Risk of Herpes from this exposure?

[stupid2012]

Dear Doctors, I’m a 24 year old male I’ am  uncircumcised. I been searching to the forums since my exposure on Friday at 3:30 am it seems to be a low risk exposure or close to zero I hope, well this is what happen.

Friday at 3:30 in the morning under the influence of alcohol I visit a sexual worker she was on her mid 30s for sure we had protected oral and protected vaginal sex it was dark in the room so I wasn’t be able to see if she had any sores or lesions at all I’m pretty sure the condom did not break “ I hope not” I was extremely careful I made sure I dint have much skin to skin contact with her also she rub her *** on my condom protected penis and before this 6 months a go i tested negative for all std’s except for Herpes Simplex 1 I had cold sores since a child. My biggest scared about this exposure is Herpes Simplex 2

Should I be worry about this exposure?


If I was infected where the outbreak would be?

How rare is getting Herpes simplex 2 by condom protected sex?

Should I test for herpes in 3 months past my exposure?

I been looking a threads and grace condoms only protected you 30% so I got a 70% chance of getting it right?

Thanks Stupid2012

P. S : Great work on this forum, you doctors are doing a great job and thanks for helping idiots like myself.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Welcome to the forum.  Thanks for your question.  I reviewed your discussion on the STD community forum and agree exactly with the advice you had there, so my replies here are brief.

"My biggest scared about this exposure is Herpes Simplex 2.  Should I be worry about this exposure?"and "How rare is getting Herpes simplex 2 by condom protected sex?"

You should not be worried at all.  Even without a condom, and if your partner had HSV-2, the average chance of infection probably is around once for every 1,000 exposure.  With a condom, it's probably 10 times lower than that. And you don't know your partner had HSV-2 anyway.

"If I was infected where the outbreak would be?"  At the base of your penis, above the area covered by the condom.

"Should I test for herpes in 3 months past my exposure?"  No.  HSV testing is not recommended after a single low risk exposure like this, unless there are symptoms that suggest a new HSV infection.

"I been looking a threads and grace condoms only protected you 30% so I got a 70% chance of getting it right?" No, that's wrong.  See above.  Over the long run, e.g. if someone is the regular partner of someone with HSV-2, condoms reduce the transmission risk by 30-50%.  But condoms are probably around 90% effective against HSV-2 for any single exposure.

So as you were advised on the community forum, you should not be at all worried about herpes after the exposure you have described.  Be on the lookout for blisters/sores of the penis, but if none appear within a couple weeks of the exposure, you can be confident you weren't infected.

I hope this has helped.  Thanks for the thanks about the forum.

HHH, MD

[stupid2012]

Thanks for your great response doctors handsfield if you don't mind asking 3 more question.

Does having hsv-1 makes more likely not to have a primary outbreak or it makes it more mild?

How many weeks you think i should wait for sores not to appear?

Today i woke up and the base of my penis feels sore it kinda hurts to walk should i be concern?

Thank you for your response and i will stop wasting your valuable time.
Thanks again and happy thanksgiving!!!!

[stupid2012]

And also i been feeling some burning sensation above the penis area i hope its not an outbreak! !

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Herpes doesn't cause pain or burning without also causing obvious blisters or sores. These symptoms are typical for a psychological origin.  You might not have them at all, especially at the base of your penis, if I hadn't mentioned that site in my previous reply.

I already discussed timing of symptoms.  Most new herpes starts within 5 days (you're probably home free already) and almost all within 2 weeks.  Prior HSV-1 often makes new HSV-2 infections less severe.

You came here for reassurance, and I gave it.  Believe it and accept it.  The chance you caught herpes is exceedingly low and it is not worth worrying about.  Don't get tested for HSV-2 and try to move on with your life.

Thanks for the thanks about the forum.

[stupid2012]

Dear dr handsfield i got a problem today i notice some papercuts between my inner thigh and scrotum is on the left side that whole are is red and it kinda hurts

Could this be a herpes outbreak?

I cannot make a appointment with my dermatologist because hes out of town!!!

Should i go to the er and have it check out its only on the left side it does burn sometimes when i walk

Really worry please

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This doesn't sound like herpes; both the location and the nature of the symptoms are wrong.  See a doctor if it persists, but stop worrying about herpes.

That will be all for this thread.  Best wishes.

[stupid2012]

Hello DR Handsfield, today i went to the urgent care and the P.A told me it was a friction burn and i should not worry about herpes! she told me to get healing powder but iam still a little confused!!

Does the urgent care was a good place to get this rash check out, are they up to date with stds?

and how ofter herpes is confused with friction burn?

thanks for you insight i won't bother you anymore thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is nothing to be confused about.  I don't have the time to describe all the reasons a friction burn would not be confused with herpes -- but no reasonably trained PA or other clinician would have any trouble seeing the difference.

That's definitely the end of this thread.  I won't have anything more to say.