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Does This Look Like The Onset of Herpes?

Two and a half days ago near noon, I had protected oral sex and anal sex with a sex worker. After, I carefully took the condom off (didn’t seem broken), I washed my hands thoroughly and wiped my penis clean from top to bottom, as I felt her lips made at least some contact with the base of my shaft and surrounding area (also saw her lipstick on my pubes). Mind you, she most definitely has herpes and it is unknown whether she was shedding or having an outbreak (didn’t seem so). After, about an hour later, I wiped my whole genital area with rubbing alcohol and a damp towel, as well as soap (was unable to fully shower).

The next day, I wake up with a red patch of skin on the upper region of my penis shaft. It didn’t feel like anything, no warmth, no tingle, no itch, just a visible red patch. Of course I start getting concerned, as I am not promiscuous by any means due to my work, and believed I had taken the proper precautions. It was also strange how the contact was on my more upper pubic region, yet I was getting this mark on my shaft. It was like this for that whole second day, a red patch without feeling. Towards the end of the day, it was more of a pinkish-red color and had a shine to it.

Now today, I wake up, and it’s still there, albeit shiny and a little lighter, but there are some bumps (could be from inflammation from friction from boxers, the condom, etc., I do have sensitive shaft skin). The spot now feels slightly cool, but still no itch, no pain, no flu-like symptoms or fatigue on my end. For all of you experienced, seasoned folks out there who have had experience with herpes personally or through someone else, does this look like the start of herpes?
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207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
It doesn't sound like herpes. You don't mention blisters or actual sores, just a spot that's shiny and reddish-pink.

As Annie said, it could be irritation from the alcohol, which is far more likely than herpes, since you used a condom for everything.

Remember that sex workers are using condoms to protect themselves from you, not you from them. It's not a certainty that she has herpes. Even if she does, the chances that you get it from a one time protected encounter are very low.
Helpful - 1
2 Comments
Thank you so much for the comment. Yes, it was protected, albeit some contact between her lips and my pubic area. She  said she has a severe hormone deficiency so she goes monthly for that and claims they test her at each appointment and that she’s clean. She also mentioned she always uses condoms, having been on Prep in the past and stopped due to side effects. Even invited me to test if it made me feel better. Says she does it for a living, so logically what you’re saying is absolutely correct. They wouldn’t want to play around with their living right? Just wanted to be certain and get some additional opinions. Especially with the incubation period for herpes being 2-12 days and apparently most cases being apparent by the 4th day, I’m currently at 2 and a half.
"They wouldn’t want to play around with their living right?"

This is exactly right. This is how she makes her living. how she pays for her housing, her lights, maybe how she feeds her kids, etc.

I don't know what kind of testing she gets done every month, but as she is a sex worker, testing monthly doesn't seem extreme or unusual.

Prep does have a ton of side effects, so that story sounds believable, too.

The average is 4 days, not "most". I woke up on day 2 with all kinds of sores. Others get sores on other days.

Really, though, your risk is super low and not worth worrying about. If your spot lingers, get it checked, but I'd guess it's from the alcohol.
134578 tn?1693250592
Rather than getting all tied up about photos, you should understand that cleaning your sensitive penis with rubbing alcohol can cause the problem you are describing. You are too early for herpes to arise in any visible way, but you are right in the time frame for the alcohol to have irritated your skin.
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
You may very well be right. I did feel a slight burn on all parts of the genital area.
3147776 tn?1549545810
Hi - photo upload is only possible on your MedHelp profile when you're using a laptop or desktop device.  However, we don't allow photos of genitals to be posted on our site for any reason, and we don't accept them via our inbox either.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I do not know how to add pictures. I am doing this post through my phone and in the original question, nothing says add photo. Is it possible to send photos another way! I.e. MedHelp inbox, a fake number, a texting app, etc.?
Helpful - 0
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