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sex with csw using condom, possible hsv and hiv concern?
18 days ago i had protected vaginal and protected oral sex with a massage parlor csw. my first and only time.
i'm in a broken relationship that we're trying to fix. this event and the guilt/anxiety/reflection have all made me realize how badly i want to fix things. my concern is now i may have destroyed it forever. not had sex since the incident with the csw and nobody else is at risk.
my concerns are hsv and hiv. i believe i have been experiencing a range of symptoms that might be hsv, but could also be anxiety per a couple of doctors. i travel constantly for work and have visited 3 different docs in 3 cities to check things and test.
the timeline by day, symptom, dr visit, and testing are below. i understand the tests could be false neg at this point. i tested completely clean of all stds including hsv1 and hsv2 about 6 months ago, and no partners outside of my relationship in btwn.
1-7 guilt/anxiety
7 thighs feeling hot on/off, loss of appetite
10 nasuea at dinner
11 redness, and later open sores inside stretch mark in groin crease where leg meets torso, showed dr, says herpes won't occur there and gives steroidal cream, also have momentary itchiness over body, also get acyclovir scrip
12 felt shooting nerve sensations in legs, dry mouth, nerve tingling bottom of feet, continued itchiness, started taking acyclovir 800mg x 4 day
14 went to another doctor showed everything, said no herpes, had biokit hsv2 test, all negative, thought yeast infection in groin, gave anti fungal cream, stopped acyclovir, in evening had pimple right side groin, popped it, rash sores healing
15 showed location of former pimple to doctor, said foliculitus, herpeselect test done
16 small tear on left bottom of scrotum, looks like 2 tiny 2 mm irritated flat open sores
17 two tiny sores scabbed and healed already after applying vaseline
18 herpeselect test results neg ig1 0.05, ig2 0.28, slight stomach lower left pain, groin crease rash sores healed but irritated
thoughts?
i'm in a broken relationship that we're trying to fix. this event and the guilt/anxiety/reflection have all made me realize how badly i want to fix things. my concern is now i may have destroyed it forever. not had sex since the incident with the csw and nobody else is at risk.
my concerns are hsv and hiv. i believe i have been experiencing a range of symptoms that might be hsv, but could also be anxiety per a couple of doctors. i travel constantly for work and have visited 3 different docs in 3 cities to check things and test.
the timeline by day, symptom, dr visit, and testing are below. i understand the tests could be false neg at this point. i tested completely clean of all stds including hsv1 and hsv2 about 6 months ago, and no partners outside of my relationship in btwn.
1-7 guilt/anxiety
7 thighs feeling hot on/off, loss of appetite
10 nasuea at dinner
11 redness, and later open sores inside stretch mark in groin crease where leg meets torso, showed dr, says herpes won't occur there and gives steroidal cream, also have momentary itchiness over body, also get acyclovir scrip
12 felt shooting nerve sensations in legs, dry mouth, nerve tingling bottom of feet, continued itchiness, started taking acyclovir 800mg x 4 day
14 went to another doctor showed everything, said no herpes, had biokit hsv2 test, all negative, thought yeast infection in groin, gave anti fungal cream, stopped acyclovir, in evening had pimple right side groin, popped it, rash sores healing
15 showed location of former pimple to doctor, said foliculitus, herpeselect test done
16 small tear on left bottom of scrotum, looks like 2 tiny 2 mm irritated flat open sores
17 two tiny sores scabbed and healed already after applying vaseline
18 herpeselect test results neg ig1 0.05, ig2 0.28, slight stomach lower left pain, groin crease rash sores healed but irritated
thoughts?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Oh good grief. Settle down. Read all my replies above and concentrate on them -- and believe them.
That's all for this thread.
That's all for this thread.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
They're right, although in my judgment your level of risk is not worth the high cost of NAAT.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't know what to make of "discharge based on stains on my underwear". If you're really having abnormal discharge, you should be able to see it, especially when you arise in the morning having not urinated overnight. My guess is they are urine stains. But if you are convinced they are not, or you see other evidence of discharge, get examined.
None of the other symptoms you describe suggest herpes, any other STD, or any other infection from your sex partner. Many of them are consistent with anxiety. But here too, see a doctor if you remain concerned about them.
If you are professionally examined, and if any STD is diagnosed, feel free to let me know. Otherwise I will have no further comments or advicea nd this is definitely the end of this thread. You cannot expect to keep returning indefinitely with every new anxiety-driven question that comes to mind.
None of the other symptoms you describe suggest herpes, any other STD, or any other infection from your sex partner. Many of them are consistent with anxiety. But here too, see a doctor if you remain concerned about them.
If you are professionally examined, and if any STD is diagnosed, feel free to let me know. Otherwise I will have no further comments or advicea nd this is definitely the end of this thread. You cannot expect to keep returning indefinitely with every new anxiety-driven question that comes to mind.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I recommend you not get tested for herpes. The tests are not perfect, the risk too low, and the chance of a misleading result too high. HSV testing should be limited to persons with more strong indications of a possible HSV infection. But if you do it anyway, 3 months is indeed the right time.
