[Question #8033] one time exposure/ HSV risk

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49 months ago
Had a partner that we were regularly hooking up. Had her tested for all STDs including Herpes 3 months from her last encounter. We agreed to be mutually exclusive during this time. We are both HSV1 positive. We ceased to hook up back in December. On 5/11 we have unprotected oral and protected Vaginal sex. I assumed she hadn’t hooked up with anyone else during a hiatus of 2 months. After we hooked up on 5/11 I ask her if she had slept with anyone else during the Hiatus. She admits to me she had slept with a coworker on 5/2 that’s going through a divorce (40yrsMake) he had told her he’s only been with his current wife was STD free. they only hooked up once, protected vaginal no oral. I got tested on 6/23  HIV , chlamydia, gonorhea, syphilis and HSV2, All negative. about a week after my encounter with her I began to have a burning sensation in my genital area. a week prior to me hooking up with her I had shaved and cut myself on my lower scrotum. In this same area is where I have this burning sensation along with a bump that has stayed since. It’s a single bump that has not blistered.other than the burning sensation and bump on my scrotum I have not seen anything else that looks like herpes. I shaved my entire genital area to be able to notice any bumps and this made the burning sensation much worse for a day or two. The burning sensation is on the right side of my scrotum comes and goes throughout the day. It’s been that way for the last weeks  Does HSV2 sound probable given my low risk encounter ? Are my STD results conclusive? Should I retest?  
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Terri Warren, RN, Nurse Practitioner
49 months ago
First, I think the odds of her contracting HSV 2 through a single encounter is really low.  Second, the chances of you getting HSV 2 from her, with her chances of getting it being really low is even lower.  Also, a single bump doesn't really sound like herpes to me.  If you had a new infection, perhaps multiple sores would be a bit more likely and I don't think that the bump would stay the same over time - I think it would change into an ulcer or a blister or a scab if it was herpes.  And lastly, I don't think that herpes would continue burning for weeks as you describe with no visible sores. 

Retesting is really up to you and how worried you are about this but from a medical point of view only, I don't think it is necessary.

Terri
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