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Herpes Anxiety!
On Feb 3, 2009 had sex with a woman that I did not know very well. I’ve been tested in past and never exposed to HSV1 or 2. Have been with same woman since. The woman from Feb 3 said she recently had an OBGYN physical and all came back normal. Told me I had nothing to worry about. After research, I found that HSV2 would not show as an abnormality on a pap smear if virus was not active at time of test? I never have had fever, urination pain, etc. 2/3/09 Oral and vaginal – protected and unprotected 2/12 or 2/13/09 Red spot of skin on shaft of penis. On a crease in skin and may have had a slight break in the crease? Could not see 5 mm or so, no blisters, blood, no pain. Looked somewhat dry and slowly faded by 2/19. It is a little different color to date due to new skin? Nothing else ever on genitals. 2/3 to present - had 5 or 6 random red spots total with small white head on back of upper thighs. I think this is probably folliculitis? Different times and slowly shrink to a purple spot. No blisters or ulcers, etc. I have had these before. I have had a sore throat since just after the date of sex – 2/3. Also have drainage and the soreness is on one side where it drains more. Going on for a month now. No sores in throat that I can see, just some redness. Better in morning, progresses during day to evening. 3/2/09 Noticed small red, pimple like bump on top of right hand near wrist. Herpes from foreplay! I noticed there was a hair in it, applied lotion, and by 3/5 it was gone. 3/5/09 Noticed 2 very small, maybe 1 mm, white skin/spots and some slight redness inside of my mouth, on the inner bottom lip area. Nothing on lips or face ever. Herpes from Oral Sex!! No bleeding, ulceration, or pain. Checked in the morning 3/6 (today) and the spots were gone, but small area remained slightly red and healing. Bite my inner lip without notice? Would herpes sores come and go this fast and be so limited? Could this be Herpes or can I forget it?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
All STDs are mostly asymptomatic, not just herpes. The silver lining about herpes being commonly asymptomatic is that it's so mild that if you get it, it won't cause any disease that matters to you. The fear of herpes is far in excess of the health problems it causes.
"If someone has never been exposed to either HSV1 or HSV2, the virus would probably show very prominent symptoms within 2 weeks?" Not quite true. Most new infections cause symptoms that someone would notice if alert and worried about it, but those symptoms can be mild. But yours still don't sound like herpes.
"I assume that all symptoms would show at same time and not over a period of weeks?" True.
"I also read oral herpes can take up to 4 weeks to show?" New infections with either HSV-1 or 2 usually cause symptoms within 3-10 days, rarely 3 weeks. I suppose it could take 4 weeks, but I have never heard of it.
You give excellent reasons for you to stop searching the internet for any more informatoin. You didn't catch it. Move one.
This is my last comment on this thread.
"If someone has never been exposed to either HSV1 or HSV2, the virus would probably show very prominent symptoms within 2 weeks?" Not quite true. Most new infections cause symptoms that someone would notice if alert and worried about it, but those symptoms can be mild. But yours still don't sound like herpes.
"I assume that all symptoms would show at same time and not over a period of weeks?" True.
"I also read oral herpes can take up to 4 weeks to show?" New infections with either HSV-1 or 2 usually cause symptoms within 3-10 days, rarely 3 weeks. I suppose it could take 4 weeks, but I have never heard of it.
You give excellent reasons for you to stop searching the internet for any more informatoin. You didn't catch it. Move one.
This is my last comment on this thread.
I thank you for your response. The information out there can be quite scary. The fact that most people do not know they have herpes and are asymptomatic is one of the most axiety causing. I have read your replies to others and from what you say, if someone has never been exposed to either HSV1 or HSV2, the virus would probably show very prominent symptoms within 2 weeks? I assume that all symptoms would show at same time and not over a period of weeks? I also read oral herpes can take up to 4 weeks to show? There is a lot of bad or to say the least, confusing information out there, which is why medical professional experts like yourself are such a valuable resource. You should be proud of the work you do and I appreciate you answering my questions promptly. It is a great service. Thank you!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum. I'll try to help.
The main problem here seems to be your own compulsion to search for symptoms and skin "abnormalities" that probably mean nothing. You should have quit when you were ahead, i.e. when your partner told you she is free of STDs. Going to the internet for information about herpes in that context was bound to do nothing but inflame your mostly unfounded worries.
There are lots of individual questions there, either direct or implied. I'll make some general comments that should answer most of them.
Pap smears don't pick up herpes at all, whether "active" or "inactive". Pap smears are not for the purpose of STD diagnosis. They happen to partly serve that purpose for a single STD, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Statistically, it is fairly unlikely your partner had herpes. She might have, and there is no way to know without proper lab testing. But even if she had it, the chance of HSV transmission for any single episode of unprotected vaginal sex probably is 1 in 1,000 or less.
You describe no symptoms that suggest herpes. I don't have either the time or energy to go over each and every one, but my judgment is based both on your description of the spots and feelings, as well as their apparent widespread location over several weeks.
My advice is to see a health care provider about your symptoms. Your local health department would be an excellent choice. But in the meantime, there isn't even one aspect of your story that makes herpes seem likely.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- HHH, MD
The main problem here seems to be your own compulsion to search for symptoms and skin "abnormalities" that probably mean nothing. You should have quit when you were ahead, i.e. when your partner told you she is free of STDs. Going to the internet for information about herpes in that context was bound to do nothing but inflame your mostly unfounded worries.
There are lots of individual questions there, either direct or implied. I'll make some general comments that should answer most of them.
Pap smears don't pick up herpes at all, whether "active" or "inactive". Pap smears are not for the purpose of STD diagnosis. They happen to partly serve that purpose for a single STD, infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Statistically, it is fairly unlikely your partner had herpes. She might have, and there is no way to know without proper lab testing. But even if she had it, the chance of HSV transmission for any single episode of unprotected vaginal sex probably is 1 in 1,000 or less.
You describe no symptoms that suggest herpes. I don't have either the time or energy to go over each and every one, but my judgment is based both on your description of the spots and feelings, as well as their apparent widespread location over several weeks.
My advice is to see a health care provider about your symptoms. Your local health department would be an excellent choice. But in the meantime, there isn't even one aspect of your story that makes herpes seem likely.
I hope this helps. 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.
