What to do after exposure

[Curiositycat]

Hi, I am a female who recently had condom protected sex 3 times with a male partner who has genital hsv (unsure whether it is type 1 or 2) 12 days ago. Unfortunately I was unaware that it was able to be transmitted when one was asymptomatic. We also slept naked together (I really wish I knew more about this before obviously!). I have felt very stressed about the situation since. Have had pain but I am prone to pain with new partners. I visited the doctor at 6 days feeling like I had symptoms but she was not concerned by what she saw and the swab test has come back negative. I am going to visit again tomorrow because I do not feel normal and still have some pain such as stinging on urination and feeling generally unwell. If this test also comes back negative, would you suggest I wait to have a blood test also? I am recently out of a very long term relationship and am having casual relationships only but obviously do not want to infect anyone.

[Terri Warren]

Have you ever had a herpes antibody test in the past? It would be good know what your baseline HSV test results is just so you know where things are right now. I would be surprised if you would have a positive antibody test from that exposure now. It is possible, but I still think it would be worth knowing where you stand now. Since 80% of people with HSV 2 don’t know it, it would be worth doing.

Having said all of that, I think your risk of acquiring herpes in this situation is quite low. It was condom protected, which is great. Sleeping together naked doesn’t present a risk without sexual contact.

When someone has sex with a person who has herpes, they become really aware of all genital sensations, in my experience. Let me know test results and I will help you sort them out as needed.

Terri

[Curiositycat]

Hi Terri, thanks so much for your reply. I went to the doctor for swab tests today. They really are not keen on testing via blood (I don’t live in the states) but I can ask next time I am in. Her opinion in looking at the rash I was concerned about was that it is likely thrush and prescribed medication for this.

My other main question is that I had an almost healed cut on halfway down my finger which definitely came into contact with my partner’s genitals. I also understand that you can get herpes on your finger so I am wondering whether I need to keep an eye on my finger and what I would be looking for? I am really prone to dermatitis so would I get symptoms confused with the dermatitis or would it be obvious? Do I need to keep it covered? I am really scared about spreading it!

Thanks again.

[Terri Warren]

If you were going to get herpes on your finger, it would be really clear and be a group of painful blisters. If you don’t get it within 2-10 days, I would bet you will never get it.

Terri

[Curiositycat]

Hi Terri,

Thanks so much. No blisters on hand.

I ended up getting two swab tests done one week apart and both came back negative. I was really stressed about tingling sensation and burning urination. But the doctor really thought that what she was looking at was just dryness but took swabs from several places because I was concerned. She also would not give me the blood test so I will need to go to the sexual health centre.

So now, I continue to feel stressed as I received oral sex and masturbation a few days ago and am feeling the same tingling and burning! Wondering what the rough transmission rates if HSV2 genitally to orally are?

My other concern is the person that I had this encounter with then went back to the party and I saw him speaking to a pregnant woman….am totally freaking out that he could have transmitted it to her as I suspect that he didn’t wash his hands. Unhygienic, I know. I washed my hands!!

[Curiositycat]

In addition to the information above, I have attached some photos of the skin around my groin. I have some distinct spots! Could you please let me know your opinion about these. I have purchased some extra questions. Thanks so much Terri

[Curiositycat]

Having trouble with the photos

[Curiositycat]

Photo of other side of groin. I should add that I had a bikini wax 3 days ago.

[Terri Warren]

There are a few of these that look like blisters to me – do they to you? Did the things that you had swabbed look like this? Do you know if the swab test done was culture or PCR? I think even if your provider isn’t wild about serology, it would be a good idea still.

Terri

[Curiositycat]

I was worried about that too. So I went back to the doctor today and she was confident that the skin looked normal and that the bumps were caused by waxing. She took a swab but not from that area because she thought that they were nothing. Oh dear. I’m so confused as to what to do here. I will get the blood test but am only 5 weeks after exposure so do I need to wait a bit longer?

[Terri Warren]

Your clinician is in a far better place to decide if something looks herpetic than I am looking at a small picture thousands of miles away. I would trust her and her opinion. I can’t tell how big things are or if they are truly blisters or not, so many confounding factors, she’s right there! I’m sure if she had any question if it was herpes, given your concerns, she would have swab tested the lesions for herpes.

Now that you have missed the opportunity to get a baseline test (which should have been done within 1-2 weeks of the encounter, at the longest), you might as well wait 12-16 weeks for an antibody test. The baseline test would have told you if you were infected before this encounter or not.

You have more one question to ask under this subscription – please feel free.

Terri

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