Worried about herpes

[mm1232015]

Hi,

I am worrying about an incident which I had with a stripper 26 days ago. During the lapdance I touched her body all over (no vagina). I then think that I may have touched my penis during the lapdance also. 5 days after this I had flu like symptoms and went to my doctor. This subsided and I have now been experiencing pain in my penis for the past 10 days after going to the bathroom. I have also been experiencing tingling in my groin area for the past 10 days. My testicles have been tender and sore for the past two weeks. I have no apparent lesions or sores on my scrotal area as I am constantly checking to see. There now seems to be a red spot on my groin where the tingling is (See attached). Do you have any advice?

Thanks

[Terri Warren]

I’m a little confused – so you didn’t touch her genitals at all, just other parts of her body and you are concerned that you then touched your penis? Touching her body in other places will not give you herpes. Period. The photo that you sent looks like folliculitis, an irritation or infection of a hair follicle. I’m not clear why you may be having the other symptoms that you describe, but the experiences that you told me about would not transmit herpes. Was she the giver of oral sex to you?

Terri

[mm1232015]

No I only touched her body and groin area no vagina. No I did not receive any oral sex only what I said in the first post. If I had touched the vagina would there be a risk?

[Terri Warren]

If you had touched her vagina, there would be a very very tiny risk but even then very very tiny. If you had been masturbating her vagina vigorously for a while, and intermittently, masturbating yourself, that would still be a very tiny risk.

Terri

[mm1232015]

Thinking back on the incident I think I may have touched her vagina a few times and inserted the tip of my finger for literally one second, she then sucked my finger straight away. There was also no moisture at all in her vagina. Has this increased my risk much?

I just received results from blood test 30 days post exposure and they are 1.38 hsv 1 positive and 0.50 hsv 2 negative with 1.10 being the cut off point. Would you be confident that I did not contract hsv 2 from this encounter with what I have told you and also the negative hsv 2 results?

I have been experiencing a rash under my foreskin which seemed to be thrush, however I have used thrush cream for the past 8 days and it is still there. Could this be a symptom of hsv 2?

[Terri Warren]

The act of putting the tip of your finger in her vagina does not increase your risk of HSV 2. The assessment of your risk remains the same from me. Extremely low.

Did you know that you were HSV 1 positive before this contact? Thirty days out is technically enough to get an accurate answer but since your risk was so low, I’m not concerned. What about contact that you had with people other than her in the past 16 weeks? Your negative is a little higher than I usually see.

This is the final post on your subscription. If you have more questions, please feel free to renew.

Terri

[mm1232015]

No I did not realise I was positive. The only other person I had contact with was my girlfriend who occasionally gets cold sores alright. Should I be confident so that I do not have hsv 2 and move on in your opinion? I am seeing a urologist about the problems I am experiencing to see if they can help me.

[Terri Warren]

Has your girlfriend been tested to know for certain that she does not have HSV 2?
As far as the HSV 1 goes, if she already has cold sore, then she also has HSV 1 and you two don’t need to worry about the HSV 1 anymore.

Terri

[mm1232015]

Yes and she is negative for hsv2. What are your views therefore on my hsv2 results? What are usually the negative results after 30 days. Should I be worried still about having hsv2? Should I resume unprotected sex with my partner?

[Terri Warren]

If all events with this person are exactly as you described and your girlfriend has been your only partner in the past four months, I don’t think you are at risk for HSV 2 infection. Period.

Terri

[mm1232015]

Ok thanks. What about the hsv1 being a false positive? Is it easy to pass hsv1 orally to the genitals? Should I test again at 6 and 8 weeks? Have you ever heard of cases solely from hand genital contact? Would the result for hsv1 indicate recent exposure or sometime before?

Sorry for all the questions, you have been a great help and reassurance to me.

[mm1232015]

Also how high is my hsv2 result compare to what you usually see?

