Aa
Need your opinion
Exposure protected sex brief 1 min and unprotected oral with a CSW. June 12th to 16th Not sure exactly.
Symptoms July 1 - 5 burning sensation in urethra and skin of penis. Seemed red from tip down the circumsized line. I was on a trip to Wisconsin Dells and in the pools a lot.Then pains in groin for 1 week. July to present have had pains in lower abdomen below belly button, legs, upper L/R sides below ribs, and buttocks. Dull aches and recently burn in butt muscles. These are on/off and not all areas at same time, with or without burning of penis from July to Present. Aug. 3-7 burning of urethra returned. Again sept, 12 - 15 less noticeable. Sept. 19th urethra had burning sensations and cold/ burning around testicle area. Never had flu, swollen glands or sores/ blisters. When burning sensations are present peeing feels good. Have been checked by nurses and Dr.'s who say it is not herpes but without lesions how do they really know.
Never had any STD or cold sore in my life. Also, I have not taken any type of meds for these issues.
Tested All STI's negative 3 and 7 +weeks post exposure. 8 and 12 week IGG Herpes test for HSV 1 + 2 (Qualitive test not Quantative) both negative. Test was done in Fargo N.D.
-Are Qualitive tests reliable> only see people talking about their #'s with numerical?
-Are these symptoms typical for new herpes infections?
-Would I not have an outbreak of sores during these 3 + burning episodes. Or is their lots of infected people with these primary and recurrent symptoms and no sores ever?
-Should I do another IGG at 16 weeks or closer to 6mths?
-If not herpes what else could it be?
-I have been very stressed and anxious since July 1st and need some help on plausible explanations and what I should do next as I am in a relationship and need to know my status. It has been discussed with my partner. Greatly appreciate your professional opinions. Thank you
Symptoms July 1 - 5 burning sensation in urethra and skin of penis. Seemed red from tip down the circumsized line. I was on a trip to Wisconsin Dells and in the pools a lot.Then pains in groin for 1 week. July to present have had pains in lower abdomen below belly button, legs, upper L/R sides below ribs, and buttocks. Dull aches and recently burn in butt muscles. These are on/off and not all areas at same time, with or without burning of penis from July to Present. Aug. 3-7 burning of urethra returned. Again sept, 12 - 15 less noticeable. Sept. 19th urethra had burning sensations and cold/ burning around testicle area. Never had flu, swollen glands or sores/ blisters. When burning sensations are present peeing feels good. Have been checked by nurses and Dr.'s who say it is not herpes but without lesions how do they really know.
Never had any STD or cold sore in my life. Also, I have not taken any type of meds for these issues.
Tested All STI's negative 3 and 7 +weeks post exposure. 8 and 12 week IGG Herpes test for HSV 1 + 2 (Qualitive test not Quantative) both negative. Test was done in Fargo N.D.
-Are Qualitive tests reliable> only see people talking about their #'s with numerical?
-Are these symptoms typical for new herpes infections?
-Would I not have an outbreak of sores during these 3 + burning episodes. Or is their lots of infected people with these primary and recurrent symptoms and no sores ever?
-Should I do another IGG at 16 weeks or closer to 6mths?
-If not herpes what else could it be?
-I have been very stressed and anxious since July 1st and need some help on plausible explanations and what I should do next as I am in a relationship and need to know my status. It has been discussed with my partner. Greatly appreciate your professional opinions. Thank you
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question. I also scanned your discussions on the herpes professional and community forums. The evidence you didn't catch genital herpes is overwhelming and conclusive.
First, the exposure was low risk; I would guess the odds of of catching HSV (of either type) from the sexual expousre described are well under 1 chance in 10,000.
Second, despite what you believe -- or "learned" by searching online -- your symptoms are not suggestive of a herpes. Both the nature of the symptoms and their timing and pattern are wrong. Herpes lesions may tingle itch or burn, and recurrent herpes outbreaks (but not the initial infection) can be preceded by neurological prodrome with various aches and pains -- but in the absense of lesions, these symptoms do not suggest herpes.
Third, your negative test results confirm you were not infected. I don't know how to intepret your description of a "qualitative" test -- maybe an older, non-type specific test. If so, it is highly reliable. When those tests are positive, they are difficult to interpret and do not distinguish HSV-1 from HSV-2. However, negative results are solid evidence against infection HSV.
Is it possible you were infected despite the low risk? Or that some of your symptoms could be related to genital herpes? Or that the blood test results are misleading? Maybe yes. However, the statistical chance is astromomically low that all three of these would break the wrong way. The overall information available amounts to conclusive evidence against it.
Those comments address several of your specific questions. I see no need for any additional testing for HSV, with any kind of test. As for other causes of such symptoms, I'm confident they are not due to any STD or any other infeciton. If they have anything to do with your sexual exposure last June, it's probably psychological, originating with anxiety over the event and/or your worries about herpes. I suggest you see a physician you trust then follow his or her advice about potential causes. In the meantime, I recommend you continue (or resume) your normal sexual relationship and practices with regular partner. No harm will come -- and I think it would do you a lot of good.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
First, the exposure was low risk; I would guess the odds of of catching HSV (of either type) from the sexual expousre described are well under 1 chance in 10,000.
