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Herpes Contraction Risk
Hi Doc,
I had a single sexual encounter of protected vaginal sex with a women who was HSV2 positive during the first week of September. Her HSV2 infection was new (<8 months old). She did not have an obvious outbreak at the time, and had been taking Valtrex for a few days.
Since that time, I have not developed any pimple like lesions or obvious rashes on my penis, scrotum, or genital area. I've experienced no swollen nodes in the inguinal region.
However, I have had an itching in the area of where the thigh meets the scrotum. The itch seems to come on suddenly, and is relieved by scratching. It does not persist. Seems to bother me most when I'm sitting, rather then walking around (but I do feel it sometimes then).
The itching may have stopped during the 2nd or 3rd week of September (or I may have stopped noticing it), but it seems to have flared up again this past week. I've been under a lot of stress this past month, dealing with the fallout of this encounter, and finally ended the relationship last week. I've also been inspecting the area on a daily basis (sometimes more than once) looking for any signs of lesions.
I know that I am HSV1 positive (oral), from an STD screen done about 6 months ago. No new sexual partners since then, other then the above.
My questions for you are:
1. If this were herpes would I have experienced a rash or pimple like outbreak by now? Is this itch consistent with herpes?
2. What is my risk of having contracted herpes? Can I let this go? I'm obsessing quite a bit about this.
3. Should I get follow up testing done?
I had a single sexual encounter of protected vaginal sex with a women who was HSV2 positive during the first week of September. Her HSV2 infection was new (<8 months old). She did not have an obvious outbreak at the time, and had been taking Valtrex for a few days.
Since that time, I have not developed any pimple like lesions or obvious rashes on my penis, scrotum, or genital area. I've experienced no swollen nodes in the inguinal region.
However, I have had an itching in the area of where the thigh meets the scrotum. The itch seems to come on suddenly, and is relieved by scratching. It does not persist. Seems to bother me most when I'm sitting, rather then walking around (but I do feel it sometimes then).
The itching may have stopped during the 2nd or 3rd week of September (or I may have stopped noticing it), but it seems to have flared up again this past week. I've been under a lot of stress this past month, dealing with the fallout of this encounter, and finally ended the relationship last week. I've also been inspecting the area on a daily basis (sometimes more than once) looking for any signs of lesions.
I know that I am HSV1 positive (oral), from an STD screen done about 6 months ago. No new sexual partners since then, other then the above.
My questions for you are:
1. If this were herpes would I have experienced a rash or pimple like outbreak by now? Is this itch consistent with herpes?
2. What is my risk of having contracted herpes? Can I let this go? I'm obsessing quite a bit about this.
3. Should I get follow up testing done?
Regarding the "itching" episode and the rashes- you should probably see a dermatologist anyway. I had a somewhat similar rash (inguinal fold, between scrotum and inner thigh) minus the buttock rash, but it responded very nicely to topical steroids.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No.
Hi Doc,
I developed a rash on both of my buttocks, at about the area where i sit. I've seen what look like pimples - maybe 2-3 total; one on one side, 2 on the other. It hurts to sit on them, and to scratch them. They are too small to pop. Could this be herpes?
I developed a rash on both of my buttocks, at about the area where i sit. I've seen what look like pimples - maybe 2-3 total; one on one side, 2 on the other. It hurts to sit on them, and to scratch them. They are too small to pop. Could this be herpes?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
First off, "itching in the area of where the thigh meets the scrotum" is not a symptom that suggests herpes, so I consider you asymptomatic with respect to herpes. Add that to the low risk of transmission for any single sexual encounter, and the chance you caught HSV-2 is very low. So the answers are: 1) Probably yes, but not necessarily; many initial HSV infections are asymptomatic. 2) Probably less than 1 chance in 1000. Let it go. 3) But if you cannot let it go without testing, it's fine with me if you want to do it. Wait until 3-4 months has passed since your sexual exposure. In the meantime, you can expect a negative result for HSV-2.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- 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.
