I agree with you about telling any future sex partners about my cold sores. Up until a month ago when I started looking online reading about stds is when I realized what danger I put my friend in. I was ignorant. I just want this nightmare to be over so I can move on. Reading other posts in the forum, ive read where yourself and Dr. Hook have posted new herpes infections usually occur 3-5 days after exposure and very rarely after 3 weeks. Do you still agree with this? I know the thread has gone long enough and I will end after this. Just looking for reassurance I guess. Thank you for what you do Dr. Hansfield.
Thank you for your help DR.
In the absence of an overt herpes outbreak, the chance of transmitting your oral HSV to your partner genital is low -- as a guess, under 1 chance in 1,000. If she hasn't had symtoms, the likelihood you infected her is even lower. At this point, I don't suggest you say anything to her. In the future, however, any and all sex partners should be informed of your oral herpes before your mouth comes into any contact with them, either kissing or oral-genital. It's only fair; the risk is low, but not zero.
Thank you for your response Dr. I know a lot of it is anxiety and fear driven. One last question to ease my mind please. I have had 3 cold sores in the past with my last one being almost 3 yrs ago. When I conducted oral on my friend I did not have a cold sore. Do you think it is likely I passed something to my friend even if its been over 2 months and she has not had any symptoms? Is it safe to move on without worrying?
Even more evidence against any STD.
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
I'm happy to confirm the accurate replies you had on the community forum. From your description, I agree your partner is at low risk for STDs. You are correct that urine or genital testing don't detect oral STDs. However, cunnlingus is very low risk for any and all STDs; combining that with your partner's low risk, STDs are not a serious consideration at all.
Equally important, neither your symptoms nor your partners suggest any STDs. Although yeast infections once in a while are shared between sex partners, they are not STDs. Neither yeast nor STDs cause fever, chills, and sore throat; these symptoms almost certainly are due to influenza or other garden variety respiratory virus -- which also is the most common cause of coated tongue.
Your RPR at 25 days was too soon to detect a new syphilis infection; it takes up to 6 weeks. However, the chance of syphilis in this situation is zero for all practical purposes. It would not even have entered my mind if you had been in my clinic.
In summary, I am confident that your girlfriend's symptoms and your own have abolutely nothing to do with your recent sexual indiscretion. Don't worry about it. I expect all your symptoms to improve with time. If they do not, then seeing your respective primary care physicians would make sense -- but even in that case, I see no need to even mention your sexual contact a few weeks earlier.
Best regards-- HHH, MD
Sorry but I would like add that her 1st yeast infection came after being in her wet bathing suit for a lfew hours. And her 2nd yeast infection with the high fever and sore throat came after a co-worker had the flu in same week. Don't know if that will make a difference to yiur assessment.