Aa
Realistic HSV Likelihood - TS Escort
I've searched and researched these forums for such seems like forever, but it's only been 4 weeks.
Here's the situation:
I am a married man. 4 weeks ago, I had an encounter with a TS Escort. I gave unprotected oral (he did not ejaculate), received protected oral, and I penetrated him while wearing a condom. To my knowledge, the condom stayed intact.
Since then, I have been absolutely terrified I caught something viral and incurable, and that my secret will be discovered. I know from these forums and elsewhere that my chances re: HIV are very, very good, but HSV (herpes) is absolutely terrifying; asymptomatic, highly contagious, 3 month windows.
I've been stuck with an awful lot of needles.
-13 days - Quick oral HIV antibody test at 13 days - negative.
-20 days - Complete panel (HIV quick blood stick, HSV biokit, syphilis RPR, urine + throat culture for bacterials) - negative, but heavy antibiotic dosing for one week as a precaution.
-28 days - Another panel (HIV blood test, HSV blood, hepatitis a & c, bacterials) - results back this week.
I keep thinking that every day is going to be my last day before my life is completely destroyed. But what are my chances, realistically?
Here's the situation:
I am a married man. 4 weeks ago, I had an encounter with a TS Escort. I gave unprotected oral (he did not ejaculate), received protected oral, and I penetrated him while wearing a condom. To my knowledge, the condom stayed intact.
Since then, I have been absolutely terrified I caught something viral and incurable, and that my secret will be discovered. I know from these forums and elsewhere that my chances re: HIV are very, very good, but HSV (herpes) is absolutely terrifying; asymptomatic, highly contagious, 3 month windows.
I've been stuck with an awful lot of needles.
-13 days - Quick oral HIV antibody test at 13 days - negative.
-20 days - Complete panel (HIV quick blood stick, HSV biokit, syphilis RPR, urine + throat culture for bacterials) - negative, but heavy antibiotic dosing for one week as a precaution.
-28 days - Another panel (HIV blood test, HSV blood, hepatitis a & c, bacterials) - results back this week.
I keep thinking that every day is going to be my last day before my life is completely destroyed. But what are my chances, realistically?
The stat referring to initial infections is what I'm terrified of, since it basically cancels out the "4 weeks with no symptoms is a reasonable sign of no infection."
The 1:500 odds of transmission does ease my mind a bit, but it looks as if I will have Damocles over my head for the next 2-3 months...
The 1:500 odds of transmission does ease my mind a bit, but it looks as if I will have Damocles over my head for the next 2-3 months...
Those statistics are not being interpreted quite correctly. They may relate in some way to an initial infection of HSV2. What you describe as 60% atypical/unrecognizable is probably more correctly termed mild and undiagnosed.
People do not shed large amounts. Those with HSV2 shed somewhere in the range 15-30% of days in a year. Most of those actual shedding days will not involve a sufficient amount of the virus to provide a realistic chance of infection.
As mentioned above, even if the partner had HSV2, and that's not assured at all, then even if shedding was taking place, the chances of infection are 1 in 500 or longer, particularly as protection was used.
People do not shed large amounts. Those with HSV2 shed somewhere in the range 15-30% of days in a year. Most of those actual shedding days will not involve a sufficient amount of the virus to provide a realistic chance of infection.
As mentioned above, even if the partner had HSV2, and that's not assured at all, then even if shedding was taking place, the chances of infection are 1 in 500 or longer, particularly as protection was used.
None of the "classic" signs of a herpes infection. Never had any history of cold sores. Escort looked clean (no sores or scars). What's got me terrified is the statistic being thrown around of only 20% infections showing the classic signs, with 60% showing "atypical/unrecognized" and 20% being completely asymptomatic and yet still shedding in large amounts.
A single encounter is 1 in 1,000s of infection if there are no herpes lesions present. It just isn't right to say this is highly contagious.
Do you have oral cold sores? This includes from your youth?
After 4 weeks with no symptoms, this is a reasonable sign of no infection. As you're aware though, a negative blood test at 12 weeks is needed to be conclusive.
Do you have oral cold sores? This includes from your youth?
After 4 weeks with no symptoms, this is a reasonable sign of no infection. As you're aware though, a negative blood test at 12 weeks is needed to be conclusive.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
