Herpes and HIV test anxiety

[jamesonrt06]

Hello, I had an encounter with a random woman I met at a bar 6 weeks ago. I did not know anything about her. We went back to her place and I had sex with her with a condom and she performed oral sex on me. She was on her period and I also used my fingers on her. I think there may have been some genital on genital touching but don't remember. The next morning when I woke up I had blood on my fingers too. About 3-4 weeks later I got this itching, burning, tingling sensatio on the part where the scrotum attaches to the leg on both sides and also above the penis and a bit around the top of the penis. There was a bit of constant pain in the urethra for a while but it has diminished now. There were no visible sores. The tingling sensation has not gone away and there's what appears to be a more defined rash on the sides I described. This has been going on for about 3 weeks now. Sorry for the details, I am just giving you all the background.
- I got tested at 4 and a half weeks for HSV-2 and the results came back negative, is it possible that I am having atypical herpes symptoms?
- I read online that many people with herpes have atypical symptoms and therefore never think they had the virus?
- I took an HIV antibody test at the same time that came back negative, I ordered a PCR test at the 5th week cause my anxiety was killing me and couldn't wait. Depending on those results would you recommend I get a 3 month test?
- How likely is it that this is HIV?
- Is it possible that this could be something else besides herpes?

Thank you so much for your time and sorry for the extremely long question.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You describe a low risk sexual encounter, since you used a condom.  The rest of the exposures you describe are not high risk for HIV or any other STD.  Further, your symptoms do not suggest herpes or any other STD, and they probably are entirely unrelated to the sexual encounter, except for the possibility of anxiety over it.  To answer your specific questions:

First 2 questions:  Your symptoms do not particuarly suggest herpes; had you asked me beforehand, I probably would not have recommeded testing for it.  The atypical symptoms often missed with HSV infection are primarily localized to the genitals and are simply mild sores--mild enough to disregard and forget--and not the more widespread sort of rash or itching/burning you describe.  Could you have acquired HSV during your sexual encounter?  Sure.  But if you test positive, you will never know whether you caught it then or from some other sex partner in the past.

Next two (HIV related) questions:  The risk of HIV during that exposure was close to zero; I definitely would not have recommended testing and absolutely it was crazy to spend the money on HIV testing.  And your symptoms don't even remotely suggest HIV.  If you are anxious and won't sleep well unless you have further testing, go ahead and do it at 3 months.  But you don't need it on medical grounds, only for emotional ones.

It is virtually 100% certain your symptoms are due to something other than herpes or HIV.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Imdumb]

Since you used a condom you have zero risk for HIV assuming it didn't come off or break.  There is some chnace of herpes, but with a signle expoesure and a condom, the chances are very very low.

Were you tested for anything else?  Since you wore a condom and if it remained on, you have very little to worry about.  That is what condoms are for!!  Good job for using the Jimmy Hat!

[MrWorried]

I'm in the same boat.  You can see my thread:  http://www.medhelp.org/forums/STD/messages/2346.html. ; My GP said it's all in my head, and on top of that the irritation I had on the tip of my penis was due to the chemical spermicide along with the latex condom.  I was tested for any bacterial infection and those came negative.  As for the HIV, the testing is only for peace of mind.  I'll have to wait 2 more months though for that.  Keep your spirits up.  You'll be okay.

[jamesonrt06]

Hello,

I just got the results of my HIV RNA PCR test. It was a HIV quantitative result reported as  "not detected" or negative. This was done at 5 weeks post-exposure. Can I now safely assume I am HIV negative? Thank you very much doctor, this whole process has made me unbelievably anxious.

[jamesonrt06]

Hello,

I just got the results of my HIV RNA PCR test. It was a HIV quantitative result reported as "not detected" or negative. This was done at 5 weeks post-exposure. Can I now safely assume I am HIV negative? Even if I didn't have any ARS symptoms? Thank you very much doctor, this whole process has made me unbelievably anxious.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Re-read my original response:  "The risk of HIV during that exposure was close to zero; I definitely would not have recommended testing and absolutely it was crazy to spend the money on HIV testing. And your symptoms don't even remotely suggest HIV. If you are anxious and won't sleep well unless you have further testing, go ahead and do it at 3 months. But you don't need it on medical grounds, only for emotional ones."

HHH, MD

[Lalortz9]

A related discussion, Possible HIV exposure. was started.