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Encounter with Sex Worker, Afraid of Herpes
Hi,
About 2 weeks ago I had a lapse in judgement and had an encounter with a sex worker, with unprotected oral sex and protected vaginal sex. She seemed extremely clean with no obvious sores. Two days after the encounter, I woke up with the chills and slight body aches and the lymph nodes on my neck were slightly swollen. Those symptoms lasted about a day. I already had a cough and a few other family members were also feeling similar symptoms so I attributed it to that. However, two days ago (about 1.5 weeks after the encounter) I felt some pain in the area right next to the shaft of my penis. It seems a little red with one ulcer-looking spot that seems to be where the pain is coming from. I don't see any other sores nor do I have any other of the general symptoms associated with an outbreak.
I have been in a marriage for 8 years and have never had any other partner until now. Given the description above, it seems pretty clear (based on what I've read online) that I have Herpes. I was hoping to get an expert's opinion. Also, how long should I wait to get tested? From what I've read on these forums it sounds like 12 weeks is the right time?
-Extremely Stressed
About 2 weeks ago I had a lapse in judgement and had an encounter with a sex worker, with unprotected oral sex and protected vaginal sex. She seemed extremely clean with no obvious sores. Two days after the encounter, I woke up with the chills and slight body aches and the lymph nodes on my neck were slightly swollen. Those symptoms lasted about a day. I already had a cough and a few other family members were also feeling similar symptoms so I attributed it to that. However, two days ago (about 1.5 weeks after the encounter) I felt some pain in the area right next to the shaft of my penis. It seems a little red with one ulcer-looking spot that seems to be where the pain is coming from. I don't see any other sores nor do I have any other of the general symptoms associated with an outbreak.
I have been in a marriage for 8 years and have never had any other partner until now. Given the description above, it seems pretty clear (based on what I've read online) that I have Herpes. I was hoping to get an expert's opinion. Also, how long should I wait to get tested? From what I've read on these forums it sounds like 12 weeks is the right time?
-Extremely Stressed
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good morning.
Anyone who tells me they have an painful ulcer in the genital area concerns me for herpes. I'm just being frank. Having said that, what you might think is an ulcer, I might not think is an ulcer. I would define an ulcer as an area of skin that is open and below the surface of the skin. The appearance of more sores is concerning and I would strongly suggest that you into an urgent care setting, since it is the weekend, and have them do a swab test of the lesion. Please ask for a PCR swab, not a culture, if possible. It is far more sensitive.
Molluscum is not ulcerated. It is a flesh colored bump with a hard white center.
Another thing to think about is that you may have had herpes for a long time. a single protected sexual encounter is not a high risk for genital herpes acquisition, though it is not zero risk.
Please get that swabbed ASAP and let me know how it goes, OK?
Terri
Anyone who tells me they have an painful ulcer in the genital area concerns me for herpes. I'm just being frank. Having said that, what you might think is an ulcer, I might not think is an ulcer. I would define an ulcer as an area of skin that is open and below the surface of the skin. The appearance of more sores is concerning and I would strongly suggest that you into an urgent care setting, since it is the weekend, and have them do a swab test of the lesion. Please ask for a PCR swab, not a culture, if possible. It is far more sensitive.
Molluscum is not ulcerated. It is a flesh colored bump with a hard white center.
Another thing to think about is that you may have had herpes for a long time. a single protected sexual encounter is not a high risk for genital herpes acquisition, though it is not zero risk.
Please get that swabbed ASAP and let me know how it goes, OK?
Terri
Well hopefully the doc will shed some light on this subject. You should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible as they will likely be able to indentify on physical exam. I was just diagnosed wit HSV-2 unfortunately and I was pretty sure I knew it when I saw it. It could be folliculitis or molluscum contagiosum (sp), as those conditions often seem to scare people and they will think they have herpers. With herpes you should see a lesion with a fluid filled transparent vesicle which eventually pops leaving an open ulser type sore. That's sounds terrible I know , but mine were very small and virtually painless. I also had my outbreak at the base of the shaft, actually where condoms don't cover. Anyway. Good luck. Hopefully it's not herpes. It's not the end of the world if it is , but the fact the hour married obviously ramps things up a lot.
Hi Terri,
I'm not quite sure if I posted this correctly as I meant to do it on the Expert Forum. Do I need to do something differently to get a response from you or another one of the doctors?
Just an update, I'm seeing a few more white bumps near the shaft of my penis. It looks like I'm having all the classic symptoms of the initial outbreak. I can't believe that I made such a stupid mistake. I don't know how I'm going to tell my wife. This will ruin our lives. All because I selfishly tried to seek some cheap thrill. ARGH!!! Sorry for ranting.
I'm not quite sure if I posted this correctly as I meant to do it on the Expert Forum. Do I need to do something differently to get a response from you or another one of the doctors?
Just an update, I'm seeing a few more white bumps near the shaft of my penis. It looks like I'm having all the classic symptoms of the initial outbreak. I can't believe that I made such a stupid mistake. I don't know how I'm going to tell my wife. This will ruin our lives. All because I selfishly tried to seek some cheap thrill. ARGH!!! Sorry for ranting.
Hi, I am wondering if I posted in the wrong section as well. I paid for the expert response but I did it all via iPhone so maybe I missed something. Hopefully she will respond soon. Maybe you will be luck and just have molluscum contagiosm, it's not that big of a deal, although still difficult to explain to your wife. I had MC about seven years ago and my girlfriend at the time got it too. A lot of little which pimple type bumps. They are more white, not transparent like herpes. Herpers look like blisters. With MC if you pop them a solid white harder material comes out. Anyway man , good luck.
I posted a few days ago and haven't heard anything - Terri's probably just been away for a couple days.
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
