Herpes or something else?

[gratefulforyourhelp]

Hello Terri,

I sent out a Western Blot via my PCP and am anxiously awaiting results, but am hoping I can get your gut feeling on this while I wait.

I, a male, had a risky encounter with a female 5 months ago. I kissed her body (but not genitals or lips), had protected vaginal sex, and received un-protected oral sex from her, immediately after she performed oral on another male.

2 Days After: Started getting mild pains at tip of penis and in urethra, not correlated with urination. Developed testicular pain which has since been diagnosed as chronic epididymitis. Tested negative for full STD panel, and started series of various antibiotic courses which would go on for 6 weeks.

3 Weeks: Had episode of intense tingling and itching in the scrotum and pubic area that lasted a few days. Then burning and tingling all over my lips that lasted about a week and produced patches of what look like dozens of fordyce spots on middle of upper lip. These haven’t gone away.

4-17 Weeks: Had a couple episodes of burning and tingling lips that lasted a day or two at a time.

18 Weeks: The scrotal and pubic tingling and itching returned along with urethral and penal pains and tender pubic area. The burning and tingling lips came on at the same time resulting in more patches of fordyce spots. These symptoms, both genital and oral, have been persistent for 3 weeks now, although they can come and go throughout the day or from day to day.

I have had 3 negative (less than .9) HSV-1 and HSV-2 IgG tests (At 3, 6, and 12 weeks), and have not had any lesions. However, I’m still worried about that 30% or 8% chance of a false negative, because of the tingling / burning / itching nature of symptoms, the fact that they come on in episodes, and that they are affecting both my genitals and lips.

Given what I’ve shared, what do you make of this and how likely do you think it is that this is herpes? Thank you in advance.

[Terri Warren]

Given what you’ve told me, I’m definitely putting my money on a negative western blot!

Terri

[gratefulforyourhelp]

Update: The Western Blot came back NEGATIVE for both HSV-1 and HSV-2.

I feel so incredibly relieved that I can put this worry behind me. I’ll continue to work with my doctor to find the cause of my symptoms (perhaps a fungal infection from the heavy antibiotic use?).

This whole experience has pushed me to completely re-evaluate my sexual boundaries, given me empathy for anyone going through the testing and diagnosis process, and sympathy for anyone living with the virus. Thank you Terri and University of Washington for all that you do.

[Terri Warren]

So happy to hear your results. And I’m glad you are re-evaluating your sexual practices so they are more aligned with what you think is safest and most comfortable for you personally.

Terri

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