Aa
Herpes?
Doctors,
I fear I may have contracted Herpes, so far 47 days later I have not yet had any visual symptoms, however I have been experiencing an on and off again tingling sensation in the head of my penis.
Timeline of events:
Oct 3: Unprotected vaginal intercourse
Oct 6 (roughly): Tingling sensation in the head of my penis begins
Oct 8 (Day 5): Tested for STD’s all negative.
Herpes Simplex IGM = .38
Herpes Simplex 2 IGG = .32
Tingling sensation persist
Nov 12 (Day 40): Tested again and again all negative
Herpes Simplex IGM = .54
Herpes Simplex 2 IGG = .25
My questions are these:
1. I’ve read that a tingling sensation will often precede a Herpes outbreak; how long after the tingling sensation begins would you expect to see an outbreak?
2. Does the increase in the IGM value suggest that I am infected with Herpes?
3. Does the decrease in the IGG value suggest that I am not infected with Herpes?
4. At what length of time are IGM and IGG considered conclusive?
I’ve noticed that you often diagnose “genitally focused anxiety” in patients with similar stories. But, I couldn’t find any long term follow up posts. I’m concerned that I haven’t read any like “hey doc just to follow up, the tingling is gone.” On the flipside I take comfort in the fact that I haven’t seen any “hey doc the tingling is still there, what gives?” Could you please talk about some of the long term outcomes you’ve seen in patients after diagnosing genitally focused anxiety?
I’m also curious to know if you have diagnosed genitally focused anxiety in a women; all the posts I read involved men. If you haven’t do you have a theory as to why this condition doesn’t seem to exist in women?
Thank you
I fear I may have contracted Herpes, so far 47 days later I have not yet had any visual symptoms, however I have been experiencing an on and off again tingling sensation in the head of my penis.
Timeline of events:
Oct 3: Unprotected vaginal intercourse
Oct 6 (roughly): Tingling sensation in the head of my penis begins
Oct 8 (Day 5): Tested for STD’s all negative.
Herpes Simplex IGM = .38
Herpes Simplex 2 IGG = .32
Tingling sensation persist
Nov 12 (Day 40): Tested again and again all negative
Herpes Simplex IGM = .54
Herpes Simplex 2 IGG = .25
My questions are these:
1. I’ve read that a tingling sensation will often precede a Herpes outbreak; how long after the tingling sensation begins would you expect to see an outbreak?
2. Does the increase in the IGM value suggest that I am infected with Herpes?
3. Does the decrease in the IGG value suggest that I am not infected with Herpes?
4. At what length of time are IGM and IGG considered conclusive?
I’ve noticed that you often diagnose “genitally focused anxiety” in patients with similar stories. But, I couldn’t find any long term follow up posts. I’m concerned that I haven’t read any like “hey doc just to follow up, the tingling is gone.” On the flipside I take comfort in the fact that I haven’t seen any “hey doc the tingling is still there, what gives?” Could you please talk about some of the long term outcomes you’ve seen in patients after diagnosing genitally focused anxiety?
I’m also curious to know if you have diagnosed genitally focused anxiety in a women; all the posts I read involved men. If you haven’t do you have a theory as to why this condition doesn’t seem to exist in women?
Thank you
I have been having unprotected sex with a woman who is divorced after 23 years of marriage, who just told me yesterday that she has herpes. We have been sexually active for about 6 months.
According to her she has lesions infrequently. Her former spouse did not contract herpes after 23 years due to her vigilance. She claims she is quite in tune w her body.
Can I have contracted this without an obvious breakout and is continued unprotected sex with her akin to Russian roulette with the knowledge that her husband of 23 years is free of infection?
According to her she has lesions infrequently. Her former spouse did not contract herpes after 23 years due to her vigilance. She claims she is quite in tune w her body.
Can I have contracted this without an obvious breakout and is continued unprotected sex with her akin to Russian roulette with the knowledge that her husband of 23 years is free of infection?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Interesting to hear others have used the same terminology. But I really can't help further. I doubt genitally focused anxiety will ever be a specific diagnosis, but this is definitely outside my expertise -- and as you suggest, not a primary topic for this forum.
Thank you Doctor, I will do my best to put this out mind. When the symptoms subside, I will try to remember to follow up. I would like to provide you with at least one example of long term follow up that you could tell your future patients about.
In dealing with this issue, I have read or spoken to five or so doctors. In their own words, each of them has suggested "genitally focused anxiety." You pointed out this isn't a "formal diagnosis." Are you aware of any research that may lead to this one day being a "formal diagnosis"? If not, I would ask that you consider publishing on the topic. The numbers of posts where people explain almost identical symptoms is astonishing and I think worthy of research and a "formal diagnosis." I suspect your "genitally focused anxiety" diagnosis is correct and could one day be formally known as "Handsfield Syndrome."