For HIV, I recommend you wait another 10 days and have a combo test (HIV antibody plus p24 antigen), which will be definitive. If you have a PCR/DNA test before then, you'll spend a lot more money and you'll still need an antibody test at 6-8 weeks for a definitive result.
That's all I'll have to say on this thread.
For HIV, I recommend you wait another 10 days and have a combo test (HIV antibody plus p24 antigen), which will be definitive. If you have a PCR/DNA test before then, you'll spend a lot more money and you'll still need an antibody test at 6-8 weeks for a definitive result.
That's all I'll have to say on this thread.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
These additional comments do not change my opinion or advice, as above. I'll just add that if the doctor who examined the rash didn't suspect any STD, neither do I. As for sex with your regular partner, it is exceedingly unlikely you caught anything you can transmit to her. Of course from this distance I cannot guarantee it, but if I were in your situation, for sure I would resume unprotected sex with my wife, with no fear of infecting her.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
Your mind is working overtime -- unnecessarily. I agree with your apparent self-awareness that the main problem here is your guilt and anxiety over a sexual choice you regret. Even with entirely unprotected sex, the large majority of sexual contacts with CSWs do not result in any STD. More important, condoms work as excellent STD protection in vaginal or anal sex, and oral sex is low risk regardless of condom use or the risk status of the oral partner.
Your symptoms do not suggest herpes, HIV, or any other STD. Many or most of them are, however, typical for anxiety, stress, or other psychological origins. It was a mistake to start taking acyclovir and you should stop; at this point the only effect it could have is to delay proper diagnosis in the very unlikely event that you actually acquired an HSV infection. The groin rash probably isn't psychogenic, but on the other hand no STD causes a groin rash -- so whatever it is has nothing to do with the sexual exposure you are concerned about.
Although I do not believe you acquired herpes, your negative HerpeSelect test at 18 days doesn't mean anything one way or the other. Wait, let me rephrase that: the negative result may have value as a baseline; it shows you were not infected with either HSV-1 or 2 prior to the commercial exposure. If it remains negative in a few more weeks, it will prove it.
Moving to HIV, it is pretty much impossible. It is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV; condoms prevent transmission; and oral sex carries little or no risk.
Bottom line: it is exceedingly unlikley you acquired HSV, HIV, or any other STD. But you can be tested to be certain, if you feel a need to do so.
Some closing comments are below, after your follow-up questions.
HHH, MD
Your mind is working overtime -- unnecessarily. I agree with your apparent self-awareness that the main problem here is your guilt and anxiety over a sexual choice you regret. Even with entirely unprotected sex, the large majority of sexual contacts with CSWs do not result in any STD. More important, condoms work as excellent STD protection in vaginal or anal sex, and oral sex is low risk regardless of condom use or the risk status of the oral partner.
Your symptoms do not suggest herpes, HIV, or any other STD. Many or most of them are, however, typical for anxiety, stress, or other psychological origins. It was a mistake to start taking acyclovir and you should stop; at this point the only effect it could have is to delay proper diagnosis in the very unlikely event that you actually acquired an HSV infection. The groin rash probably isn't psychogenic, but on the other hand no STD causes a groin rash -- so whatever it is has nothing to do with the sexual exposure you are concerned about.
Although I do not believe you acquired herpes, your negative HerpeSelect test at 18 days doesn't mean anything one way or the other. Wait, let me rephrase that: the negative result may have value as a baseline; it shows you were not infected with either HSV-1 or 2 prior to the commercial exposure. If it remains negative in a few more weeks, it will prove it.
Moving to HIV, it is pretty much impossible. It is statistically unlikely your partner had HIV; condoms prevent transmission; and oral sex carries little or no risk.
Bottom line: it is exceedingly unlikley you acquired HSV, HIV, or any other STD. But you can be tested to be certain, if you feel a need to do so.
Some closing comments are below, after your follow-up questions.
HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
We do not respond to repeated anxiety-driven that ignore all advice, and I deleted your latest attempts. This thread is closed and you will receive a warning from MedHelp about abuse of privileges. Do not be tempted to start a new one with the same questions; it would be deleted without reply (and without refund of the posting fee).
thank you for confirming, that reduces at least some anxiety about taking the right test.
33 days and still experiencing (or imagining) hsv symptoms, no blisters or sores, just redness in groin fold on left and right. trying to stay focused on facts and figures, so getting negative hiv test results next week will help. still unbelievably freaked out about hsv with 57 days to go before definitive testing.
