[Question #13170] Herpes symptoms or just anxiety?
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1 months ago
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Hi Terri,
Hope you are well and thanks in advance for your help. I have been very anxious and this forum has helped tremendously. I will give you a quick run down of my situation. 8 weeks ago, I (male) had an unprotected insertive oral encounter with a female. I was tested for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia a week after, which came back both negative. I also tested for HSV (IGG) and was positive for HSV1 and negative for HSV2. This was not surprising as I have had cold sores since I was a kid. Six weeks post encounter, I tested for G&C, HIV (4th gen), Syphilis and Hep A&B and they all came back negative. However, I have recently began experiencing new symptoms which have made me worried for GHSV1 (listed below)
- Stinging, pricking sensation in pubes region similar to pulling on hair (both sides)
- Itching of the region between the anus and scrotum
- Pain in crease where groin and inner thighs meet (both sides)
- A single small red pimple / potential legion near right inner thigh crease (does not hurt normally, painful when poked / scratched).
- Sore lower back / glutes which lasted a morning
- Tingling of entire scrotum (this may be due to anxiety and feeling it rub against underware)
- Timing: most GHSV1 initial outbreaks happen from 5.5 - 12 days. For me it would be almost 2 months
- Lesions: I did not notice a water bubble, it has not grown a yellow scab, and it was not a part of a cluster
- Confirmed baseline OHSV1: AFAIK, this would make it unlikely for me to get infected again in another region
- Location: Initial outbreaks tend to happen near location of infection (ie: penis). my red spot is relatively far away
- Lack of flu like symptoms and no swollen lymph nodes
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
1 months ago
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Once you have HSV 1 orally, you are extremely unlikely to acquire this genitally. Your symptoms are not consistent with a new genital HSV infection either. Lots of things can cause genital itching, a sore low back and tingling of the scrotum and pubic region. A single red pimple near the thigh crease sounds nothing at all like HSV. In short, nothing here concerns me at all that you have acquired a new HSV 1 infection genitally.
Terri
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1 months ago
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Thanks for the quick reply Terri! Your response is very reassuring. Just a few follow ups.
- From your experience, do you think my symptoms can potentially indicate any other concerns?
- Since you said my symptoms do not make you concerned about GHSV1, what are some things that would? This is more just for my personal knowledge going into the future.
- Is there any other precautions you would recommend or tests you would run? Sometimes I feel random symptoms, probably due to anxiety, but just want to make sure all angles are covered. For what its worth I will also be seeing a urologist soon for an in person opinion.
Thanks again!
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1 months ago
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Also, one more point, would the size / shape / characteristic of the red mark near the groin change your opinion? I am worried its not a pimple and more like a sore
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
1 months ago
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Your symptoms are so general, it's difficult to say what is going on there, but I doubt an STI.
If you decide that you want to test for herpes (you will be positive for HSV 1 but if you want to test for HSV 2), use the labCorp test, it is far better than the Quest test.
Herpes presents as a water blister, often grouped, on a red base, that will break open, ulcerate and scab. This doesn't sound like what you are describing about the red bump.
Terri
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