[Terri Warren]

It is possible that the HSV 1 is a false positive yes, though the problem with HSV 1 testing is usually false negatives, not false positives. HSV 1 can be transferred from mouth to genitals, yes. So your partner with cold sores could infect you with HSV 1 genitally by giving you oral sex or you could have an asymptomatic HSV 1 oral infection if you have never had a cold sore. Are you talking about testing for HSV 2 at 6 and 8 weeks? I don’t think that is necessary actually. I have never heard of a transmission from hand to genitals, no. The result of the HSV 1 cannot determine new vs. old infection.

Usually we see a lower HSV 2 result, but I have also seen them at your level that are truly negative.

Terri

[mm1232015]

Terri,

Many thanks for your help.

I received further clarification for the hsv2 results. The score was not 0.5 it was less than 0.5. They said this means it was so low it was not measurable and there is no score closer to 0 than what I have. They said they have an equivocal results range which would suggest retesting and I have not fallen into that category.

Between your advice and this do you think I am clear?

I understand this is probably over my last question but promise this is the last thing I will ask of you.

Thanks

[Terri Warren]

OH, good to have that clarification. Then yes I think you are clear!

Terri

[mm1232015]

Hi terri,

Decided I would complete another iGG test after 8 weeks as was still anxious and was still experiencing some tingling in groin. Still haven’t had any lesions/ulcers/blisters and now 9 weeks post incident. Positive hsv1 again with 1.35 and negative hsv2 with <0.50 same as last time. How confident should I be with the 8 week results? Having difficult time accepting the negative hsv2 results! Will probably test again at 10/12 weeks. At that stage what level of certainty can I have if negative for hsv2?

[Terri Warren]

I think you can be quite confident about the result. When I evaluate risk, I always go back to the initial encounter that triggered the worry. Your encounter did not present a risk for HSV 2 that I can determine. I think you can be very reassured with these results now.

Terri

[mm1232015]

Thanks Terri,

It is the tingling sensation that made me retest again at 8 weeks. Is there any % at this time?

Would you recommend any testing at 10/12 weeks and if I were to what % accuracy would be then?

[Terri Warren]

I have no specific answer for 8 weeks, no
I would guess that the test accuracy at 12 weeks would be over 90%. That’s a guess

Terri

[mm1232015]

Hi Terri,

I know you probably think I am mad just want to make sure I do not have HSV2! So I have tested at 4, 8, 9.5 and 11 weeks so far with iGG testing. HSV1 has been positive at 1.38, 1.35, 1.12 and 1.62. All HSV2 tests have been negative with <0.50 (I have tested through Better2Know in the UK). These tests have been home test kits where you draw blood from your fingertip and return to the lab.

I have still been experiencing tingling in my buttocks and thigh areas and the tip of my penis has also been sensitive. Also after a shower my penis seems to be red on the skin.

How confident should I be in the negative HSV2 test at just over 11 weeks after the incident?

I am going on holidays at the 16 week mark so I am also wondering if testing at 14.5 weeks is sufficient for a final conclusive result?

Thanks

[Terri Warren]

I’m sorry, but I’m not familiar with the at home kit for HSV 2 testing that you have available there but if they go back to a lab for processing I’m sure they are fine. I think you can be greatly reassured at 14.5 weeks, yes.

Terri

[mm1232015]

Ya all samples are processed at a certified lab in the UK. They have reassured me that the negative results at 11 weeks should be conclusive just wanted to see what your opinion was?

If negative at 14.5 weeks should I move on and just forget about HSV2?

Sorry for what are probably stupid questions just anxious.

[Terri Warren]

No worries! I know you are anxious and it’s OK to still ask me questions.
Yes, I do believe that you can definitely count on your results at 14.5 weeks because I didn’t think you had risk to begin with.
I hope you can relax after a negative test at 14.5 weeks and just enjoy your holiday!

Terri

[mm1232015]

Hi Terri,

14 week results came back! Positive for HSV 1 1.61 and negative HSV 2 <0.50! Really happy, have had a rash on my penis that I got swabbed and came back clear too! So do you feel this result at 14 weeks should be conclusive for me?

Thanks for all your help!

[Terri Warren]

Yes, I do!

Terri

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