Concerned about possible Herpes infection.

[gadgetguy]

Approx 8 to 10 weeks ago I had un-ptotected sex with someone I had only known for a short while during a period that my girlfriend and I we seperated after a year long monogomous relationship. She said she was free from any STD's but I am concerned about a couple things. First let me say I have not had any sort of discharge, no burning before during or after urinating. No bumps or any other un-explained things showing up on my genitals or surrounding area. My girlfriend and I worked things out in our relationship about 6 weeks ago and have been having un-protected sex. She went thru a kidney stone episode a couple weeks ago in which she was on alot of antibiotics and got a yeast infection, we had had sex 2 days before the infection showed symptoms. The 2 things I have started to experience within the last 10 days is some extra sensitively on the head of my penis at times but not always when rubbing against my underwear and occasional dull ache in my right testicle but it is not bad and just comes and goes some days it aches some days it doesn't. Neither my penis nor my testicle seem to hurt with direct touch/pressure and there has not been any noticeable swelling or color change of either. I have been a little concerned but have not gone to the doctor yet. I have not had any of the typical symptoms that I have read about relating to the most common of STD's but I have been unclear about Herpes which seems to have many faces. Could it be possible that it is Herpes symptoms? I have been nervous ever since the encounter which I regret doing (what a drunken mistake!) but I hope I don't regret it for the rest of my life. Could my axiety and over thinking the issue be causing my symptoms? I do a thorough inspection everytime I have to urinate and sometimes I just have to go look even if I dont have to urinate to make sure I don't see anything different which I never do. Any information would be greatly appreciated to help put my mind at ease. Thank you in advance.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I understand your concern about having acquired something and the possibility of passing it on.  I doubt that much concern is required.  The topic of herpes is a complex one.  The disease is common with HSV-1 being present in over 60% of adults and HSV-2 (the virus which causes most genital herpes) being present in about 1 in 5 Americans.  For both infections, the majority of people who have the infections are not aware that they are infected, either because they either acquired it without knowing in the past or because they misidentified their herpes as something else.  I will do my best to answer your questions but in general, many of these questions and information about herpes can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA).  Now, for your questions:

It sounds as though you had limited unprotected exposure to another partner.  Unless you discussed it or she had symptoms, her likelihood of infection in her is about what I mentioned above.  Even if she has HSV, whether or not she knows it, the fact is most exposures to persons with herpes do not result in transmission (it's multiple exposures that typically "catch up" to people leading to HSV transmission).  When you add that to the fact that the symptoms you describe do not sound in any way like herpes, odds are no greater now that you have HSV than they were before you entered into that relationship.

As for your current symptoms, the testicular discomfort you describe is not describe is a common complaint on this forum but typically is not related to STD and is not a symptom of herpes (there is an uncommon complication of gonorrhea and chlamydia called epididymitis which involves the testicles but your complaints do not suggest that either).  As for the penile sensitivity, without lesions it is most unlikely that this is HSV either.  It could be a yeast infection, some other dermatological process or even related to the repeated self examination that you mention.  I would advice one of two approaches.  Either try to not worry about it and it will likely go away on its own or go see a health care professional who can evaluate and assess your problems with the benefit of an examination.  

Either way, your symptoms are most unlikely to be due to herpes.  There is nothing here to suggest that you've acquired an STD.  Hope this helps.  EWH

[gadgetguy]

Thanks for getting back to me. I do feel better with the information you provided me. It was a one time encounter. Symptom wise could it be related to any other type of STD? Most of what I have read seems to tell me that most symptoms appear fairly quickly and not 8 weeks later and they are much different/worse than what I (think) am experiencing.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No, your symptoms are really not suggestive of othr STDs. I would look for another cause EWH

[gadgetguy]

Thanks doc for your time and information. I feel much better and will go to see a local doctor if the symptoms persist. Thanks again!