Intercourse with someone hsv2 positive

[anonymus1111]

I am a male who had protected sex with a female who is a symptomatic carrier of hsv2 over one year ago.

At the point we had sex she had known she had the virus for about a year.

Before we had sex she mentioned she was on her antivirals and wasn’t experiencing any prodromes (such as tingling or burning)

I was aware she had it and proceeded to have protected intercourse with her since I knew how low the risk of transmission was given the use of condoms and antivirals.

Over the past year since the encounter, I have not experienced any herpes related symptoms and I would say I was well aware of what they are given the research I did prior to our encounter as well as after.

However, I would consider myself a hypochondriac and give myself health related anxiety and the “what if” of having contracted it comes up every once in a while.

1. I have recently noticed one single red-ish spot on the upper shaft of my penis(very small and almost blends in with the skin). There is no localized burning, crawling, tingling, or pain I am experiencing. It doesn’t necessarily look like a pimple but it also doesn’t necessarily look like a blister either. Does this sound herpatic to you?

2. How common is it for people to contract herpes and actually experience zero symptoms? Or are the symptoms they experience just not recognizable? I just don’t understand how someone can be a true asymptomatic carrier for a virus and never have an initial or recurring out breaks(this is what I’m worried I am)

3. Would you recommend I get a IGG blood test for herpes and risk getting a false positive and causing myself further health anxiety? Also if I do proceed with an igg test how certain can I be that I don’t have herpes if my range is below 1.1? I’m worried about getting a test and testing positive but when I’m actually negative.

4. Would you be able to clear up for me how someone can register a false positive for herpes? How does someone acquire herpes antibodies but not contract it?

[Terri Warren]

1. I have recently noticed one single red-ish spot on the upper shaft of my penis(very small and almost blends in with the skin). There is no localized burning, crawling, tingling, or pain I am experiencing. It doesn’t necessarily look like a pimple but it also doesn’t necessarily look like a blister either. Does this sound herpatic to you?
It certainly does not.

2. How common is it for people to contract herpes and actually experience zero symptoms? Or are the symptoms they experience just not recognizable? I just don’t understand how someone can be a true asymptomatic carrier for a virus and never have an initial or recurring out breaks(this is what I’m worried I am)
Generally, people either miss minor symptoms are attribute them falsely to something else but some people are truly asymptomatic. Also, there are MANY false positives on the antibody test and people have been told they are infected when indeed they are not. Anyone diagnosed by antibody test alone without symptoms should have a good test, like the western blot. They may not be infected at all.

3. Would you recommend I get a IGG blood test for herpes and risk getting a false positive and causing myself further health anxiety? Also if I do proceed with an igg test how certain can I be that I don’t have herpes if my range is below 1.1? I’m worried about getting a test and testing positive but when I’m actually negative.
I would definitely NOT recommend that.

4. Would you be able to clear up for me how someone can register a false positive for herpes? How does someone acquire herpes antibodies but not contract it?
If someone truly has antibody, they are infected. But there are just so many false positives on these poor tests.

Terri

[anonymus1111]

Thank you for your response!

To follow up:

1. If I decided to get the western blot test…I am located in Ontario, Canada and am unsure of the procedure I would take to get that done given I am not in the United States. Have you dealt clients getting the WB in Canada before & what are the steps?

2. If someone were to experience a herpes outbreak. What are the tell tale prodromes and symptoms? In other words, what do most herpes outbreaks look/feel like from start to finish?

3. Got the spot in question swabbed. However, it didn’t appear to be broken, open, or leaking any liquid. Can a swab test pick up on herpes if a sore is closed/hasn’t broken open or scabbed?

4. Lastly, the spot in question has not changed or developed any further since it appeared a few days ago. Do herpes spots do this sort of thing?

