std genital herpes

[punk1983]

Doctor,

I encountered oral sex no protection about 6 days ago with a white female around her mid 30's. I am scared to with all the stuff i read online. I went to the doctor yesterday and they gave me a shot and two antibiotics i had no fever and she said my scrotum seem fine. After going to the doctor, I am feeling dizzy (weak) mostly like if i had a sinus symptom forehead. sometimes i wake up at night (with nightmares) sweating and feel like if i have a fever. I have not been able to sleep that much eitehr (guilt). Also, my penis bothers me from time to time like around the tip not often(but not quite sure if it is paranoia i look for symptoms too much). I have NO pain while urinating. my testicles yesterday look a bit swell? which scares me a lot (again the doctor said they looked fine). I have, or see no sores of any kind (i look for them a lot). I got a couple of questions:

1) what are my chances % of an HIV infection and can i wait to get tested at 30 days or 6 weeks? (also at 4 weeks 30 days how reliable is this test?)

2) my dizzyness could it be because of genital herpes?

3) the doctor told me to wait the most 10 days then i "most likely do not have herpes"  True should i get tested 6 weeks with blood samples (then what kind of test you suggest?)

4) if my penis bothers me (sometimes feels like burning others like itching) what would that be?

[punk1983]

FYI,

I have been to the doctor and tested negative for gon, chal, and did urine teste which was clean. how ever I have developed a purple small bump on the top of my penis ring (2 days). it itches and i frequently have to urinate. 2 nights ago i had groin pain. hope its not herpes but from the symptoms and itching i have no other taughts.

thanks again for the forum. hope someone will read and remember to use protection at all times.....

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the thanks about the forum, but I have nothing more to say.  This thread is over.  Take it over to the STD support forum if you want comments from others.

[punk1983]

sorry to bother one more time.  its about 13 days after the exposure i have no herpes symptoms (hope to be home free by now HOPE). I have a flu which i guess is common for this time. but my scrotum when in bed and warm temperature turns RED and it leaves a burning sensation and i can see the veins. i do not know if this is normal or not.  

Thanks again for all your support and prompt response. it has been of great help. sorry.

Have a great day.

[waringblender]

I understand the thread is over, but keep the numbers coming. I love seeing the statistics for comparative purposes. :)

I always wear a seat belt.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I told you that you don't have HIV and this thread is over.  Any further attempts at anxiety-provoked questions and I will delete the entire thread.  If you want to carry on a discussion, take it over to the HIV support forum.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Those are not HIV or STD symptoms.

Let's calculate your HIV risk.  Chance your partner had it, maybe 1 in 1,000.  That's the average rate for women in the US.  Chance of HIV transmission by a single episode of oral sex, if she had HIV has been calculated at an average of 1 in 20,000.  But for ease of calculation, let's say it's twice that high, 1 in 10,000.  That means your risk of having caught HIV is 0.001 x 0.0001 = 0.0000001.  That's 1 in 10 million.  So you are wrong:  gor practical purposes, that means zero risk.  (For comparison:  If you live in the US, the chance you will die in some accident in the next 12 months is 1 in 1,756.  That risk is almost 6,000 times higher than the chance you caught HIV.)

Drop it.  This thread is over.

PS:  Don't forget your seatbelt.

[punk1983]

I have recently started to feel back pain that comes and leaves, as well as joint pain in my knees. Also, I have started to feel dry throat with clear mucous and the diarrhea is not completely gone. I am really concern now since i've been expose for 8 days now and there is a low HIV risck but STILL there is a risk.

thanks,

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There are no data on the proportion of new genital HSV-1 infections that are symptomatic versus asymptomatic.  For HSV-2, a majority are asymptomatic.  However, even that probably doesn't apply to people in your situation.  When people are asymptomatic, it is usually because they just don't notice sores that actually are present.  When somebody is particularly anxious about herpes and looking carefully for lesions, probably the large majority of infections are symptomatic.  Thus, for someone in your situation, the absence of typical symptoms is very reassuring.

I see no reason for you to abstain.  The chance of catching HSV by a single episode of oral sex by a partner without visible cold sores probably is less than 1 chance in 10,000.  If you live in the US, your chance of dying from an accident in the next 12 monhs is 1 in 1,756 ---- which is 6 times higher than the herpes risk I just suggested.  So put things in perspective. Worry about herpes in this situation is wasted emotion and energy.  Just let it go.

The shot probably was ceftriaxone, to prevent gonorrhea.  My guess it the other medication was azithromycin -- you probably took either 4 pills or a bitter-tasting powder mixed in water.  It prevents chlamydia (which actually isn't a risk from oral sex, but your doc probably doesn't know that).  Azithromycin often causes diarrhea for a day or two.

Stop worrying.  All is well.  Don't forget your seatbelt.

[punk1983]

Just a couple of more questions before i let go of it.

1) What are the chances of not developing any signs of herpes (asymptomatic herpes) (Just for peace of mind let me know when should i get blood test - time frame)

2) I am abstaining of sex with my gf. until when can i safely have sex without putting her to a risk?

3) Also after going to the doctor i had diarrea for a couple of days is this normal?  I got a shot and some antibiotics to take. (the doctor did not mention what specifically these were for?)


Thanks for the respond,

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Directly to your questions:

1) HIV isn't a significant risk from oral sex, and almost certainly your partner didn't have HIV anyway.  You didn't need HIV testing. Read the HIV Prevention forum for extensive discussion.  

2) The chance of catching herpes, and not having symptoms, is just too low to worry about.  You describe no symptoms that even hint at herpes.  Dizziness is not a herpes symptom.

3) Your doctor is correct.  If you don't develop penile sores or blisters, you can be even more certain you didn't catch herpes.

4) No STD causes such a symptom. Most likely it's just your anxiety and guilt magnifying otherwise normal body sensations.  Guilt/anxiety also are the best bet for dizziness, sensation of testicular swelling, and pretty much everything else you describe.

Forget STD and deal with the sexual anxieties over the event. That's the only significant problem here.

Good luck--  HHH, MD