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Herpes or ???- Cause for Concern?
I'm a male and about 4.5 weeks ago I had a brief unprotected oral sex encounter with a coworker. The entire encounter was extremely brief(no more than 3-4 minutes total) with unprotected contact between my mouth and her genitals and her mouth and my genitals. There was no intercourse nor genital to genital contact. Withing a couple of days my mouth and lips were burning intensely. I immediately began to assume the worst and fear I had contracted an STD and zeroed in on HSV2. I have not experienced any sores, drips or leaks at all but my mouth and lips are still burning. I have had some frequent urination issues but no real pain or significant burning. My MD did put me on antibiotics as a precaution for STD and the burning mouth and lips has only gotten worse. What are the chances that I've been infected through this brief encounter? I did the "spit in glass" home test for oral yeast infection and it appears that I at least have that. Hoping and praying for nothing worse.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
I'm not clear on the nature of the exposure. Did you perform oral on your partner, she on you, or both? Was there kissing as well? If your mouth wasn't exposed, then on that basis alone this can't be herpes of either type. If you kissed your partner or performed cunnlingus on her, then you could have been exposed to HSV-1 or HSV-2, respectively.
That said, your oral symptoms are not typical for initial herpes, which usually would cause painful open sores, and not just a diffusely sore mouth; and usually it would include a severe sore throat as well. That said, conceivably herpes could do this. What did the doctor who examined you say about it?
I'm also unclear whether you still have the oral symptoms. Four weeks is too long for herpes to be likely. Even the most severe initial episodes don't usually last more than 2-3 weeks.
Based on the symptoms, an oral yeast infection is indeed possible, especially if you performed cunnilingus on your partner. However, the spit test doesn't confirm that one way or another. Although commonly promoted on the internet, that test is quackery, nothing more -- totally unreliable whether "positive" or "negative".
So regardless of the exposure details, I doubt you caught oral herpes. But let me know more about the exposure and your doctor's diagnosis, and perhaps we can clarify this a bit more.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I'm not clear on the nature of the exposure. Did you perform oral on your partner, she on you, or both? Was there kissing as well? If your mouth wasn't exposed, then on that basis alone this can't be herpes of either type. If you kissed your partner or performed cunnlingus on her, then you could have been exposed to HSV-1 or HSV-2, respectively.
That said, your oral symptoms are not typical for initial herpes, which usually would cause painful open sores, and not just a diffusely sore mouth; and usually it would include a severe sore throat as well. That said, conceivably herpes could do this. What did the doctor who examined you say about it?
I'm also unclear whether you still have the oral symptoms. Four weeks is too long for herpes to be likely. Even the most severe initial episodes don't usually last more than 2-3 weeks.
Based on the symptoms, an oral yeast infection is indeed possible, especially if you performed cunnilingus on your partner. However, the spit test doesn't confirm that one way or another. Although commonly promoted on the internet, that test is quackery, nothing more -- totally unreliable whether "positive" or "negative".
So regardless of the exposure details, I doubt you caught oral herpes. But let me know more about the exposure and your doctor's diagnosis, and perhaps we can clarify this a bit more.
Regards-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Fordyce spots are normal on the penile skin. Google it; you'll find lots of pictures.
That winds up this thread. Take care and stop worrying.
That winds up this thread. Take care and stop worrying.
Thanks for all your help. I made another trip to the MD and he seems to think my condition is more likely something called Fordyce or Fordyce Spots. Are you familiar with this? It causes white pimple like bumps on the lips and possibly the genitals. I have always had them on both. I'm trying to get over the HSV scare and you and he are helping...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The answer to the question as you worded it is yes, herpes could give lesions on both sides. However, it almost certainly would NOT cause such symmetrical lesions, i.e. in more or less the same spot on opposite sides of the mouth. Herpes lesions would be randomly distributed throughout your mouth. In other words, this information is additional evidence against herpes, not for it.
At this point, you need to refocus, concentrate on my replies, and get your mind off herpes. I've given you a whole bunch of reasons why this isn't the problem.
If and when you see your doctor again (or other doctor), I would enjoy hearing what is found, especially if a specific diagnosis is made. Until then, however, I won't have any more comments or advice.
At this point, you need to refocus, concentrate on my replies, and get your mind off herpes. I've given you a whole bunch of reasons why this isn't the problem.
If and when you see your doctor again (or other doctor), I would enjoy hearing what is found, especially if a specific diagnosis is made. Until then, however, I won't have any more comments or advice.
...corners of my mouth *have been burning*
Last question for now... Both of the corners of my mouth have been mouth and I see what could be white patches on the inside of my lips. Is it common for Herpes to affect both sides at once if it is an initial outbreak? Or would this be more common with a yeast infection?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If your doctor couldn't see anything wrong with your mouth, my guess is that he was correct. Herpes certainly could not cause your symptoms and also leave your mouth looking normal, i.e. without open sores etc. Perhaps yeast could do it, although it could be that your anxieties about the exposure are entirely responsible. My advice is that you return to your doctor for reevaluation. But I really wouldn't be worried about herpes or any other STD.
Yes, oral sex was performed both ways. Her on me and me on her. There was kissing also. The doctor that looked in my mouth didn't see anything significant. He acted as if I was worrying about nothing. And my mouth is still burning with chapped and red lips. My tongue does have a thicker than usual coating of white stuff too. No cold sores, no open sores of any kind have been present in my mouth or on my lips. My throat has been dry but not really sore at all. As you might expect I am dealing with a ton of emotional stress because of my ill advised decision.
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.
