Aa
Herpes or Not?
I’m a guy. I had protected receptive anal intercourse 10 days ago. First time. I ended the encounter after a few minutes. No fluids were exchanged. There was no other genital-gentile or oral-genital contact.
12 hours after the encounter, I started to feel 2 symptoms that have continued til now:
1) A feeling like a cut/rawness in one specific part of the perianal region
2) A general feeling of heat/pins and needles in the buttocks. I almost only feel this 2nd symptom when I’m lying down/sitting down or reading frantically about herpes. I go long periods without feeling this second symptom, only to feel it when I lie down or start to read about herpes.
I have seen 2 dermatologists this past week. Both agreed I do not have herpes.
The 2nd dermatologist was more thorough. He could see the area I described as the cut (Symptom 1). There is some type of redness or rash there. He ascribed it to dermatitis, which could have been the result of the condom or lube. He told me to wash the area with Betadine and to apply ointment containing nystatin and triamcinolone.
My questions are:
1) I’ve read that 1st symptoms of herpes may not necessarily present “classically” with sores/blisters. Instead, symptoms potentially include a bewildering variety of things. How then could the dermatologists confidently declare that it’s not herpes if symptoms can seemingly be anything? I’m bewildered.
2) When people get herpes for the first time, can the feelings of tingling/heat be something that:
2a) Persist over 10 days (without any blistering);
2b) Occur irregularly and only in certain situations? Or are the feelings of tingling/heat usually persistent?
3) Symptom 1 is definitely real. Do you often see people with negative reactions to latex or lube?
THANK YOU!
12 hours after the encounter, I started to feel 2 symptoms that have continued til now:
1) A feeling like a cut/rawness in one specific part of the perianal region
2) A general feeling of heat/pins and needles in the buttocks. I almost only feel this 2nd symptom when I’m lying down/sitting down or reading frantically about herpes. I go long periods without feeling this second symptom, only to feel it when I lie down or start to read about herpes.
I have seen 2 dermatologists this past week. Both agreed I do not have herpes.
The 2nd dermatologist was more thorough. He could see the area I described as the cut (Symptom 1). There is some type of redness or rash there. He ascribed it to dermatitis, which could have been the result of the condom or lube. He told me to wash the area with Betadine and to apply ointment containing nystatin and triamcinolone.
My questions are:
1) I’ve read that 1st symptoms of herpes may not necessarily present “classically” with sores/blisters. Instead, symptoms potentially include a bewildering variety of things. How then could the dermatologists confidently declare that it’s not herpes if symptoms can seemingly be anything? I’m bewildered.
2) When people get herpes for the first time, can the feelings of tingling/heat be something that:
2a) Persist over 10 days (without any blistering);
2b) Occur irregularly and only in certain situations? Or are the feelings of tingling/heat usually persistent?
3) Symptom 1 is definitely real. Do you often see people with negative reactions to latex or lube?
THANK YOU!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You mention that this was the first time you've been receptive with anal sex. I would say that many people, men and women, who have receptive anal sex the first time or even subsequent times, tear a little or get sore and uncomfortable, even with lubrication. And yes, it could be a reaction to lubrication or the condom, but I'm wondering if it isn't just trauma?
You would not experience herpes that quickly after the encounter, no. Twelve hours is way too soon.
Honestly, I think if you had herpes and were watching as carefully as I think you are, you would notice lesions and so would your doctor. Almost everyone who has brand new herpes and has symptoms notice the within 2 to 10 days and have sores. True, not everyone gets symptoms, but if they are, I believe most will get some kind of sore.
Do you think this could be trauma from the insertion of the other person's penis?
Terri
You would not experience herpes that quickly after the encounter, no. Twelve hours is way too soon.
Honestly, I think if you had herpes and were watching as carefully as I think you are, you would notice lesions and so would your doctor. Almost everyone who has brand new herpes and has symptoms notice the within 2 to 10 days and have sores. True, not everyone gets symptoms, but if they are, I believe most will get some kind of sore.
Do you think this could be trauma from the insertion of the other person's penis?
Terri
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
So you did notice a break in the skin that would describe as a cut. was any swab testing done of the cut? And it was extra-anal, not really in the anus? that is slightly more concerning.
I am getting hung up on the 12 hour thing. Herpes lesions just don't show up that soon after a sexual encounter.
The tingling and heat are so non-specific, I don't know how to respond exactly to that question.
Your reactions are likely mind driven, yes. But the cut is worrisome. Is it still there?
Terri
I am getting hung up on the 12 hour thing. Herpes lesions just don't show up that soon after a sexual encounter.
The tingling and heat are so non-specific, I don't know how to respond exactly to that question.
Your reactions are likely mind driven, yes. But the cut is worrisome. Is it still there?
Terri
Thank you so much for following up so quickly!
"Do you think this could be trauma from the insertion of the other person's penis?"
No, because it's a couple of centimeters away from the anus in the perianal region. I assume if it was trauma - it would have presented inside the anus or the immediate opening to the anus. Also, if it was trauma, I assume I would have started to feel the symptom immediately afterwards - and this didn't start until the following afternoon.
"you would notice lesions and so would your doctor."
I have been a bit confused by the use of the term "lesion". I suspect that in general medical usage, it refers to any sort of skin irregularity or damage but on these forums, it seems to refer more to blisters and/or sores?
So using the general definition, there is definitely a lesion. However, using the "local" definition in use here, no - there are no lesions.
By the way, any thoughts on the irregularity of the heat/tingling?
This morning, I feel absolutely none of it.
Last night - while freaking out a bit and reading through the forums for five hours until 4 AM while trying to find a post with a situation similar to mine - I could definitely feel it (and shifting around to different places in the groin area). Perhaps later today, it will return.... Is this sort of irregular heat common in cases of herpes? Or do you often see people with (seemingly) mind-driven reactions like mine?
(thank you so much again!!!)
"Do you think this could be trauma from the insertion of the other person's penis?"
No, because it's a couple of centimeters away from the anus in the perianal region. I assume if it was trauma - it would have presented inside the anus or the immediate opening to the anus. Also, if it was trauma, I assume I would have started to feel the symptom immediately afterwards - and this didn't start until the following afternoon.
"you would notice lesions and so would your doctor."
I have been a bit confused by the use of the term "lesion". I suspect that in general medical usage, it refers to any sort of skin irregularity or damage but on these forums, it seems to refer more to blisters and/or sores?
So using the general definition, there is definitely a lesion. However, using the "local" definition in use here, no - there are no lesions.
By the way, any thoughts on the irregularity of the heat/tingling?
This morning, I feel absolutely none of it.
Last night - while freaking out a bit and reading through the forums for five hours until 4 AM while trying to find a post with a situation similar to mine - I could definitely feel it (and shifting around to different places in the groin area). Perhaps later today, it will return.... Is this sort of irregular heat common in cases of herpes? Or do you often see people with (seemingly) mind-driven reactions like mine?
(thank you so much again!!!)
You are reading content posted in the Herpes 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.
