[Question #11309] Possible Genital Herpes Infection

Avatar photo
15 months ago

I am a male that recently had sex with a new female partner. We have had sex twice now and each time a condom was used. About 12 days after the second time we had sex, I noticed some slight itching/irritation on my scrotum and sort of around the anal area (more higher up around where the division of my buttocks begins). The itching/irritation was almost negligible. It only seemed to last for 2 or 3 days and then went away. I checked for symptoms like lesions but didn’t find anything. I’m just wondering if this could possibly be herpes. I have oral HSV-1 and get typical cold sores on my lip, but this did not present at all like the symptoms I experience when I get a cold sore. Is the only way to know is to get a blood test and see if I test positive for HSV-2?


Avatar photo
Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
15 months ago
The experience that you describe presents zero risk for the acquisition of genital herpes.  Absolutely none.  I would certainly NOT recommend the use of the routine IgG blood test for herpes because 1) there was no risk for acquiring herpes and 2) there is a high rate of false positives on these tests and both the CDC and FDA recommend that you not do this test unless you have symptoms.  I don't consider what you described as herpes symptoms.

Terri
---