Should I stop worrying?

[Symphony_2]

I broke up with my girlfriend. I dated another girl briefly. We had protected sex (twice) and made out. I washed immediately following both sessions (vaginal no oral or anal). The first time I washed I only did a so so job, the second time I was pretty thorough. She revealed to me that she had herpes. My girlfriend and I decided to get back together. We have not been intimate yet although I did go down on her. It has been 8 days since this other girl and I had sex (the second time)and about 11 days from the first session. I have no symptoms below the belt. I have had some tingling in my lips and at times my face feels flushed. I have a crack at the corner of my lips- but I have had these before. After a week, I went and was tested for herpes. I don't have those results yet. Do you think I should be worried about having herpes?

[Forum-M.D.-]

Your symptoms don't sound like herpes.  The odds of catching herpes after any particular sexual exposure are low, even with a partner with herpes, unless the partner has an outbreak at the time.  Most of the time, if a person has no symptoms, s/he isn't infectious.  And you wore condoms, which are highly protective.  Your washing probably made no difference in risk; in fact, it is possible that washing increases the risk of HSV transmission.  Vigorous ('thorough') washing might massage virus into the skin more effectively.  And of course since only your genital area was exposed, your mouth could not be infected, so performing oral on your girlfriend obviously didn't put her at risk for anything.  Finally, the tingling and flushing definitely aren't herpes.  Most likely the cracks at the corner of your mouth aren't either.  It is possible you have oral herpes (not from your recent sexual adventures), but I doubt it.

Your herpes testing was useless and made no sense. (Did a doctor actually recommend it or did you insist against his or her advice?)  If you had no genital sore, there was nothing to test for the virus.  And if you caught a new infection, it wouldn't show up on a blood test until 6-12 weeks later.  (Well, a blood tes isn't totally useless.  But if it is positive, it will be from sometime in the past, not your recent exposures.)

So to answer the final question, no, I see no reason for you to be concerned about herpes.  It really isn't an issue, based on the events and symptoms you describe.  You can relax.

I hope htis helps.  Regards-- HHH, MD

[sparkeler]

Not really.  Chances of becomming infected with genital herpes are low for one/two time exposures without a condom & you used one.  You were smart & had safe sex.  I think you will be just fine.