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HSV-1 concern.
INFO: I had unprotected oral sex with a female friend and did not know her HSV status, but at the time I did not notice any sores on her lips and when I talked to her later she said that she has never had a cold sore either. The episode was brief and lasted at most probably 5 minutes. My HSV-1 and 2 status is negative because I was tested 1 month ago by IgG and have not had any intercourse of any variety since then.
CONCERN: About 30 hours after the encounter I noticed a small red bump on the shaft of my penis on the right side about a centimeter below the head. It was not very big, roughly the size of pin head, did not hurt at all, never blistered nor opened into a sore or scabbed over. After 2-3 days the bump was already just about gone and the redness had subsided as well. Now 6 days post encounter the skin is just a bit discolored (looks darker than normal) and the skin appears to be a bit shiny where the bump was.
QUESTIONS:
1) Is unprotected oral sex with a person who has no visible sores considered a low risk experience?
2) There was also heavy kissing involved. Can I assume that if she did have HSV-1 and that no cold sores were on her lips, nor did they appear on mine from the kissing so far, that they also won't appear on my penis? My logic thinking that the kissing was heavier and longer than the oral sex therefore any infection would most likely appear on my lips.
3) Does herpes symptoms appear roughly 30 hrs after a given encounter? I read that no symptoms appear within 24 hours but would they at 30 hours even though it's only a 6 hour difference?
4) Given the symptoms I described and the time frame they appeared in should I have any reason to worry about contracting HSV-1 genitally? In your expert opinion can I safely resume sexual activity without any worries and move on provided no new symptoms appear before the 2 week mark?
Thank you for you expert advice since I am between jobs and currently have no health insurance.
CONCERN: About 30 hours after the encounter I noticed a small red bump on the shaft of my penis on the right side about a centimeter below the head. It was not very big, roughly the size of pin head, did not hurt at all, never blistered nor opened into a sore or scabbed over. After 2-3 days the bump was already just about gone and the redness had subsided as well. Now 6 days post encounter the skin is just a bit discolored (looks darker than normal) and the skin appears to be a bit shiny where the bump was.
QUESTIONS:
1) Is unprotected oral sex with a person who has no visible sores considered a low risk experience?
2) There was also heavy kissing involved. Can I assume that if she did have HSV-1 and that no cold sores were on her lips, nor did they appear on mine from the kissing so far, that they also won't appear on my penis? My logic thinking that the kissing was heavier and longer than the oral sex therefore any infection would most likely appear on my lips.
3) Does herpes symptoms appear roughly 30 hrs after a given encounter? I read that no symptoms appear within 24 hours but would they at 30 hours even though it's only a 6 hour difference?
4) Given the symptoms I described and the time frame they appeared in should I have any reason to worry about contracting HSV-1 genitally? In your expert opinion can I safely resume sexual activity without any worries and move on provided no new symptoms appear before the 2 week mark?
Thank you for you expert advice since I am between jobs and currently have no health insurance.
Many thanks Dr. Handsfield. I assure you I'm true to my word and the questions will cease. You have done a great job in helping me look at this in a rationale manner and given me the reassurance to help me move past this event. Take care.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You don't need testing for purely medical reasons. You're the only one who can decide whether you should be tested because of "anxious thinking", i.e. whether you might benefit psychologically from confirmation you were not infected, and whether that benefit is worth the cost.
That will end this thread. I won't have any further comments or advice.
That will end this thread. I won't have any further comments or advice.
Dr. Handsfield, my apologies but I did leave out one question and this will be my last. I've read that blood testing is accurate at 12 weeks post exposure. Judging by my experience, symptoms, and assuming no new symptoms appear would a blood test be medically appropriate in this situation? I ask because I'm just trying to gauge actual necessity over anxious thinking getting the best of me since testing would be too expensive for my budget without insurance. I thank you again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Glad to have helped. Take care.
Thank you for your input Dr. Handsfield. It has really helped me look at my encounter in a reasonable manner and realize it was truly a low risk situation.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question. I'll go directly to your questions.
1) Although there are no data on which to accurately know the risk of acquiring HSV-1 from a single oral sex encounter, most likely the average risk is well under 1 chance in many thousand, especially if the oral partner does not have evidence of an active oral herpes outbreak. Therefore, I would consider this to be a very low risk event.
2) Yes, that assumption is valid. If she had an active oral herpes outbreak, your risk for oral herpes from kissing would be a lot higher than genital from oral sex.
3) 30 hours is too soon. Probably herpes symptoms never start sooner than 2 days after exposure and usually it's 3-5 days.
4) In addition to the low risk of the exposure and the timing, your symptoms are not typical. New HSV infections usually cause more lesions than you describe, accompanied by pain and swelling of lymph nodes in the groin, and often fever. Lesions would typically last for 10-20 days before healing.
An online forum is never a substitute for direct medical care. Health insurance or not, if you remain concerned you'll need to be professionally examined. But from all you say, I see no serious likelihood you acquired genital herpes (or oral herpes) from the exposure you have described.
I hope this has helped. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
1) Although there are no data on which to accurately know the risk of acquiring HSV-1 from a single oral sex encounter, most likely the average risk is well under 1 chance in many thousand, especially if the oral partner does not have evidence of an active oral herpes outbreak. Therefore, I would consider this to be a very low risk event.
2) Yes, that assumption is valid. If she had an active oral herpes outbreak, your risk for oral herpes from kissing would be a lot higher than genital from oral sex.
3) 30 hours is too soon. Probably herpes symptoms never start sooner than 2 days after exposure and usually it's 3-5 days.
4) In addition to the low risk of the exposure and the timing, your symptoms are not typical. New HSV infections usually cause more lesions than you describe, accompanied by pain and swelling of lymph nodes in the groin, and often fever. Lesions would typically last for 10-20 days before healing.
An online forum is never a substitute for direct medical care. Health insurance or not, if you remain concerned you'll need to be professionally examined. But from all you say, I see no serious likelihood you acquired genital herpes (or oral herpes) from the exposure you have described.
I hope this has helped. 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.
