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Possible STD from encounter?
Hi Doctor,
I previously posted in the Herpes forum but my circumstances have changed slightly, so i am posting here.
I had an encounter with a CSW about 7 weeks ago, protected vaginal nd unprotected oral. I had burning/itching within a week. However i was examined by my doctor who said he could find no lesions and the burning could be due to a fungal infection. I was fine for 4 weeks but then the burning recommenced. I was re-examined by my doctor, who again found no lesions and was comfortable it wasnt herpes. I had an IGG test 5 weeks after the encounter and it was negative for hsv 1 and 2.
I am confident in my doctors opinion that it isnt herpes. I will get an IGG test at 9 weeks, and if it is negative then i will banish the thought from my mind (i know u recommend 16 weeks, but you have previously stated in other posts that at 8 weeks, 80% of people would have developed antibodies...those odds are good enough for me and will give me the peace of mind i crave!).
I have been tested for all other STD's and come back negative(i havent been tested for NGU but i think that would show in a chlamydia/ghonorrea test?).
the burning is still there and the skin is sore in upper thigh/groin where the burning is with no obvious lesions/blisters or warts, although the skin is dry and tender.
1) is it possible for herpes to lay dormant for longer then 16 weeks and then occur? (i.e you test negative after 4 months but outbreak a year later and then your IGG is positive?) Or will an Igg bloodtest capture herpes even if i ahve had no visible outbreak?
2) Do my symptoms (burning/aching/tender skin in the groin area) resemble any STD?
3) Just how at risk am i at catching genital warts? I have been told that they can show up months/years after the sexual encounter. I was just wondering if the chances are high of me catching warts from a one time encounter.
4) if so, how quicly can warts be treated and got rid off?
Thanks for your help Doctor.
I previously posted in the Herpes forum but my circumstances have changed slightly, so i am posting here.
I had an encounter with a CSW about 7 weeks ago, protected vaginal nd unprotected oral. I had burning/itching within a week. However i was examined by my doctor who said he could find no lesions and the burning could be due to a fungal infection. I was fine for 4 weeks but then the burning recommenced. I was re-examined by my doctor, who again found no lesions and was comfortable it wasnt herpes. I had an IGG test 5 weeks after the encounter and it was negative for hsv 1 and 2.
I am confident in my doctors opinion that it isnt herpes. I will get an IGG test at 9 weeks, and if it is negative then i will banish the thought from my mind (i know u recommend 16 weeks, but you have previously stated in other posts that at 8 weeks, 80% of people would have developed antibodies...those odds are good enough for me and will give me the peace of mind i crave!).
I have been tested for all other STD's and come back negative(i havent been tested for NGU but i think that would show in a chlamydia/ghonorrea test?).
the burning is still there and the skin is sore in upper thigh/groin where the burning is with no obvious lesions/blisters or warts, although the skin is dry and tender.
1) is it possible for herpes to lay dormant for longer then 16 weeks and then occur? (i.e you test negative after 4 months but outbreak a year later and then your IGG is positive?) Or will an Igg bloodtest capture herpes even if i ahve had no visible outbreak?
2) Do my symptoms (burning/aching/tender skin in the groin area) resemble any STD?
3) Just how at risk am i at catching genital warts? I have been told that they can show up months/years after the sexual encounter. I was just wondering if the chances are high of me catching warts from a one time encounter.
4) if so, how quicly can warts be treated and got rid off?
Thanks for your help Doctor.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
First, herpes: You don't have it. I reviewed your thread on the herpes forum and agree exactly with the advice you got from Ms. Warren. Around 70% of people with new HSV-2 have positive blood tests by 5 weeks, so the negative test result is further reassurance. You can expect any future HSV tests to remain negative.
Other STDs: No STD causes the sort of "burning" you seem to be describing. Burning within the urethra, during urination, is a symptoms of urethritis, but even that generally does not occur without abnomral dishcarge from the penis. Cutaneous "burning" is not an STD symptom in the genital area. However, it certainly can be a symptom of genitally focused anxiety. The negative STD tests plus a provider's finding of nothing abnormal on examination are additional strong evidence against an STD and likely in favor of a psychological origin. (To clarify that point: I'm not a believer in the psyche creating symptoms out of the blue. But anxiety and other emotions clearly can magnify normal body sensations to the point of discomfort, and "burning" is a very common word used by patients with that problem.)
To your specific questions:
1) The timing of HSV blood test results depends on when the infection is acquired, not presence of absence of symptoms at any time. Herpes simply is not a realistic consideration in your situation and never was. You can expect any and all future blood tests to remain negative.
2) No; see above.
3) There are no data on the risk of warts from any single sexual encounter. But it's probably less than 1 chance in a thousand. It is not true that warts first show up months or years after exposure. That may happen rarely, but most people with genital warts first notice them within a few weeks of exposure. Your burning sensation is not an HPV/warts symptom.
4) Warts typically require treatment for a few weeks. But this isn't something to be concerned about unless and until you develop warts. Probably it isn't going to happen.
Bottom line: You can be quite confident you acquired no STD during your CSW encounter. If the burning sensation persists, continue to work with your health care provider on alternate causes.
Regards-- HHH, MD
First, herpes: You don't have it. I reviewed your thread on the herpes forum and agree exactly with the advice you got from Ms. Warren. Around 70% of people with new HSV-2 have positive blood tests by 5 weeks, so the negative test result is further reassurance. You can expect any future HSV tests to remain negative.
