposure and probably never more than 2-3 weeks.
3) For HSV-2, about 80% of newly infected persons have positive results by 6 weeks. It's probably about the same for HSV-1, but hasn't been studied as carefully. I recommend waiting until 12 weeks for further testing, at which time testing will be around 90% reliable.
4) I agree herpes would not behave in the way you describe.
My advice is to see a health care provider, preferably a dermatologist, to learn the real cause of your penile rash. While it isn't possible to give you 100% assurance about herpes, it seems quite unlikely.
Regards-- HHH, MD
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.
