Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Primary HSV outbreak lesion from one time encounter?

28yr old USA White/Asian female
STD History: None
Tested negative for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Trich, HIV, Syphilis and also negative for HSV 1 and 2 by igg blood test (specially requested bc vaginal cuts in the past, but turned out to be soap plus sex combination irritation)
All tests were 6 months or more past last exposure and no new partners since.

Therefore, if this is HSV, it has to be primary infection.

11/7 00:00AM
Single encounter protected vaginal sex and unprotected oral sex (giving and receiving) with 19 yr old Japanese male

Day 2: Painful, itchy vulva, yogurt-like discharge
Day 4: Suppository and ointment for probable yeast infection
Day 7: One circular itchy red rash (no blister or bump) appears on inner thigh near lower panty line (1 cm), light itching all over vulva, thigh, buttocks
Day 9: One small circular lesion near anal opening (2-3 mm). Not a long tear or cut, definitely circular, no bleeding. Did not notice if blister or bump was ever involved
Day 10: Today
Light vaginal pain, itching, and dryness. Still some milky discharge. Red circle rash and itch on thigh continue with no bumps or lesions. Single lesion near anal opening is still open, no blood, itch and pain similar to papercut

Partner says he has oral HSV since youth, and claims he had no symptoms at time of encounter (Single encounter viral shedding??;;;) . He, like many, had no idea cold sores were HSV.

Will it be too late to try and swab/culture the lesion tomorrow (48 hrs past discovery)? (Cannot skip work to go earlier)
What are the chances I got HSV from this single encounter?...perhaps GHSV2 even with condom??....perhaps oral to genital HSV1 from viral shedding??

I know people are often asymptomatic, but when symptoms do occur...and for a person like me without HSV1 or 2 antibodies...I thought it's often a more serious outbreak? From reading forums, truly primary infections seem to get all (horrible pain and clusters of blisters) or nothing (sub-clinical) when it comes to outbreak symptoms. Even if HSV2 with condom or HSV1 from oral....no blisters on vulva? but instead inner thigh and anus? Threads also often say these places are typical recurrent sites, but if primary infection then usually blisters on vulva as well..? Could the itchiness and dryness be the vaginal symptoms to accompany the other sites?


Thanks in advance for everyone's advice.
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
15249123 tn?1478652475
I would really rule out hsv2 from a single protected encounter. If your partner indeed has hsv1 orally then this is a much bigger possibility. Can you get hsv from a single exposure? Absolutely. The odds would be small but certainly not zero.
The good news is if this is indeed hsv1. You will most likely not experience many outbreaks. Many people only get a couple and then they stop. The virus also doesn't shed very much at all and isn't very potent when it does. Meaning it would be unlikely to spread hsv1 during Intercourse.
I would see a Dr asap and get the areas swabbed
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
@feelingundone
Thank you for your prompt and helpful advice.

My results from 1 week before came back negative for Chlam, Gon, Trich, and yeast.

I just went to the clinic and am furious with my provider for refusing to culture my lesion/rash for HSV.

Reason 1 :
It didn't "look" like herpes (he further explained while scrolling through google images). I argued not all cases are that extreme. And I'm not just worried...I have a rash and open sore one week after sex...

Reason 2:
HE "can't see" the lesion
So I showed a pic on my phone and I physically pointed it out in the exam room (knowing full well when I touched it bc of stinging pain)

Reason 3:
It looks too far healed to culture. "A test would be pointless." I understand time is a factor so it might not show up on a test...but If I still see and feel an open sore there is still a chance it could test positive, possibly eliminating over 3 months of "what if"s. I begged for the swab, just in case it was still viable. Nope.

As he tells me it doesn't look like herpes and I am clear of other STDs so I'm "healthy" and "good to go", I'm itching and writhing in stinging pain.

I insist it might be HSV, ask about other possibilities, and about what I can do from here ...bc even if I can't test now..the pain, itch, stinging, etc is here and now.

He admits it could be HSV bc my partner has a history of cold sores...but thinks I shouldn't worry about it.

He refuses to give valtrex/pill, gives me one tiny tube of HSV ointment "just in case," a small tube of anti-itch cream, and sends me on my way.

Is it really too late to swab? General practice clinics in Japan refuse to look "down there" and it's difficult to get to OBGYN (they mostly focus on pregnancy/birthing)

If it's too late to swab...I guess the only option is wait 12-16 weeks?

I feel like I did my part to go to the clinic as soon as possible and they let me down as a patient.

I agree with you on the care you didn't receive. I'm sorry it went so poorly and I'm sorry to hear about the pain your in.
If your sore is open then it's not to late for a swab. If not I would get an igg blood test at 10 weeks. This will be a great indicator.
Like I said if it is hsv1 you may never get another outbreak and the odds of everything spreading it from Intercourse is very small. I wish you luck and please keep me posted on how everything is going.
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
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.