[Question #11410] Anxiety from stds

14 months ago

Around 7 weeks ago, I went to a Thai massage and she offered a body to body massage. There was no penetrative sex at any point but there was a bit of rubbing genitals which lasted about ten seconds. Then she finished with a handjob. A week after (6 weeks ago), I met with a girl and we had a make out session (kissing). 6 days after, I had a sore throat and then I woke up with a blister on my lip. I didn’t know what that was, so I went to a pharmacy and emergency hospital they said it’s a cold sore and they gave me an antiviral cream. Also, my gums were sore during the cold sore breakout which limited my eating as it was a bit painful. The antiviral cream helped and the cold sore was gone within five days of applying the cream. Also I noticed a bit of an increased outbreak of pimples around my chest, upper back and face however this maybe due to diet as I had fast food everyday. This week, I have stomach ache and a bit of diarrhea and also I noticed my sperm was thick (maybe not too much semen as it doesn’t have that shooting behavior). I asked the pharmacy about the diarrhea yesterday. I told them that I had a cold sore five weeks ago and asked if it’s related to my diarrhea and if there is anything I need to worry about they said no and the diarrhea maybe caused by something I have eaten which is probably the case as I had fast food this week. I have severe worry of having an std such as hiv, although I never had penetrative sex in my life.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

14 months ago

Welcome to the forum. I'm happy to address these questions.

STIs are not transmitted by massage or body-body contact, or by hand-genital contact. That event was entirely risk free.

However, it seems likely you acquired oral herpes due to HSV1 from your kissing partner. Although initial herpes usually causes more than a single external blister (cold sore), the simultaneous occurrence of sore throat and painful inflammation of your gums fits pretty well with a new herpes infection. However, it also is possible you had prior oral herpes, since up to half of all people acquire oral HSV1 in childhood -- i.e. that you were experiencing a garden variety episode of recurrent oral herpes (cold sore); and that something else was responsible for the sore throat and gums. Have you ever previously had lip sores or blisters like this one? It would have been best if the "emergency" hospital/doctor had tested you for HSV, but apparently that wasn't done. However, the pimples on your chest were just acne; herpes doesn't cause such a problem.

Your symptoms this week do not fit with HIV or any other STI, and I agree that herpes doesn't cause diarrhea. Having never had penetrative sex, there is no possibility you have HIV. Almost certainly you just have had a minor day to day viral infection. However, since you are worried about HIV, you could consider testing for it. People nervous about HIV often are more reassured by negative test results more than by professional opinion like mine. If a negative HIV test would help you sleep better and stop worrying, feel free to do it. But be clear: this does NOT mean I think there is even the slightest possibility you have HIV. I do not.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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14 months ago

I got two cold sores. One on my upper lip and one on my bottom. And yes, I’ve never had cold sores before. This is the first time.

Every doctor reassured me I don’t have hiv and I’m scared of testing and I don’t know why. So u think it’s hsv1? And nothing more?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

14 months ago

Having sores on both upper and lower lips increases the likelihood you were experiencing a new HSV1 infection. It's too bad the doctor/emergency personnel didn't do a lab test (PCR or culture) to confirm a new herpes infection -- although depending on where you are, perhaps these tests are not readily available. You also could have been given oral treatment with acyclovir or valacyclovir, which would have been more effective and much more rapidly clear your symptoms. The antiviral cream probably had little effect. But anyway, you recovered fairly promptly. You might have outbreaks of recurrent oral herpes in the future, but generally these are much less severe than the first infection. Usually those outbreaks don't need treatment, but oral treatment can be considered if necessary. You'll also need to take care not to expose anyone by kissing or performing oral sex during any future outbreaks.

Kissing is the main way people acquire oral herpes, but kissing does not transmit HIV. However, as I said above, you are free to be tested for HIV if you need the reassurance of a negative test result.

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14 months ago

Thanks doctor u gave me reassurance as when I think about it it’s highly impossible to get hiv without no penetrative action but yeah the fear is still a bit there.

Also, u didn’t comment on my ejaculation. It seems that the shooting is a weaker and it seems very thick. Also, during my hsv1 infection, a lump (big pimple) appeared on my Pubic area. It was filled with pus and blood. Now the lump is gone but there’s still a blackhead ( I suspect it’s an ingrown hair?)

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

14 months ago

No STD has any effect on sexual functioning. If you remain concerned about ejaculation, see a urologist.

Herpes lesions do not fill with pus and blood. This is a perfect description of an infected ingrown hair.

That completes the two follow-up comments and replies included with each question, and so ends this thread. I hope the discussion has been helpful. Best wishes and stay safe.

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