Welcome back to the Forum. As you probably know, Dr. Handsfield and I share the forum. You got me this time. FYI, the reason we share the forum is because we have worked together for nearly 30 years and while our verbiage styles vary, we have never disagreed on management strategies or advice to clients. I did review your earlier interaction with Dr. Handsfield and note that you think you got your chlamydia through either a failed condom or hand to genital contact an Dr. Handsfield does not. As you might suspect, I tend to agree with Dr. Handsfield.
Bell's palsy is a relatively common idiopathic problem which has been associated with many, many causes even though in most cases the cause is not clear. Some medical problems known to cause Bell's Palsy symptoms include Lyme Disease, brain tumors, and vascular disease. Among infectious causes several viruses in the herpes virus family have been shown to be associated with Bells palsy- these include infections with varicella zoster virus (the chicken pox virus), Epstein Barr virus (one of the viruses that commonly causes mono) an herpes simplex virus 1, the virus that causes cold sores. The problem with consideration of each of these viruses as a cause of Bell's palsy is that each of these infections is very common, making it hard to determine whether evidence of these infections in persons with Bell's palsy is merely a coincidental occurrence of a common problem in persons with BP or the cause. What is clear however, it that if BP is caused by them, that it is a manifestation of a previously existing infection, not a recently acquire infection an that treatment aimed at the virus has no effect on the resolution of the palsy.
As far as your risk of HSV is concerned, there is simply no reason to worry that you got HSV from your encounter describe back in May. Like for the other STDs, condoms are highly effective prevention and HSV is not spread through masturbation. It would not surprise me if you had blood test evidence of HSV-1 since over 60% of adults do, however that would certainly not be an indication that you had recently acquired it or that it caused your Bell's. Finally and most importantly, medical studies have clearly shown that antimicrobial therapy of chronic viral infections, including HSV do not change the course of Bell’s palsy.
My impression- your Bell's Palsy is unrelated to the encounter you originally posted about and is a coincidence. I would not worry about it. EWH
Thank you Dr Hook.
I definately feel much better from the response.
I have also read up on some previous answers where you have noted a 1 in 1000 transmission rate with unprotected sex.
One final question. Would an HSV test be worth anyting if done before the 3 months period - I am moving back with someone after we were seperated and by then 3 months would not have passed. It will be about 2 months and 3 weeks.
I do realise you say not to worry and that is what im going with, but a test would put my mind 1000% at ease.
Many thanks for the great work that you gentlemen are doing here!!
My advice on testing is that you should seriously consider what you would do with the results before you test. First, for persons in your situations falsely positive tests are not all that uncommon. Second, unless you have tested in the past, a positive test would not AT ALL mean that you had become infected at the exposure you are so focused on. Statistically it is more likely than not that you already have HSV-1 and that you acquired it during childhood. There is also a modest chance that you could have gotten HSV-2 in the past and not known it (remember about 8% - 1 in 12, American adults with a single lifetime sex partner has HSV-2).
Personally, given your tendency to worry, my advice would be not to test. If you feel you must, then now is as good a time as any. EWH