5. If possible, could you please elaborate a bit more on my previous query about the IGG false positives. How could the test pick up antibodies from someone for hsv2 for example if they have not contracted the virus? I’m just a bit confused on HOW the false positives happen for these tests

[Terri Warren]

1. If I decided to get the western blot test…I am located in Ontario, Canada and am unsure of the procedure I would take to get that done given I am not in the United States. Have you dealt clients getting the WB in Canada before & what are the steps?
Yes, and we could talk about all of those steps on a video consult that is required for me to help with the western blot

2. If someone were to experience a herpes outbreak. What are the tell tale prodromes and symptoms? In other words, what do most herpes outbreaks look/feel like from start to finish?
Herpes outbreaks are sores in the genital area that look like water blisters, then ulcerate, then scab

3. Got the spot in question swabbed. However, it didn’t appear to be broken, open, or leaking any liquid. Can a swab test pick up on herpes if a sore is closed/hasn’t broken open or scabbed?
Yes but less likely

4. Lastly, the spot in question has not changed or developed any further since it appeared a few days ago. Do herpes spots do this sort of thing?
Nope, it changes from one stage to another pretty quickly.

5. If possible, could you please elaborate a bit more on my previous query about the IGG false positives. How could the test pick up antibodies from someone for hsv2 for example if they have not contracted the virus? I’m just a bit confused on HOW the false positives happen for these tests
False positives happen with the IgG test is unable to distinguish herpes antibody proteins from other proteins in your body.

Terri

[anonymus1111]

Lastly,

Had gotten results back from swab tests. I got 2 swabs done at 2 clinics a few days apart. Both swabs came back indeterminant/invalid. Does this raise any concerns for you? Why would the swab be indeterminant instead of negative?

Ive also noticed another similar one of these red spots appear on the other side of the penis towards the top of the shaft (just below the head). Same spot as last one, just on otherside. They do not hurt, dont itch, and dont ulcerate and scab.

Any ideas of what these could be? Just been really anxious lately that its a mild case of herpes/mild symptoms that are an atypical presentation. And because of this I cannot get an accurate swab result…Do you think that is what may be going on here? How likely is it that that is the case?

[Terri Warren]

Had gotten results back from swab tests. I got 2 swabs done at 2 clinics a few days apart. Both swabs came back indeterminant/invalid. Does this raise any concerns for you? Why would the swab be indeterminant instead of negative?
I have no idea what that means unless the swab was mishandled or was the wrong swab for that test, which does happy

Ive also noticed another similar one of these red spots appear on the other side of the penis towards the top of the shaft (just below the head). Same spot as last one, just on otherside. They do not hurt, dont itch, and dont ulcerate and scab.
Those don’t sound herpetic to me.

Any ideas of what these could be? Just been really anxious lately that its a mild case of herpes/mild symptoms that are an atypical presentation. And because of this I cannot get an accurate swab result…Do you think that is what may be going on here? How likely is it that that is the case?
No, that’s not what is going on here. There was something wrong with either the swab that was chosen or the way it was shipped to the lab or the timing of its arrival at the lab. it does not mean you have a mild case of HSV. That’s not how this works.

Terri

[anonymus1111]

Hello again Terri.

I have recently been experiencing another kind of bump on the penis. This time on the actual head of the penis. It is presenting itself as a small red inflamed dot on the rim on the penis head(kind of look like a very small pimple). The tips of them turn into a tiny pinhead scab-ish looking thing(not your traditional scab). They are not blisters, don’t seem to be water filled fluids inside, don’t tingle or itch upon appearance, and don’t break open and ulcerate to a painful open sore. I’m very confused with what this could be. I’ve had a 2-3 pop up over the past couple weeks(not at the same time). Mind you they are quite small.

I’ve also been having more unprotected sex than usual with the same person recently. Not sure if that could play a part. Also thought I’d mention they have not complained about anything herpatic related down there for the other party.

1. Does this sound like herpes? If not, any idea what it may be?

2. How common is it for herpes to present itself strictly on the head of the penis(more specifically the rim of the head)…I am circumcised.

