Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

What could this be?

Okay, please dont judge me. I already hate myself. Three days ago I recieved very brief unprotected oral from a prostitute. I dont recall really seeing anything on her lips. I never achieved a full erection and it only lasted maybe a minute or 2. I stopped went home and tried to masturbate. I couldn't get a full erection but still continued to masturbate for a long time. So much to the point of causing an irritating pain around the base of my penis from friction in the hair and just excessive force. The next day I woke up to soreness on my penis and what looked like an irritated fordyce spot. I say irritated because it looked like others that I have but redder, and painful/tender. I never really stopped messing with it, so it stayed sore. Today I tried to pop it, and it didnt really pop. I kept messing with it and now it's an open sore and if I squeeze it clear fluid comes out. But I'm not sure if it's because it's a healing wound or if its oozing infectious fluid. My question is could this be herpes? It appeared more or less around 24 hours after possible exposure, it never itched, it didnt really pop, more like I scratched layers off? I'm so scared and worried I ruined my life. I cant focus, I'm scared.
8 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Gosh one more thing. I'm so sorry my mind is racing. It says 0.91 and then right next to it in red it says high. I'm confused. Is it saying my number is 0.91 and that is high. Or is it saying that 0.91 is the cut off and I'm above that. I'm just confused, if it was a high positive wouldn't their be a a number listed higher than 0 91?
Helpful - 0
9 Comments
This is exactly why I said you should not to take the hsv2 IgG test.

A .91 is BARELY over the .90 negative line, and it's not positive - it's indeterminate. Somewhere on your results, it should explain this. You know you had no risk, so count this as one of the many false results it gives.

And stop testing for hsv2 unless you have serious risk or symptoms. This was bound to happen. I'm sorry it did.

I swear to you that you had no risk, and this is a false result. You had no risk for hsv2. I would tell you if you had any reason for concern.
I should have listened, and I only pursued more tests than just hsv1 so I could feel confident to go into the dating scene. I'll disregard this and focus on the good news, Hsv1 negative. I know that igg tests for hsv1 miss 25% give or take. But coupled with the symptom you didnt feel was herpetic and all that I should feel confident that I dont have it? I dont mean to sound like i am questioning your sound and awesome advice. I just want to be safe in possible future relationships. As always you are simply amazing!
You had no risk for hsv2. Oral hsv2 is very rare, and when it does occur, it rarely recurs, rarely sheds, so therefore, rarely transmits. The chances of your partner having it are very rare, and if she did, transmitting it is even rarer.

The oral sex was very brief, so you don't have to worry at all about hsv2.

I wouldn't worry about hsv1, either. You had some irritation from friction you say you caused, and then you say you tried to pop something that wouldn't pop, which sounds like a Fordyce spot. It was also there less than 24 hrs after, which is impossible for herpes.

You tested negative for hsv1, and while that misses some infections, none of your symptoms correlate with it. I think you're good. :)
Thank you so much for your caring compassionate heart. I sincerely wish you a happy and loved holiday season!
Same to you :)
At the risk of further annoyance. If for some reason I find myself needlessly worring in the next few months or if I find a partner and she wants me to get tested for her peace of mind, should I get a different test? Or retest with the same herpeselect igg CLIA? I really respect and value your opinions and this isn't anxiety talking. I just want to respect future partners health, if they have reservations. You've been so amazing and really one of the few things that's helped me through this hard time. Your name is spot on. After this you really feel like an auntie :)
If you don't have another exposure, you don't need to test again, and you can tell her that you're negative. If a new partner wants you to test for current results, then get an IgG, because that's the most available test. You could get a Western Blot, but that's harder to get and far more expensive.

You do NOT need that now. If you feel the need to test again, do the Western Blot, but know it would be a total waste several hundred dollars. Most insurance will not pay for that. You can get several anxiety therapy session co-pays out of that cost. :)  
Perfect, informative! Thank you so much! Have a fantastic day. You really are a blessing
You're welcome. :)
Avatar universal
I'm not sure if it much matters but my 6 week test also had hsv2, but it came as negative. So is this "high" indicative from my oral sex experience?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
And I've probably taken 4 or so hsv2 igg herpeselect in the past before this encounter. If this was an issue with the test, wouldn't I have issues with my other testing before all of this?
Avatar universal
Okay, so I just passed the 12 week mark and decided to take a 10 panel test for the common stds. Mostly because I also wanted to make sure I was clean before I started to dip my toes into dating. Uh everything came back negative except for hsv 2. It reads "HSV2, IGG TYPE SPECIFIC ab 0.91 High" I'm blown away by this and I'm not really sure what to do. My other fear is that I cant trust my hsv1 result. But if my hsv2 result is accurate then I guess I dont have to worry about any of that. I felt sure I was gunna be okay, and now I'm not sure.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, not trying to bother you awesome people just wanted to post an update. I've been working with a councilor who is helping me with my anxiety. We came to the point where I have acknowledged my low risk and have moved on from stds of no concern. We decided that I should have a 6 week test and a 12 week test for hsv1 only since its causing me the most panic. My 6 week result was negative. I know that by 6 weeks it's about 70% accurate. But adding the low risk nature of the exposure, with my atypical symptoms that you all believe isn't herpetic. I'm feeling lighter and I feel like I can make it to the 12 week test with confidence.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I'm glad to hear it.