33 days and still experiencing (or imagining) hsv symptoms, no blisters or sores, just redness in groin fold on left and right. trying to stay focused on facts and figures, so getting negative hiv test results next week will help. still unbelievably freaked out about hsv with 57 days to go before definitive testing.
for hiv i took a naat test today, results in a week. unfortunately, i wasn't able to find a p24 antigen or combo test anywhere. the clinic claimed the naat test is conclusive at this point. i hope they are correct.
on day 19 i had a rugburn like sensation on my inner thigh right next to my knee. it's gone today
... and diarrhea too.
i forgot to note that i seem to have some discharge based on stains on my underwear, and frequent need to urinate. again, hoping it's just anxiety and that i'm being overly conscious and concerned about things that are normal.
thank you. i'll wait the 10 days and do the combo test.
your reassurance did help my anxiety level, but it is gradually increasing again. i'm not sure i can do much until i get a 100% negative result.
it's day 20, and i'm still feeling nausea, fatigue, lower abdominal pain, and some pain/irritation in the groin. i felt better on day 19, so i'm hoping this is just anxiety.
i'm not looking for a response, you've answered all my questions thoroughly. i'm just noting this to be complete and for the benefit of others searching on this subject. i'll update further if i have any visible sores/symptoms and/or after test results.
your reassurance did help my anxiety level, but it is gradually increasing again. i'm not sure i can do much until i get a 100% negative result.
it's day 20, and i'm still feeling nausea, fatigue, lower abdominal pain, and some pain/irritation in the groin. i felt better on day 19, so i'm hoping this is just anxiety.
i'm not looking for a response, you've answered all my questions thoroughly. i'm just noting this to be complete and for the benefit of others searching on this subject. i'll update further if i have any visible sores/symptoms and/or after test results.
thanks dr. h. you're comments are very helpful.
this entire incident or mistake, while extremely emotionally and physically difficult, has given me unbelievable clarity in what i truly need to focus on in life.
i would like to be tested for hsv and hiv to be certain so there truly is zero risk.
given i don't expect to develop any sores to test, i understand i have to wait until 3 months post exposure for hsv, although testing a few weeks earlier might be possible.
for hiv, i've heard hiv dna pcr testing might allow me to test earlier, perhaps even now. i understand this test isn't approved, recommended or commonly used for hiv testing, but if it will allow me to get resolution faster and move onto fixing my relationship, i'd like to get it done.
i've read several of your posts on testing, but if you could give me guidance particularly on the hiv dna pcr testing, that would be appreciated.
thank you once again. i'll try not to post further on this thread.
this entire incident or mistake, while extremely emotionally and physically difficult, has given me unbelievable clarity in what i truly need to focus on in life.
i would like to be tested for hsv and hiv to be certain so there truly is zero risk.
given i don't expect to develop any sores to test, i understand i have to wait until 3 months post exposure for hsv, although testing a few weeks earlier might be possible.
for hiv, i've heard hiv dna pcr testing might allow me to test earlier, perhaps even now. i understand this test isn't approved, recommended or commonly used for hiv testing, but if it will allow me to get resolution faster and move onto fixing my relationship, i'd like to get it done.
i've read several of your posts on testing, but if you could give me guidance particularly on the hiv dna pcr testing, that would be appreciated.
thank you once again. i'll try not to post further on this thread.
btw, i have read a lot online that originally got me thinking my risk was non-existent to very very low for hsv, and even lower for hiv
i read a post on this forum from dr. h responding to "concened of herpes" from june 2008 that has me worried.
sorry to keep rambling. my travel makes it difficult to talk through everything with one doc.
i read a post on this forum from dr. h responding to "concened of herpes" from june 2008 that has me worried.
sorry to keep rambling. my travel makes it difficult to talk through everything with one doc.
all of that detail probably makes it seem like i want a diagnosis. i just wanted to be sure iw was being thorough in my description. i understand that's not reasonable in such a forum. i'm really interested in some comments on my risks.
one other thing to note, when the rash first appeared in my groin, the tops of some of the sores were stark white. they were entirely flat, ranging 3 to 4mm in diameter and were along the valley in the stretch mark. the dr i spoke to didn't see the whiteness because it was gone already but he thought it was just stretched skin. i'm of a darker hispanic complexion so i didn't understand that.
my significant other wants us to get together this week. i've avoided seeing her for the past few weeks. in the interest of rekindling the relationship i would like to see her, but only if there is no risk i'm infected.
sorry if i'm giving too much information.
one other thing to note, when the rash first appeared in my groin, the tops of some of the sores were stark white. they were entirely flat, ranging 3 to 4mm in diameter and were along the valley in the stretch mark. the dr i spoke to didn't see the whiteness because it was gone already but he thought it was just stretched skin. i'm of a darker hispanic complexion so i didn't understand that.
my significant other wants us to get together this week. i've avoided seeing her for the past few weeks. in the interest of rekindling the relationship i would like to see her, but only if there is no risk i'm infected.
sorry if i'm giving too much information.
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.