Other STDs: No STD causes the sort of "burning" you seem to be describing. Burning within the urethra, during urination, is a symptoms of urethritis, but even that generally does not occur without abnomral dishcarge from the penis. Cutaneous "burning" is not an STD symptom in the genital area. However, it certainly can be a symptom of genitally focused anxiety. The negative STD tests plus a provider's finding of nothing abnormal on examination are additional strong evidence against an STD and likely in favor of a psychological origin. (To clarify that point: I'm not a believer in the psyche creating symptoms out of the blue. But anxiety and other emotions clearly can magnify normal body sensations to the point of discomfort, and "burning" is a very common word used by patients with that problem.)
To your specific questions:
1) The timing of HSV blood test results depends on when the infection is acquired, not presence of absence of symptoms at any time. Herpes simply is not a realistic consideration in your situation and never was. You can expect any and all future blood tests to remain negative.
2) No; see above.
3) There are no data on the risk of warts from any single sexual encounter. But it's probably less than 1 chance in a thousand. It is not true that warts first show up months or years after exposure. That may happen rarely, but most people with genital warts first notice them within a few weeks of exposure. Your burning sensation is not an HPV/warts symptom.
4) Warts typically require treatment for a few weeks. But this isn't something to be concerned about unless and until you develop warts. Probably it isn't going to happen.
Bottom line: You can be quite confident you acquired no STD during your CSW encounter. If the burning sensation persists, continue to work with your health care provider on alternate causes.
Regards-- HHH, MD
Thank you for your detailed response Doctor.
I have scheduled another appointment at the clinic for saturday for a final examination of the area where it is burning and sore (all on the left side of my thigh/groin/anus).
Thank you for articulating the impact anxiety can have. However, i am certain that this discomfort is physical and not mental. The burning/soreness is in the folds of my groin/upper thigh/scrotum. Perhaps, i have damaged the skin by pulling at it to check for spots or warts? My penis tip can also be very sore on occasion, however there are definitely no lesions or blisters on my penis.
I shall follow your advice and get another Igg test. if the results are negative I will happily dismiss herpes and not bother with a 16 week test. I shall also get my provider to do a thorough visual examination of my groin area to look for warts (i have read that they can be so small to be mistaken as something else).
I have scheduled another appointment at the clinic for saturday for a final examination of the area where it is burning and sore (all on the left side of my thigh/groin/anus).
Thank you for articulating the impact anxiety can have. However, i am certain that this discomfort is physical and not mental. The burning/soreness is in the folds of my groin/upper thigh/scrotum. Perhaps, i have damaged the skin by pulling at it to check for spots or warts? My penis tip can also be very sore on occasion, however there are definitely no lesions or blisters on my penis.
I shall follow your advice and get another Igg test. if the results are negative I will happily dismiss herpes and not bother with a 16 week test. I shall also get my provider to do a thorough visual examination of my groin area to look for warts (i have read that they can be so small to be mistaken as something else).
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I did not say the symptom was not physical. Burning pain, physically, is exactly what I was talking about.
It is rare if ever that warts are so small that they are easily mistaken for other things. If you cannot see skin bumps with the naked eye, you do not have warts. And warts absolutely do not cause the sort of symptoms you describe. And anyway, genital warts in men usually are on the penis, not the groin.
It is rare if ever that warts are so small that they are easily mistaken for other things. If you cannot see skin bumps with the naked eye, you do not have warts. And warts absolutely do not cause the sort of symptoms you describe. And anyway, genital warts in men usually are on the penis, not the groin.
Hi Doctor,
I had an 8 week test last wek. I received my results which were:
H.S.V. I (IgG) Negative 0.389 Index (Pos = > 1.0)
H.S.V. II (IgG) Negative 0.142 Index (Pos = > 1.0)
This has pretty much reassured me that I don't have herpes. My doctor has stated that there is no point in me coming back to getting tested at 16 weeks.
The "burning" stopped nearly a week and a half ago, so far the last week i have pretty much put this whole issue out of my mind and forgotten about it. Unfortunately, 24 hours ago, i was having a shower and noticed a small growth on my upper,inner thigh/groin area (its so high on the leg, my scrotum is in contact with the growth).
i have made an appointment at the clinic, but i cant be seen for another 8 days.
I just wanted to ask if this is typical of genital warts presentation? it is a single growth/wart. it cant be scratched off or burst but does stretch slightly when i pull it. it isn't painful (definitely not a spot).
As you stated, i thought warts are generally found on the penis and not in the thigh/groin area. Also i thought they came in a bunch or cluster? This is a single growth or will more warts/growths be likely to come soon (if it is genital warts). it has been 9 weeks since my sexual encounter. Your thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
I had an 8 week test last wek. I received my results which were:
H.S.V. I (IgG) Negative 0.389 Index (Pos = > 1.0)
H.S.V. II (IgG) Negative 0.142 Index (Pos = > 1.0)
This has pretty much reassured me that I don't have herpes. My doctor has stated that there is no point in me coming back to getting tested at 16 weeks.
The "burning" stopped nearly a week and a half ago, so far the last week i have pretty much put this whole issue out of my mind and forgotten about it. Unfortunately, 24 hours ago, i was having a shower and noticed a small growth on my upper,inner thigh/groin area (its so high on the leg, my scrotum is in contact with the growth).
i have made an appointment at the clinic, but i cant be seen for another 8 days.
I just wanted to ask if this is typical of genital warts presentation? it is a single growth/wart. it cant be scratched off or burst but does stretch slightly when i pull it. it isn't painful (definitely not a spot).
As you stated, i thought warts are generally found on the penis and not in the thigh/groin area. Also i thought they came in a bunch or cluster? This is a single growth or will more warts/growths be likely to come soon (if it is genital warts). it has been 9 weeks since my sexual encounter. Your thoughts on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
See the doctor about the growth. You correctly understood me about the usual locations of genital warts, which is why it probably is something else. It is premature to worry about whether others will appear before you even know what this one is.
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.
