Aa
I'm VERY afraid that I may have acquired genital herpes
Hi, I am 25 years old and I am in extreme distress. Since I was 18, I've been sexually active. I've had unprotected sex 4 times (all tested negative for HIV at the time) and the rest of the times that I've ever had sex was either protected or unprotected oral sex with unprofessional escorts. I've never worried about anything BUT HIV until now simply because of my ignorance. For some reason I thought that having unprotected oral sex was safe and I hate myself so much for it. I've been tested for other tests such as chlaymidia and gonnorhea in the past only because it was standard with the HIV testing. I'm not even worried about gonnorhea, syphillis, or chlaymidia because I know that they are all treatable. I am very worried about herpes. The very word scares me. I've never had any breakouts but I've also heard that you don't need to have any breakouts to have herpes. Supposedly 20% of the population has HSV-2. What if I become a statistic? The only reason why I ever did the things I did was because I never had a girlfriend and had a sex addiction. I never understood the true risks of what I was doing. I'm at the point that I don't even want to live anymore because of this.
For a while I've been having a burning sensation in my feet as well as my private area always at the same time. But as of last week Wedneday, its been burning me even more. First it was just burning me then it felt as if there was something in my meatus (I believe the opening of the penis is called). When I would breathe it would feel like air was also traveling through it. At this very moment its back to the burning sensation which is from my penis all the way back to my anus and my feet is also burning me as well again. What if this is a genital herpe breakout from all my stress!? I got tested for all the commons stds and am now awaiting my results. I have to wait until Friday to get my results and I'm going crazy. Can you please inform me on my risks? I need a professionals opinion. Thank you.
For a while I've been having a burning sensation in my feet as well as my private area always at the same time. But as of last week Wedneday, its been burning me even more. First it was just burning me then it felt as if there was something in my meatus (I believe the opening of the penis is called). When I would breathe it would feel like air was also traveling through it. At this very moment its back to the burning sensation which is from my penis all the way back to my anus and my feet is also burning me as well again. What if this is a genital herpe breakout from all my stress!? I got tested for all the commons stds and am now awaiting my results. I have to wait until Friday to get my results and I'm going crazy. Can you please inform me on my risks? I need a professionals opinion. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I'm happy to have helped. Thanks for the thanks.
Hello Dr. I recieved today in the mail that my "results are normal". Thank you for the advice and most importantly, thanks for putting my mind at ease. I've learned so much about STD's and the risks which is also a plus. By visiting the clinic I also learned about safe sex. With all the knowledge I've gained over the past week, I'm a much more responsible person. Thanks again Dr.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I already said your symptoms are not suggestive of herpes. We don't speculate about non-STD explanations for symptoms. I'll just say that many minor skin or other medical conditions, or psychological issues, could cause what you have described. Beyond that, this forum can't help.
In the US, half of all adults have HSV-1. Do you think half the population has a problem with their love life because of it? Of course not. And certainly there isn't any particular "social stigma" with oral herpes.
Your explanation of your mood do not change my advice about it. From all you have said, I think at least an initial professional counseling visit would be well worth whatever it would cost you.
But online forums are not a substitute for such professional attention -- in fact, they can serve to just prolong the problem and delay proper care. So that will end this thread. My offer to common once more after you report your STD test results still goes. But other than that, I won't have any further comments or advice for you.
In the US, half of all adults have HSV-1. Do you think half the population has a problem with their love life because of it? Of course not. And certainly there isn't any particular "social stigma" with oral herpes.
Your explanation of your mood do not change my advice about it. From all you have said, I think at least an initial professional counseling visit would be well worth whatever it would cost you.
But online forums are not a substitute for such professional attention -- in fact, they can serve to just prolong the problem and delay proper care. So that will end this thread. My offer to common once more after you report your STD test results still goes. But other than that, I won't have any further comments or advice for you.
Thank you so much for your response Dr. I fully understand that you have nothing more to say concerning speculations but I still feel a slight burning sensation in my private area and my feet. Do you have any idea what this could be? I thought it was athlete's foot so I've been taking Lotrimin for it but it doesn't seem to be doing the trick and even if it was athlete's foot, it wouldn't explain the burning in my private area. Also last night, I was itching a lot around my anus area as well as my testicles which I find myself doing every now and then. Do you know what could cause this? I don't know if there is some relation between my feet and my private area.
Also, assuming I have HSV-1, what does that say about my love life? I've never had any breakouts so would kissing be a problem? I also feel the need to explain myself concerning my comment about suicide. I was in a really low state of mind not so much because of the condition but because of the negative social stigma associated with it. Its very hard to look at the future in a certain light because of it. I'll most likely seek professional counseling but I don't know if I'll be able to afford a psychologist.
