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Herpes Worries
I'm 24 year old male, no unprotected sex except for 4 year monogamous relationship, until 2 months ago. Drunken unprotected vaginal sex encounter, freaked out after a minute and stopped, washed myself in bathroom and peed. Primarily freaked out because I remember having masturbated earlier in day and breaking the skin on the shaft a little. Very anxious next day. Talk to a friend a 1 1/2 weeks later, tells me girl sleeps around heard she had herpes. Freak out,start reading online, later day start feeling, itching, tingling, occasional pain. I find lesions, go to STD clinic. Tell me they are normal anatomy, pass all other STD tests. No blood test given for herpes (Canada). Anxiety persists, and a cycle of seeing my GP for once a week for 4 weeks begin. I experience, leg pain, back pain, penis pain, testicle pressure, abdominal pressure, prostate pressure, appearance of red marks on glans (this has happened 3-4 times in last month, each time lasting 3-4 days before disappearing, no ulceration or blisters). GP was not able to see anything most times except once and I was told it was definitely not herpes, although he didn't know what it was, believed it to be irritation from my checking activities which have avg. 3-4 hours a day for last month and a half fueled by obsessive internet research. I believe to a large degree part of this has been anxiety, yet I am still worried because the focus at the STD clinic and GP seems to be on overt classical lesions.
1) Could my GP have been mistaken that my red marks were not herpes? (said swabbing was not even possible)
2) I am told I am fine because of the incredible low likelihood of transmission from one encounter .. is this true?
3) If I did not present with ulceration and blisters after 2 months am I okay?
4) What are the chances of transmission to others?
5) Should I forget about this and begin my counselling?
6) Should I pursue the matter further? (inquire about private blood testing?)
1) Could my GP have been mistaken that my red marks were not herpes? (said swabbing was not even possible)
2) I am told I am fine because of the incredible low likelihood of transmission from one encounter .. is this true?
3) If I did not present with ulceration and blisters after 2 months am I okay?
4) What are the chances of transmission to others?
5) Should I forget about this and begin my counselling?
6) Should I pursue the matter further? (inquire about private blood testing?)
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The key is "recurring" itch (or tingling). If someone has itching in a very limited area (a spot, not the whole genital area) that lasts for a few days (or up to 10 days), goes away, then recurs in more or less the same spot a few times per year, s/he might have herpes. Widespread genital itching or continuous itching or a tingling sensation--which is the sort of symptom people often describe on this forum ("my scrotum itches all the time")--is not a herpes symptom.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
In a nut shell,
a reoccurring itch in a localized genital area without ever necessarily seeing a sore COULD be HSV2 ?
a reoccurring itch in a localized genital area without ever necessarily seeing a sore COULD be HSV2 ?
Hi Dr. Some very official websites have quizzes such as the Australian Herpes Management Forum.
In their quiz they state that if you have an reoccurring itch in the genitals with nothing to see you are at medium to high risk of having HSV2 (even if your sexual history is fairly conservative ie 2 to 3 partners with condom use).
For many young people this starts immediate alarm bells. (Your thoughts please).
By filling out these quizzes they try to assess your likelihood of having this disease, they ask you what your income is, what your ethnicity is and if you work in management or as a labourer. This is Australia's official HSV2 site. I myself think their quiz is very insulting and after reading this information they provide we are left with all these young people (myself included) that think because they have itches and tingles and are of a particular ethnicity they have been affected. What are your thoughts on this please?
Kindest Regards,
R.
In their quiz they state that if you have an reoccurring itch in the genitals with nothing to see you are at medium to high risk of having HSV2 (even if your sexual history is fairly conservative ie 2 to 3 partners with condom use).
For many young people this starts immediate alarm bells. (Your thoughts please).
By filling out these quizzes they try to assess your likelihood of having this disease, they ask you what your income is, what your ethnicity is and if you work in management or as a labourer. This is Australia's official HSV2 site. I myself think their quiz is very insulting and after reading this information they provide we are left with all these young people (myself included) that think because they have itches and tingles and are of a particular ethnicity they have been affected. What are your thoughts on this please?
Kindest Regards,
R.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Whenever someone suspects his or her own symptoms have a psychological origin, s/he usually is right.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Your symptoms are not those of herpes, period. I don't care what you have read on line, but herpes just doesn't do the things you describe. Some of your symptoms occur in herpes, WITH OTHER SYMPTOMS, i.e. typical herpes blisters and sores. They do not occur on their own. On top of that, even in sex with known infected partners, the chance of herpes transmission averages less than 1 in a few hundred exposures--and your exposure was very brief. Finally, your symptoms are absolutely classical for genitally focused anxiety. You would make a great teaching case for medical students.
1) I see no reason to doubt your GP. 2) Yes, see above. 3) Yes. 4) Zero, since you don't apparently have herpes. (Of course I cannot guarantee you don't have asymptomtic herpes. But if so, you didn't get it during the sexual exposure you describe.) 5) Certainly you should foget about it. The counseling part is up to you. 6) I see no reason for HSV testing.
Finally, stop searching the internet. You will only find confusing, conflicting information. Stop going out of your way to find bad news.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
1) I see no reason to doubt your GP. 2) Yes, see above. 3) Yes. 4) Zero, since you don't apparently have herpes. (Of course I cannot guarantee you don't have asymptomtic herpes. But if so, you didn't get it during the sexual exposure you describe.) 5) Certainly you should foget about it. The counseling part is up to you. 6) I see no reason for HSV testing.
Finally, stop searching the internet. You will only find confusing, conflicting information. Stop going out of your way to find bad news.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I forgot to mention that none of the symptoms went hand in hand, they all occured seperately one after another which made me think they were anxiety except when the red marks started appearing, but again I am told they are definitely not herpes and I am fine. .... I'm so lost ... I know I need counselling but if I don't have herpes then the counselling should be different from if I do
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.