Second, despite what you believe -- or "learned" by searching online -- your symptoms are not suggestive of a herpes. Both the nature of the symptoms and their timing and pattern are wrong. Herpes lesions may tingle itch or burn, and recurrent herpes outbreaks (but not the initial infection) can be preceded by neurological prodrome with various aches and pains -- but in the absense of lesions, these symptoms do not suggest herpes.
Third, your negative test results confirm you were not infected. I don't know how to intepret your description of a "qualitative" test -- maybe an older, non-type specific test. If so, it is highly reliable. When those tests are positive, they are difficult to interpret and do not distinguish HSV-1 from HSV-2. However, negative results are solid evidence against infection HSV.
Is it possible you were infected despite the low risk? Or that some of your symptoms could be related to genital herpes? Or that the blood test results are misleading? Maybe yes. However, the statistical chance is astromomically low that all three of these would break the wrong way. The overall information available amounts to conclusive evidence against it.
Those comments address several of your specific questions. I see no need for any additional testing for HSV, with any kind of test. As for other causes of such symptoms, I'm confident they are not due to any STD or any other infeciton. If they have anything to do with your sexual exposure last June, it's probably psychological, originating with anxiety over the event and/or your worries about herpes. I suggest you see a physician you trust then follow his or her advice about potential causes. In the meantime, I recommend you continue (or resume) your normal sexual relationship and practices with regular partner. No harm will come -- and I think it would do you a lot of good.
I hope this has been helpful. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Half of all adults have HSV-1, mostly oral, mostly acquired in childhood. And 10% of all people with HSV-1 have negative IgG tests -- so there's nothing unusual in these results.
Otherwise, this result confirms all that I said above. You don't have HSV-2 and herpes does not explain any symptoms you have dscribed. I have no additional advice beyond what I said above. Do not have any more herpes tests and resume or continue sex with your regular partner. You may have to just learn to live with your symptoms, or consider psychological counseling to address them further.
Otherwise, this result confirms all that I said above. You don't have HSV-2 and herpes does not explain any symptoms you have dscribed. I have no additional advice beyond what I said above. Do not have any more herpes tests and resume or continue sex with your regular partner. You may have to just learn to live with your symptoms, or consider psychological counseling to address them further.
Hello, I understand you mentioned you will not comment further, however, I recently got results back from a Western Blot (13 weeks past exposure)that show I am positive for HSV 1. I guess my two previous IGG tests didn't pick this up. The infectious disease Dr. said that with the results of the blot and the IGM and IGG tests that this is most likely a past infection from years ago. My question is now that this info is available, with my symptoms mentioned above, my exposure could I have contracted HSV 2 and have not tested positive at 12 weeks on IGG and 13 weeks on blot? I still get same aches in legs, buttocks and have had the three episodes of burning in my urethra ( July 1-5, Aug 3-7, sept 12-15, and one day on sept 19). No sores but all this is confusing. Please let me know what you suggest. Thank you for your help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This information does not change my opinions or advice.
"Why would my penis have these sensations after my situation and not be because of this mistake?" They may well be due to "this mistake". If so, an emotional response to a sexual exposure and decision you regret is the most likely explanation.
Take my advice and accept my reassurance or not, I don't care. But trust me on this: there is no way you have anything that can hurt your partner.
And that's my last comment on this thread.
"Why would my penis have these sensations after my situation and not be because of this mistake?" They may well be due to "this mistake". If so, an emotional response to a sexual exposure and decision you regret is the most likely explanation.
Take my advice and accept my reassurance or not, I don't care. But trust me on this: there is no way you have anything that can hurt your partner.
And that's my last comment on this thread.
Hello, I appreciate the quick response with your professional opinions that mean a great deal to me as this has been the most difficult time in my life. I just want to clarify a few things regarding your response. My two HSV tests were IGG type specific for both types. They only report to the clinic Negative, retest, or positive result. No numerical #'s. I called the Lab to discuss and they could only say that there is a numerical # but they only provide the outcome. It is qualitive test not Quantitive. They reassured me that anything suspicious or close to equivocal would warrant a retest. I have read and been told that you can have symptoms of herpes and not get sores. That my initial symptoms could happen without sores. Also, it states window period is 2-20 days which still means I fall into this category. Why would my penis have these sensations after my situation and not be because of this mistake. My mind cannot believe it is not in some way due to my June situation ( this past June, only 3 + months ago). Have you ever had patients or anyone on this forum with similar symptoms who actually turned out to have herpes?
You mention timing?
You mention nature and pattern? what do you mean by these not adding up?
I understand there is nothing I can do to change what I did but your suggestion to return to normal sexual relationship is hard for me to take as I do not in any way want to hurt my partner.
I appreciate your time and await your response. Thank you
You mention timing?
You mention nature and pattern? what do you mean by these not adding up?
I understand there is nothing I can do to change what I did but your suggestion to return to normal sexual relationship is hard for me to take as I do not in any way want to hurt my partner.
I appreciate your time and await your response. Thank you
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.
