Even tho I’ve tested for it, could it still be Herpes? Or Syphilis? I’ve seen those take 12-16 weeks to confirm. I guess it could be HPV. I have to wait another 10 days to get a final HIV test and Syphilis test and until the end of January for the final herpes test. I’m just wondering how accurate the Herpes and Syphilis tests (using a blood draw) are at 30 days. Thank you.

A little more info. The interaction I had was oral (I gave to a man unprotected) and anal (I bottomed protected). I’ve had a flesh-colored growth or something on the tip of my penis for over a week now, but it hasn’t really changed. Sometimes I feel like it’s a little tender, not quite throbbing, but a dull pain that comes and goes. I’ve also had a raised line on my lip for a month that also has the same sensation from time to time. 

I certainly would not be worried about herpes. If you had acquired herpes, it would be expected for you to have uncomfortable lesions, which occurred within 10 days of the exposure you described. Blood tests for HSV are notoriously unreliable, and any single exposure of the search you describe is very low risk.

As Dr. Handsfield has already indicated to you, you’ve already proven that you do not have HIV with the PCR test that you mentioned. I have every confidence that you are next test for HIV, like your previous ones will be negative. Syphilis is likewise unlikely although if any of your current symptoms were due to Syphilis, a test would be positive at this time and you would not need to wait for six weeks for definitive test result. Regarding the flesh colored spot that you have noted at the tip of your penis, it seems unlikely that this is an STI, but you would be far better served by having a train. Clinician take a look at it rather than seeking online advice.

I hope this information is helpful. If you have additional questions or any part of my response is unclear, please don’t hesitate to use your up to two follow ups for clarification. My responses will be more timely. EWH.

I’m not really too concerned about HIV at this point after my previous question 12222, just getting the test for due diligence.

I actually saw my Dr yesterday and her response was that she wasn’t sure. She said we would just have to wait and see. I went to see her due to the bump on my penis and lip as well as a burning sensation around my upper lip. She gave me an antibiotic cream for that. My lips have also been kinda chapped lately so I’m been using chapstick for that.  Shortly after my appointment, my bottom lip started to feel like I ripped the skin from it and I just figured it got very chapped. Not sure if I’m “seeing” circular bumps or if it’s my imagination. So I’ll have to wait and see on that too.

As for lesions, 10 days after the encounter, it did look like I had like paper cuts in my mouth; is that a lesion? I guess I just don’t know what that looks like. They didn’t hurt, but I remember thinking it was odd.

Thanks again.

You have one follow-up remaining.  EWH

Does everyone experience lesions in that 10 day time period? Or could I have been asymptomatic? I’ve heard some people never even know they have Herpes because they’re asymptomatic. Is that not accurate?

Also, as for the tingling around my mouth, redness under my nose on my upper lip and possible white circular stuff I’m possibly just “seeing” on my bottom lip: how many days would it be after seeing any of that where I would be in the clear? Or rather, if it was herpes, when would I expect those to really become pronounced and “blow up” (for lack of a better term) after first experiencing that?

Thanks again.

If the tingling that you have noticed is more likely due to your looking for signs of infection. When people do this. far more often than not, they are noticing normal sensations that they normally ignore/overlook.  If your "tingling) which has occurred in areas which would not be typical for HSV, were predicting an outbreak lesions would appear within a day or two of the onset of the sensation.

I hope this information is helpful.  As per Forum guidelines, with this 3rd reply this thread is complete and will now be closed.  I hope that you will not feel the need to return to the Forum.  EWH