herpes chance

[worried2025]

Hello Dr,

Saturday night I had protected vaginal sex and condom protected sex with a sex worker.  What is the chance that I received herpes from this incident.  I asked her if she was clean and she said yes, but it always worrys me that since the condom does not cover all of the genetalia area, that the virus hsv2 could transmit still.  Other question is that I have some discomfort in my urethra, I'm not sure if it was due to trauma from sex since she was tinier than I was.  Please out my mind at ease, I'm currently looking for symptoms since then as I am a paranoid person as it is.  Also, does it play a factor that I have a Brazilian wax?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

No.  EWH

[worried2025]

One last question doctor, if still feeling discomfort within entrance to urethra, would this be ant sign of herpes infection there with use of condom?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are correct.  Following a brazilian, sometimes there is folliculitis, appearing as red bumps.  Herpes is quite unusual in the pubic area over the bladder.  You can relax.  EWH

[worried2025]

And this is near the bladder area.

[worried2025]

Thanks Doctor, last question, and promise to leave it be, since I got a brazilian, I notice that the hair follicles tend to sometimes get stuck and create a red bump, I don't want to get paranoid, but more than likely that's what it is, now that hair is growing back in.  And finally, I've heard that herpes doesn't tend to be near hair follicles?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Initial infection would occur at a site of direct contact.  Over 80% of initial HSV in men occurs on the penis.  EWH

[worried2025]

Thank you Doctor.  If I had an initial outbreak, where does it typically occur?  Also, with regard to herepes virus transmission, is the penis itself the most fragile with regards to being infected, or is the entire area just as susceptible?  

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. In general, as you were already told, condom protected sex is safe sex and there is very, very little risk for HSV, or for that matter, other STIs from condom protected sex.  I would not worry. In fact, i see no need for STD testing of any sort related to this exposure.

As for your current symptoms, I would not worry about them either.  Typically the symptoms of most STIs, including HSV do not start until more than 2-3 days following exposure, at the earliest.  On the other hand, this is the right time for sexual activity-related trauma to manifest itself.  

Your Brazilian wax should not change this.  EWH