Herpes scare-burning-no sores- on gentials but cold sore

[worriedaboutherpes]

I am male- had a unprotected vag. sex 9 days ago with someone I didn't know well- I performed oral sex-but saw no visible signs of anything.  The next day I had abrasive masturbation.  I felt a generalized burning sensation all over my genitals, but mostly at the tip of my penis and a bit on my testicles.  I also had an burning on my left foot( anxiety?) The Burning sensation has lasted 8 days from exposure and is somewhat fading. ON day six i developed a cold sore(I get cold sores maybe once a year during stress) the cold sore appeared on both upper and lower lip - but not bad.I went to see my doctor on day five for a respiratory tract infection,I told her what happened and she tested for bacterial std's-she saw nothing.I have had terrible anxiety -no sleep in a day and a half and not eating!  My questions are:  1)if I developed a cold sore on my face is that indicative anything other than stress-from oral? 2) if the cold sore(HSV1) appeared wouldn't HSV2 also appear and is it a good thing that the HSV1 came and no HSV2 symptoms(as no visible lesions and the burning is subsiding mostly at day 9-almost)3) Finally- If my HSV1 provides some protection against HSV2 symptoms could the be so minor that although I have HSV2 I have no visible lesions- IF I test positive for HSV2 is it possible that THE COLD SORES ARE hsv 2 AND not HSV1 and  is it really all that helpful if the test cannot determine the actual location of the virus if I never get sores only the burning feeling?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Assuming you know what a cold sore is (outside the mouth, not canker sores inside the mouth) (lots of people make that mistake), then you already have HSV-1 and cannot catch it again.  So if you now have a cold sore, it is a recurrence of your longstanding problem, not a new infection you caught by performing oral sex.  There is a small risk you acquired an HSV-2 infection of your mouth, but that's unlikely.

The genital burning sensation you describe isn't herpes, which doesn't cause such symptoms.  Maybe just irritation from vigorous masturbation.

1) See above.

2) Appearance of HSV-1 doesn't say anything one way or the other about whether you could have caught HSV-2.  But oral HSV-2 infections are uncommon, so probably not.

3) It isn't certain whether or not HSV-1 provides partial protection against HSV-2.  If it does, it is a minor effect that makes no real difference in risk of HSV-2 if exposed.

I see no reason for herpes testing on account of this event.  There is nothing whatsoever in your story that makes me suspicious you acquired a new HSV-2 infection.  Most likely you just had a garden-variety recurrence of your oral herpes.  But if in doubt, see a provider about it.  Also talk to your partner and ask her whether or not she is known to have herpes.  It's no guarantee if she says no, but it would reduce the odds.  But if you want to follow-up, have a blood test 3 months after the exposure.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[worriedaboutherpes]

Thank you-in my state of anxiety, I asked the same question again fearing it had been misplaced-so disregard above---BUT

My question about HSV1 and HSV2 is -if my immune system was suseptible to HSV1 out break --wouldn't symptomatic HSV2 also appear?  And because I had no visible  HSV2 lesions but HAD the HSV1 lesion is that indicative of no HSV2 infection-because presumably the immune system is what keeps symptoms from showing in some?

Thanks again

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I deleted your re-posting of the same question in a new thread.  Since it was a mistake, you can use the contact link to request the web administrator to refund your second donation.  (It's up to them; I have no control over it.)

You are over-thinking all this.  The state of people's immune systems has nothing to do with whether or not those with HSV-1 or HSV-2 have symptoms.  And each of those infections is completely independent of the other; you can have symptoms from one but not the other.  It's just random.

The bottom line is what I said above:  You give no reason to suspect you might have acquired a new HSV infection of either type.  You had a recurrence of your longstanding oral herpes, nothing more.  I doubt that you have a new infection and do not recommend testing.  I suggest just dropping the whole thing and moving on with life.

HHH, MD

[sentil23]

"But if you want to follow-up, have a blood test 3 months after the exposure."

I've been in almost the same situation as the thread creator. Difference is that I did want to schedule a blood test a few months later, but my physician told me that they can only test for herpes if you have an visible signs of an outbreak. is this true?

[sentil23]

Ive also heard that blood tests cannot verify herpes.

[CarlyGillespie]

Can Simplex 1 create genital herpes (aka Simplex 2)? My doctor told me "No, it doesn't." But then again, I've been reading the exact opposite.