Chances oh having acquired HSV2

[cerpad]

Hi Terri:

Well, basically I have some questions for you. I have already searched some info online, but I would like to get some confirmation. A couple of nights ago I had protected oral and vaginal sex with a sex worker. Condom seemed to be just fine afterward. During the vaginal sex, I grabbed my penis with my hand to get my pubic area to from getting in contact with her butt cheeks (however, even when I succeeded to some degree, I could not get this from happening entirely since there was some contact). The entire sex episode didn’t go for more than 5 min. Over the last year, I had some episodes of protected oral sex practiced on me where nothing else happened. I have already HSV1 but I am scared of my chances of getting HSV2 from the aforementioned episodes. My online research suggest that chances could go from almost zero to 10%. Experts like Dr Hunter Handsfield on Medhelp forums, suggest that the risk from such situations is very low (even for unprotected sex) but these responses go back all the way back to 2012 (there might be some new research stating otherwise, maybe?). My questions are:

1. Was I at significant risk of getting HSV2? I understand the risk is never 0, but just would like to know if I should be concerned about these situations I describe
2. Based on the previous, would you recommend me to get tested for HSV2?
Thanks Terri!

[Terri Warren]

1. Was I at significant risk of getting HSV2? I understand the risk is never 0, but just would like to know if I should be concerned about these situations I describe

You were certainly not at any significant risk of acquiring HSV 2 from this encounter. Great job for being so careful and using a condom!

2. Based on the previous, would you recommend me to get tested for HSV2?
No, I wouldn’t, not without any symptoms and not unless you can’t relax about this concern. If you do decide to get tested, you should consider doing the western blot for greatest accuracy

Terri

[cerpad]

Hi Terri:

Thanks for you response. Just to round up, would you agree with that assertion from Dr Hunter Handsfield on Medhelp forums about chances of getting HSV2 (1 in 1000) from a single encounter? I understand where those stats are coming from, but I would like to know if such stats still hold true in cases like the one I describe.

Yes, I will refrain from testing unless I develop symptoms. Common sense tells me I would have to be so unlucky to get it from just this encounter considering this is the most sex I have had in two years.

Thanks!

[Terri Warren]

I don’t subscribe to any statistic like that as I don’t know that we have any reliable data on brand new couples having sex and transmitting, but I would agree that the odds are very low and not testing is a good idea at this point without symptoms.

Terri

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