I'd like to add that if you don't have any blisters by now, chances are really good that you didn't get hsv1. If by 12 weeks you don't, you probably don't need the 12 week test. Up to you if you'll take it, obviously, but if at 12 weeks, you have financial concerns or anything, and you don't have symptoms, you don't need the test. (Of course, I'd have told you from the start that testing wasn't warranted from such a brief exposure, but I'm not the one with anxiety, which I understand.)

I'm very happy to hear that you are getting counseling. Good for you. :)

Avatar universal
I'm approaching the 6 week mark soon, and I plan on getting tested for everything because my anxiety will continue to plague me if I dont. How reliable will the hsv 1 and 2 [herpeselect Igg] be at 6 weeks? 12 is conclusive but dont the vast majority of people have antibodies by 6 weeks? I'm sorry to bother you nice people again, I'm just so sick of the constant anxiety this has caused. And I want to feel relief.
Helpful - 0
3 Comments
You don't need an hsv2 test, and I would strongly advise against it.

Getting oral sex puts you at risk for genital herpes type 1, not 2. If you've ever had a cold sore, you already have hsv1, and can't get it genitally. Even if you haven't had a cold sore, or don't remember it, 90% of people who have oral hsv1 never get symptoms, and about half the adult population has it.

There are a decent number of false positives on hsv2 IgGs, and I don't think your anxiety can handle that right now. You also don't need it. You had no risk for it. If you get a false positive, it takes weeks (or months), a ton of money, and untold stress to unravel that.

You sort of had oral sex, for a very brief period of time. None of your symptoms matched herpes. I would ask you to seriously reconsider getting this test done. Instead, take that time and money and get some help for your anxiety, which is affecting you more than herpes ever would.

No judgement, just compassion, but really, help yourself out here. If you want relief, treat the anxiety. You had very, very little risk, and your reaction to that is out of proportion.

Once again Ms. Jessi I am eternally grateful for your continued support and knowledge. I agree with much of what you said, so I will follow suit. It's always hard when your brain won't take a rational approach to stressful situations. Have a wonderful day!, truly you deserve it!
Thanks - you deserve it, too. :)
Avatar universal
Does herpes hurt the whole time it heals? The open sore I might have created doesn't hurt and it's trying to scab. It had a scab last night but I woke up today and it's like half gone. Could a sleeping erection pull the scab off?  As far as i know this hasn't nessicarily oozed. I havent had any tingling, itching, and the pain is all gone after a bit of not really messing with it. I put a little hand sanitizer on it to disinfect and dry it out and it wasnt really painful. Is that a good sign that this isn't a herpes infection?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
No, sleeping and getting erect won't do anything to the scab.  Above, they really ruled out herpes.  I know you are worried about this, but it doesn't sound at all to be herpes. I hope you can relax and if anxiety plagues you, that you work on that.  It's treatable.  
Avatar universal
Genital focused anxiety has alot to answer for!  

Your first issue... You got received oral sex. yay! Sorry you didn't enjoy it. Are there risks? Yeah sure but a very small percentage will get an STI this way due to many biological factors. The longer the oral lasts the more risk you have. Thats common sense. From this encounter I would not worry.

From another point of view, sex workers jobs are just that.... sex! If word gets about that they have anything then it would not be good for business.

Fordyce spots are VERY common and should not be popped. Due to the genital focused anxiety, you will be checking it more and making a mental note of EVERY feeling which is a normal feeling and worrying about it. Try to relax!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I really appreciate you responding
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
We don't judge here, and you shouldn't hate yourself.

First, fordyce spots don't pop, so stop trying to make it pop. If it were herpes, it would pop. Fordyce spots are oil glands, and they are normal and we all have them. We need them.

Second, herpes symptoms wouldn't appear until at least 2 days, probably longer. Anything you see prior to that won't be herpes.

This sounds like a sore you gave yourself by messing with it.

It's also definitely not syphilis - that sore wouldn't appear for at least 3 weeks.

Listen, you got a blow job, sort of, from a prostitute. This forum is full of people who've done the same thing. Your life isn't ruined. