Are Hives a sign of genital HSV?

[itchy2345]

I have been having recurring breakouts of hives on my arms every morning for the lat 4-5 days.  I can feel the itch upon waking up and I generally have 2-3 large (quarter size or larger) hives total on both arms.  The hives usually go away by noon.  I have made no changes in diet, soap, medications etc.

Around 10 weeks ago I had a risky encounter of unprotected vaginal and oral sex with a lady I met at a bar.  I have not had any "classic" symptoms of HSV, but I have been very worried about it because I am generally anxious and the sexual encounter I had was very out of character for me.

Now I am reading online (probably a mistake) that hives are frequently caused by exposure to HSV and other viral infections.  Has anyone with HSV experienced hives before, during or after a HSV breakout?  I have never seen hives listed as a symptom of HSV on any site specifically focusing on HSV.  Is this a common symptom? Should I be this worried?

Thanks in advance for any help...

[itchy2345]

Thanks for the help.

I will try to wait out the 2 weeks for greater percentage, but in the likely event that I succumb to my anxiety and go get tested next week I will accept a negative at 85% likelihood.

I will have my fingers crossed...

[Fleetwood20]

It is over 85% likely you would have seroconverted by 10 weeks.

[itchy2345]

I probably would accept a negative at 10 weeks if there was a 75-90% chance of being conclusive.

If it was a 20-30% chance I wouldn't.

I just don't know what the chances are

[Fleetwood20]

After 10 weeks most people infected with herpes are experiencing no symptoms at all.

Only a few percent of people seroconvert between 10 and 12 weeks. Will you accept a negative 10 week test as negative?

[itchy2345]

Thank you for your quick response.

I suppose after 10 weeks if I were to get symptoms they would probably be sores/blisters and not on my arms.

Do you think there is much difference in test results at 10 weeks vs 12?

[Fleetwood20]

You need to look at this the other way round in the sense that any virus can cause hives. Hives can never be worked back to infer herpes. Your body has a stack of viruses that can get out of 'control' that then may indirectly cause hives. Hives themselves can be a sign of excess antibodies in the body breaking down.

There are also other causes of hives than viruses. Any antigen or allergen can be a culprit.

One of the most common symptoms of herpes is NO symptoms at all. Hence it is probably not bad idea to obtain full STD testing at the appropriate windows including IgG antibodies for HSV1 and HSV2 at the 12 week mark.