If there is already research out there on anxiety causing sensations in the genitals, would you mind providing a link? I think reading it would go a long way in helping to alleviate the anxiety that is causing my and other's symptoms.
Have you heard of any your colleagues giving alternate diagnoses for patients whom you have diagnosed with "genitally focused anxiety"?
I know this post might fall outside of the purpose of this forum and thus not merit a response from you, but a response would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Relieved
In dealing with this issue, I have read or spoken to five or so doctors. In their own words, each of them has suggested "genitally focused anxiety." You pointed out this isn't a "formal diagnosis." Are you aware of any research that may lead to this one day being a "formal diagnosis"? If not, I would ask that you consider publishing on the topic. The numbers of posts where people explain almost identical symptoms is astonishing and I think worthy of research and a "formal diagnosis." I suspect your "genitally focused anxiety" diagnosis is correct and could one day be formally known as "Handsfield Syndrome."
If there is already research out there on anxiety causing sensations in the genitals, would you mind providing a link? I think reading it would go a long way in helping to alleviate the anxiety that is causing my and other's symptoms.
Have you heard of any your colleagues giving alternate diagnoses for patients whom you have diagnosed with "genitally focused anxiety"?
I know this post might fall outside of the purpose of this forum and thus not merit a response from you, but a response would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Relieved
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Bottom line: you do not have genital herpes and shouldn't be at all worried about it.
Apparently you have read information that describes "tingling" as a symptom of herpes. If so, you misunderstood. Tingling alone is not a herpes symptom. Recurrent herpes blisters or sores may tingle, or tingling may precede a new blister/sore by a day or two. But that's all. Tingling does not precede the sores of an initial HSV infection. Further, the large majority of newly infected people have positive blood tests by 6 weeks (40 days), and your tests are entirely negative. To your specific questions:
1) Tingling generally does not precede initial herpes outbreaks. It may precede a recurrent outbreak by 1-2 days, not longer than that.
2,3) No. All negative results are equally negative. HSV blood test levels below the positive/negative cut-off are totally negative. (If the identical blood specimen were tested 10 times, it would give 10 different numerical values.)
4) IgM testing is totally valueless and the results, whether positive or negative, should be ignored. Here is a thread that explains this; although a few years old, the information remains accurate: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/248394 ; The IgG test is positive by 6 weeks in around 80% of patients; it reaches maximum performance after 3-4 months. However, given all the information you provide, I probably would not have tested you for herpes to begin with and see no need for additional testing. However, if you remain concerned about it, have a final test at 3-4 months. Almost certainly it will remain negative.
"Genitally focused anxiety" is not a formal diagnosis -- it's entirely my personal description based on 30+ years in the STD business. However, just as forum users in whom I suggest that possibility generally don't return with long-term follow-up comments, STD clinic patients with such problems typically do not return to the clinic. I cannot say what happens to such persons' symptoms over time. I agree that this sort of problem generally seems more common in men than women, in my experience.
In any case, the bottom line is that whether anxiety or something else explains your symptoms, for sure it isn't herpes.
I hope you find this information helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Apparently you have read information that describes "tingling" as a symptom of herpes. If so, you misunderstood. Tingling alone is not a herpes symptom. Recurrent herpes blisters or sores may tingle, or tingling may precede a new blister/sore by a day or two. But that's all. Tingling does not precede the sores of an initial HSV infection. Further, the large majority of newly infected people have positive blood tests by 6 weeks (40 days), and your tests are entirely negative. To your specific questions:
1) Tingling generally does not precede initial herpes outbreaks. It may precede a recurrent outbreak by 1-2 days, not longer than that.
2,3) No. All negative results are equally negative. HSV blood test levels below the positive/negative cut-off are totally negative. (If the identical blood specimen were tested 10 times, it would give 10 different numerical values.)
4) IgM testing is totally valueless and the results, whether positive or negative, should be ignored. Here is a thread that explains this; although a few years old, the information remains accurate: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/248394 ; The IgG test is positive by 6 weeks in around 80% of patients; it reaches maximum performance after 3-4 months. However, given all the information you provide, I probably would not have tested you for herpes to begin with and see no need for additional testing. However, if you remain concerned about it, have a final test at 3-4 months. Almost certainly it will remain negative.
"Genitally focused anxiety" is not a formal diagnosis -- it's entirely my personal description based on 30+ years in the STD business. However, just as forum users in whom I suggest that possibility generally don't return with long-term follow-up comments, STD clinic patients with such problems typically do not return to the clinic. I cannot say what happens to such persons' symptoms over time. I agree that this sort of problem generally seems more common in men than women, in my experience.
In any case, the bottom line is that whether anxiety or something else explains your symptoms, for sure it isn't herpes.
I hope you find this information helpful. Best wishes-- 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.
