[Question #11133] HSV Again and Again… (Follow-Up)
16 months ago
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Hi, this is a follow up to my recent post “HSV Again and Again”.
Terri - Yes I definitely will try to move on and not continue getting tested/inspecting my genitals! I should note that my health OCD is primarily related to sexual health.
1) I wanted to give a little more info about the thing from January. Again, I didn’t think it was a scab but the fact it came off when I scratched it worries me a bit. It didn’t leave a red/pink mark but there might have briefly been a faint area that looked kind of like dry skin or kind of like an outline of where it used to be (I can’t totally remember). If this was the case it disappeared quickly. Would a scab be harder/rougher to the touch and behave differently than I describe?
2) I noticed this “thing” 15 days post condom sex. 15, or even 12/13/14 (if it was there earlier and I didn’t notice), would be late for new herpies to show up right?
3) It only triggers my OCD fears because it was on low area of shaft that condom may not have covered during sex, although I’m not sure if this area would even have had skin to skin contact with my partner.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
16 months ago
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1) I wanted to give a little more info about the thing from January. Again, I didn’t think it was a scab but the fact it came off when I scratched it worries me a bit. It didn’t leave a red/pink mark but there might have briefly been a faint area that looked kind of like dry skin or kind of like an outline of where it used to be (I can’t totally remember). If this was the case it disappeared quickly. Would a scab be harder/rougher to the touch and behave differently than I describe?
Yes, normally a scab would be hard to remove and stiffer feeling to the touch.
2) I noticed this “thing” 15 days post condom sex. 15, or even 12/13/14 (if it was there earlier and I didn’t notice), would be late for new herpies to show up right?
Yes, quite late for HSV to show up, for sure. We say 2-10 days, but the average is 5.5 days.
3) It only triggers my OCD fears because it was on low area of shaft that condom may not have covered during sex, although I’m not sure if this area would even have had skin to skin contact with my partner.
Yup, I read that and figure that was what your worry was all about. And that's certainly understandable under those circumstances.
Lets just see if you can let this worry go and if you can't we can always repeat the blot at some point. Some people, obviously people who can afford this, do the blot as part of an STI screen now. I'm not suggesting that for you, I'm just saying it wouldn't be a weird thing to do if you decided to do that.
Terri
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16 months ago
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Responses to my previous questions:
1) Hmmm yeah that is so weird then. I really have no clue what it was. I don’t know if “soft” is the perfect word to describe it but it certainly wasn’t rough and came off pretty easily without leaving a clear mark or a wound.
2) I feel like sometimes my OCD gets triggered because I can’t see the base of the condom while in certain positions during sex, and sometimes I think the condom might ride up a bit during the process of “pulling out”. However I also think the condom kind of moves up and down with my foreskin while thrusting so it still provides adequate protection. Does all of that make sense?
3) I also wanted to clarify that in my original post when I said “anyone I have confided in has said I might just have sensitive genitals, scratch myself, etc.” I meant my therapist and close friends who I talked to about this.
That sounds good! I am definitely on board with just trying to move past this while continuing to work with my therapist.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
16 months ago
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1) Hmmm yeah that is so weird then. I really have no clue what it was. I don’t know if “soft” is the perfect word to describe it but it certainly wasn’t rough and came off pretty easily without leaving a clear mark or a wound.
2) I feel like sometimes my OCD gets triggered because I can’t see the base of the condom while in certain positions during sex, and sometimes I think the condom might ride up a bit during the process of “pulling out”. However I also think the condom kind of moves up and down with my foreskin while thrusting so it still provides adequate protection. Does all of that make sense?
It does make sense, yes
3) I also wanted to clarify that in my original post when I said “anyone I have confided in has said I might just have sensitive genitals, scratch myself, etc.” I meant my therapist and close friends who I talked to about this.
Understood.
You take care, now.
Terri
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16 months ago
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Thanks Terri! One more question: my partner from 9 days before the symptom in March appeared has a history of cold sores here and there since she was a child. I cannot remember if I received oral sex that day but it is a possibility. With the other information I gave you is it still alright for me to try to put this behind me and move on?
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
16 months ago
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Without any specific herpes symptoms, I do think you can move on now. Obviously, if you develop any blisters in the genital area, you should have them evaluated.
Terri
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16 months ago
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The only symptom was the cut/wound I previously told you about from March 11th. I am definitely good with moving on! I just wanted to give you that info. Of course if I see a blister I will take further action though.
16 months ago
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The only symptom after that encounter was the cut/wound I previously told you about from March 11th on the outside of my foreskin. Different from that weird thing I saw at the base of my penis in January. I am definitely good with moving on! I just wanted to give you that info. Of course if I see a blister I will take further action though.
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
16 months ago
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I do appreciate the update but it doesn't really change my opinion here.
Terri
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