Also, assuming I have HSV-1, what does that say about my love life? I've never had any breakouts so would kissing be a problem? I also feel the need to explain myself concerning my comment about suicide. I was in a really low state of mind not so much because of the condition but because of the negative social stigma associated with it. Its very hard to look at the future in a certain light because of it. I'll most likely seek professional counseling but I don't know if I'll be able to afford a psychologist.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome and thanks for your question, which came in while I was logged in to the forum.
You really shouldn't be worried about herpes. You are misinterpreting the significance of some of the things you have learned in your online searching about genital herpes. First, the large majority of people with HSV-2 have been far more sexually active than you have. Few persons with only 4 lifetime sex partners (even with entirely unprotected exposures) have HSV-2. Using the 20% figure you cite, it is statistically unlikely that any of your 4 partners had genital herpes. Second, the average transmission risk, if one partner has HSV-2, is probably around once for every 1,000 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex. Third, HSV-2 frequency peaks between ages 25-35; assuming your partners were similar in age to you, it is even less likely that they were infected. If your partners were older or African American, of if they were commercial sex workers, the risks would be greater -- but the odds still would be strongly in your favor.
Fourth, your symptoms are not suggestive of herpes. You undoubtedly have read that many infections are asymptomatic or have ayptical symptoms, but the truth is that most "atypical" infections are simply mild, not actually all that atypical. Although herpes lesions can burn, or tingling may precede them for a couple of days, such symptoms occuring without lesions do not suggest herpes. HSV simply doesn't cause the generalized tingling/burning you describe. Your symptoms are far more typical for physical manifestations anxiety -- i.e. increased awareness of minor body sensations that otherwise would go unnoticed or wouldn't be bothersome.
Based on your lifestyle and symptoms, I would not have recommended testing for HSV. However, if an HSV blood test was done as part of your testing panel, you can expect negative results for HSV-2. Up to half the population has HSV-1, usually due to asymptomatic oral herpes from childhood -- so don't be surprised or concerned if that test is positive.
Finally, you say two things that worry me about your mental health. Certainly having only 4 lifetime sex partners (or vaginal sex experiences) by age 25 does not come close to most people's perceptions of a "sex addiction". But if you are concerned about sexual thoughts that seem compulsive or addictive, or about the sexual choices you have made, then this could be a significant emotional issue for you. Second, nobody says (or writes) "I'm at the point that I don't even want to live anymore..." without serious underlying disturbance. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to seek professional counseling, regardless of your STD and HSV test results. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.
Feel free to let me know the STD test results, but since there is no point in speculating when the answers soon will be at hand, I won't have anything more to say until then.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
You really shouldn't be worried about herpes. You are misinterpreting the significance of some of the things you have learned in your online searching about genital herpes. First, the large majority of people with HSV-2 have been far more sexually active than you have. Few persons with only 4 lifetime sex partners (even with entirely unprotected exposures) have HSV-2. Using the 20% figure you cite, it is statistically unlikely that any of your 4 partners had genital herpes. Second, the average transmission risk, if one partner has HSV-2, is probably around once for every 1,000 episodes of unprotected vaginal sex. Third, HSV-2 frequency peaks between ages 25-35; assuming your partners were similar in age to you, it is even less likely that they were infected. If your partners were older or African American, of if they were commercial sex workers, the risks would be greater -- but the odds still would be strongly in your favor.
Fourth, your symptoms are not suggestive of herpes. You undoubtedly have read that many infections are asymptomatic or have ayptical symptoms, but the truth is that most "atypical" infections are simply mild, not actually all that atypical. Although herpes lesions can burn, or tingling may precede them for a couple of days, such symptoms occuring without lesions do not suggest herpes. HSV simply doesn't cause the generalized tingling/burning you describe. Your symptoms are far more typical for physical manifestations anxiety -- i.e. increased awareness of minor body sensations that otherwise would go unnoticed or wouldn't be bothersome.
Based on your lifestyle and symptoms, I would not have recommended testing for HSV. However, if an HSV blood test was done as part of your testing panel, you can expect negative results for HSV-2. Up to half the population has HSV-1, usually due to asymptomatic oral herpes from childhood -- so don't be surprised or concerned if that test is positive.
Finally, you say two things that worry me about your mental health. Certainly having only 4 lifetime sex partners (or vaginal sex experiences) by age 25 does not come close to most people's perceptions of a "sex addiction". But if you are concerned about sexual thoughts that seem compulsive or addictive, or about the sexual choices you have made, then this could be a significant emotional issue for you. Second, nobody says (or writes) "I'm at the point that I don't even want to live anymore..." without serious underlying disturbance. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to seek professional counseling, regardless of your STD and HSV test results. I suggest it from compassion, not criticism.
Feel free to let me know the STD test results, but since there is no point in speculating when the answers soon will be at hand, I won't have anything more to say until then.
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.
