Aa
HSV and HPV questions
Dr.,
I have questions concerning both HPV and HSV. 10 days ago I had protected intercourse with a 35 year old female (I am a male). Unfortunately the condom broke within the first couple of seconds. I noticed it right away and put on a new condom with no further trouble. I was a little concerned (and regretful) about the encounter and she informed me that to the best of her knowledge she did not have hsv-2 but does get the occasional cold sore. However she said that after having an abnormal pap a few years ago she found out she does have hpv. I haven't had any unusual symptoms until today. Long story short, I am in a casual relationship with another girl that is starting to turn serious. Last night we engaged with sex which ended in fairly vigorous mutual masturbation that felt a little rough. I noticed right after that the right tip of glans was red and pretty sore almost resembling a friction burn. Today it is still red, sore and slightly swollen but as far as I can tell upon close examination no clusters of blisters in the red area or around it. It is sensitive to the touch. It looks slightly less irritated than it did last night. My questions are:
1. Does my description of the sore area sound like any sort of symptoms of hsv? I am concerned that it could be a product of an std acquired from my encounter 10 days ago.
2.Would my unprotected encounter 10 days ago be a little less risky compared to a normal unprotected exposure due to the overall briefness of exposure (not more than a few seconds)?
3. I understand that most people end up with hpv in their lifetimes, so should I be concerned with hpv as of now?
4. I have read that initial hsv symptoms can take anywhere from 3 to 3 weeks to occur, however on average most occur within 4 to 7 days. Is my 10 day period getting close to the end of the "window" in which symptoms would appear?
Thank you so much for time and help. It is very much appreciated!
I have questions concerning both HPV and HSV. 10 days ago I had protected intercourse with a 35 year old female (I am a male). Unfortunately the condom broke within the first couple of seconds. I noticed it right away and put on a new condom with no further trouble. I was a little concerned (and regretful) about the encounter and she informed me that to the best of her knowledge she did not have hsv-2 but does get the occasional cold sore. However she said that after having an abnormal pap a few years ago she found out she does have hpv. I haven't had any unusual symptoms until today. Long story short, I am in a casual relationship with another girl that is starting to turn serious. Last night we engaged with sex which ended in fairly vigorous mutual masturbation that felt a little rough. I noticed right after that the right tip of glans was red and pretty sore almost resembling a friction burn. Today it is still red, sore and slightly swollen but as far as I can tell upon close examination no clusters of blisters in the red area or around it. It is sensitive to the touch. It looks slightly less irritated than it did last night. My questions are:
1. Does my description of the sore area sound like any sort of symptoms of hsv? I am concerned that it could be a product of an std acquired from my encounter 10 days ago.
2.Would my unprotected encounter 10 days ago be a little less risky compared to a normal unprotected exposure due to the overall briefness of exposure (not more than a few seconds)?
3. I understand that most people end up with hpv in their lifetimes, so should I be concerned with hpv as of now?
4. I have read that initial hsv symptoms can take anywhere from 3 to 3 weeks to occur, however on average most occur within 4 to 7 days. Is my 10 day period getting close to the end of the "window" in which symptoms would appear?
Thank you so much for time and help. It is very much appreciated!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to have helped. Thanks for the thanks.
Thanks very much for the prompt reply. Very useful and helpful information as always, especially regarding HPV. If anything changes in the next couple of days I will be sure to let you know.
Again thank you for the advice and for the continued work you do on this site.
Again thank you for the advice and for the continued work you do on this site.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome back to the forum. I'll try to help.
As discussed in two threads a couple of years ago, the risk of HSV transmission during any single episode of unprotected sex is low, even if your partner had genital herpes.
As for HPV, that your partner 10 days ago had a diagnosed HPV infection makes no difference at all in your risk of catching HPV. For every women who knows and tells about HPV, there are at least 10 who are equally likely to have the virus. I would advise that partner to stop telling her sex partners about her HPV infection. It is only likely to produce anxiety, as it has with you, without actually providing any useful information or protecting them from having HPV themselves someday.
To your specific questions:
1,4) The symptoms described are not typical for herpes, and you have an obvious alternate explanation, i.e. the somewhat traumatic hand-genital contact from your more recent partner. And as you suggest yourself, the onset of your symptoms was on the late side for herpes.
2) Although there are no data to prove it, logic dictates that STD risks are lower with brief exposure than with more prolonged intercourse, perhaps especially for the infections transmitted by skin-skin contact, like HPV and HSV.
3) Correct on both counts. You can be sure you have been infected with HPV by now, probably more than once; and there is no point and no need to be concerned about HPV on account of the exposure described. If you remain concerned, however, and if you're no older than 26 years, you could be vaccinated to prevent infection with the more common HPV types likely to cause significant health problems.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
As discussed in two threads a couple of years ago, the risk of HSV transmission during any single episode of unprotected sex is low, even if your partner had genital herpes.
As for HPV, that your partner 10 days ago had a diagnosed HPV infection makes no difference at all in your risk of catching HPV. For every women who knows and tells about HPV, there are at least 10 who are equally likely to have the virus. I would advise that partner to stop telling her sex partners about her HPV infection. It is only likely to produce anxiety, as it has with you, without actually providing any useful information or protecting them from having HPV themselves someday.
To your specific questions:
1,4) The symptoms described are not typical for herpes, and you have an obvious alternate explanation, i.e. the somewhat traumatic hand-genital contact from your more recent partner. And as you suggest yourself, the onset of your symptoms was on the late side for herpes.
2) Although there are no data to prove it, logic dictates that STD risks are lower with brief exposure than with more prolonged intercourse, perhaps especially for the infections transmitted by skin-skin contact, like HPV and HSV.
3) Correct on both counts. You can be sure you have been infected with HPV by now, probably more than once; and there is no point and no need to be concerned about HPV on account of the exposure described. If you remain concerned, however, and if you're no older than 26 years, you could be vaccinated to prevent infection with the more common HPV types likely to cause significant health problems.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- 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.