[anonymus1111]

Also these questions popped into my mind after I had sent the last inquiry:

1. Would herpes appear/reappear at the initial site of contraction?

2. Can you spread genital HSV1 to another personal genitals?

3. Can someone with oral HSV1 get it on their genitalia?

4. If I took the western blot and it came back positive, would it tell me what kind of herpes I have(hsv1/hsv2)?

[anonymus1111]

Also wanted to clarify when I said “same person” in my previous post. I was referring to a NEW more serious partner. NOT the old one night stand partner with hsv2(about a year and an half ago). And while seeing this new partner I haven’t had sex with anyone else since we started talking which was a few months ago.

Here are my main follow ups:
1. I’ve now had 3 physicians do pcr swab tests and they’ve all came back invalid from lifelabs(Canada). They’ve all also said they doubt it is herpes and would be surprised if it was. My concern is just the invalid results continually coming back from proclaimed super sensitive swab tests??? Any idea what’s going on here…? Why would they be invalid?

2. A few days ago (about a week after the last spot had appeared) I got an itchy urethra for a few hours. The next day my urethra felt a little uncomfortable(it didn’t really hurt to pee. Felt pretty much the same regardless the time of day). The next day it was pretty much fine. Would herpes in the urethra present this way?

A few more general questions for you as well:
– Does herpes usually appear/reappear(recurrent outbreaks) at the initial site if infection?
– Does herpes cause itchy urethra? Especially AFTER the spots in question appeared
– What would typical flu related herpes symptoms be?
– Is it common for herpes spots to pop up days apart or usually all at once?
– Is it common for a herpes sore to develop from bump to scab overnight? Or do they blister/ulcerate/scab over a longer period?
– The herpes numbers for transmission are listed as percentages for having sex twice a week over the course of a year. Is the percentage for each act of sex or a yearly total percent.(ex. 4%. Would that be 4% each act of sex or 4% per year)

I’m aware I have made additional 3 inquiries before you could get back to the first. Feel free to group them all together if you wish. Thanks for all your help!

[Terri Warren]

1. Does this sound like herpes? If not, any idea what it may be?
not really but whenever someone mentions scabbing on their penis, it always raises some concerns for me

2. How common is it for herpes to present itself strictly on the head of the penis
It is rare, in my experience

1. Would herpes appear/reappear at the initial site of contraction?
Often, yes

2. Can you spread genital HSV1 to another personal genitals?
That is a rare event to happen – I personally have not seen someone acquire genital HSV 1 in that way

3. Can someone with oral HSV1 get it on their genitalia?
that would be highly unusual

4. If I took the western blot and it came back positive, would it tell me what kind of herpes I have(hsv1/hsv2)?
Yes

1. I’ve now had 3 physicians do pcr swab tests and they’ve all came back invalid from lifelabs(Canada). They’ve all also said they doubt it is herpes and would be surprised if it was. My concern is just the invalid results continually coming back from proclaimed super sensitive swab tests??? Any idea what’s going on here…? Why would they be invalid?
I have no idea why they would be invalid. Perhaps they were using the wrong swab or waited too long to get them to the actual lab?

2. A few days ago (about a week after the last spot had appeared) I got an itchy urethra for a few hours. The next day my urethra felt a little uncomfortable(it didn’t really hurt to pee. Felt pretty much the same regardless the time of day). The next day it was pretty much fine. Would herpes in the urethra present this way?
Not normally, no.

A few more general questions for you as well:
– Does herpes usually appear/reappear(recurrent outbreaks) at the initial site if infection?
about half the time, half the time in other locations in the boxer shorts area.

– Does herpes cause itchy urethra? Especially AFTER the spots in question appeared
usually herpes in the urethra presents with pain

– What would typical flu related herpes symptoms be?
fever, headache, light sensitivity, achy joints and muscles

– Is it common for herpes spots to pop up days apart or usually all at once?
Usually all within a few days

– Is it common for a herpes sore to develop from bump to scab overnight? Or do they blister/ulcerate/scab over a longer period?
that could happen

– The herpes numbers for transmission are listed as percentages for having sex twice a week over the course of a year. Is the percentage for each act of sex or a yearly total percent.(ex. 4%. Would that be 4% each act of sex or 4% per year)
It would be in a year

Terri

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