Encounter.

[AR93]

Gay male (never had a one night stand before) – However, last night I stupidly had a one night stand (unsure of his sexual background).
We kissed, engaged in oral sex and also rubbed genitals together quite vigorously – The guy had no active lesions on his mouth or his genitals.
I have crippling anxiety and this has made it 10x worse as I’m extremely worried that I could have potentially contracted HSV through this exposure as HSV has always been worrisome to me due to educating myself on it maybe a little too much.
Bit of background, I have only ever had two long term partners whom did not have HSV and to my knowledge I have never had a cold sore.
If I’m completely honest, my anxiety is currently through the roof and I guess I’m just seeking some reassurance.
My questions are as follows –
1) What is the likelihood of me contracting HSV from this one exposure?
2) If I were to catch HSV from this exposure, is it safe to say that I’d experience symptoms in the upcoming 2-12 day period and if I don’t experience any within that period then the likelihood is that I’ve been lucky?
3) I am currently on antibiotics for a different issue, would this stop symptoms appearing if I were going to have a primary outbreak?

[AR93]

I’d just like to add, I have gone through his pictures on social media (he has many throughout the years) and I cannot find one with an active lesion on the mouth.

[AR93]

Also, would symptoms show up within 12 hours of exposure?

[Terri Warren]

1) What is the likelihood of me contracting HSV from this one exposure?
I think low. The risks are the oral sex (receiving and giving) and the genital to genital rubbing.

2) If I were to catch HSV from this exposure, is it safe to say that I’d experience symptoms in the upcoming 2-12 day period and if I don’t experience any within that period then the likelihood is that I’ve been lucky?
Yes, I would agree with that statement

3) I am currently on antibiotics for a different issue, would this stop symptoms appearing if I were going to have a primary outbreak?
No, antibiotics are very bacteria and herpes is a virus.

Symptoms would not show up within 12 hours of encounter, no.

Terri

[AR93]

Hi Terri,

Thank you so much for your reply, I feel slightly better already (this has been extremely worrisome for me thus far and my anxiety has been all over the place).

Going back to my 1st question, from the one encounter are you able to provide a percentage or a ‘1 in x amount’ with your expert opinion given the oral/rubbing genitals? I just don’t know what context low would mean (hope that makes sense).

Also, with question number 2 – Is it safe to say I can absolutely put this behind me with confidence that I don’t have HSV if I don’t have any symptoms by day 10 without worrying symptoms may pop in future for instance? I’ll obviously be vigilant in checking daily within this period.

Again, thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions – I’ve seen some of the threads & I think it’s amazing what you’re doing to help the general public.

[Terri Warren]

No, I’m not able to tell you a percentage – I would guess somewhere in one in 2,000?
If you continue to worry, you could test but the IgG tests do have a considerable number of false positives so be cautious about the results and check in with me if you get a positive.

Terri

[AR93]

Hi Terri, I’ve purchased a following 3 questions as I would like clarification on the below if possible – I don’t plan on testing with the IGG given I don’t have any symptoms in the upcoming week or so as I’ve seen how unreliable they can be.

1. If I don’t have symptoms within this 10 day period, given I will be checking daily for the slightest symptom – Would you believe I can move forward with absolute certainty that I have not caught HSV from this encounter?
2. Is it true that all individuals will experience a primary outbreak within the 10 day period from an encounter but it’s just some go unnoticed or are brushed off as something else?
3. To confirm, is it a 10 day period where you’d see symptoms or 21 days? I’ve seen different statements online from third parties but I’ve also seen that 11-12 days would be too late for a primary outbreak.
Again, thank you for your responses.

[Terri Warren]

1. If I don’t have symptoms within this 10-day period, given I will be checking daily for the slightest symptom – Would you believe I can move forward with absolute certainty that I have not caught HSV from this encounter?
I never offer absolute certainty when there is a sexual encounter like yours.

2. Is it true that all individuals will experience a primary outbreak within the 10-day period from an encounter but it’s just some go unnoticed or are brushed off as something else?
Not everyone who acquires HSV does so with symptoms, especially people who acquire HSV 2 when they already have HSV 1. Eighty-six percent of people who have HSV 2, diagnosed by an accurate blood test, would say that they don’t have genital herpes. So symptoms may or may not be helpful.

3. To confirm, is it a 10-day period where you’d see symptoms or 21 days? I’ve seen different statements online from third parties, but I’ve also seen that 11-12 days would be too late for a primary outbreak.
Again, thank you for your responses.
I would agree that 10 days is most likely, with the average being 5.5 days.

I still think the risk of you acquiring HSV at this encounter was low. You are asking for certainty, which I cannot provide for you; I’m sorry.

Terri

[AR93]

Hi,

I understand you can’t provide absolute certainty but in your opinion, given that I’ve never had a cold sore in my life and had this one isolated encounter – If I don’t have symptoms by day 10, what would you say the chances are of me having acquired HSV via this encounter, would it go from low to extremely low? I guess I’m just seeking some reassurance, not absolute reassurance.

So to confirm if I experienced symptoms after 10 days, it would unlikely be HSV related as primary outbreaks are within the 10 day period? Again, given that I’ve never had a cold sore. I’d just like confirmation I could at least move forward with some confidence that I haven’t acquired it in the event of no symptoms (not certainty).

Thanks Terri, just wanted at least some re-assurance that after this 10 day period, I can move forward without worrying really even though I know you can’t provide a straight yes/no answer or certainty but I do value your opinion.

[Terri Warren]

Yes, I could go for extremely low.
If you have genital symptoms like sores, you should have them swab tested. But I seriously doubt that you contracted HSV at this encounter and should move forward now.

Terri

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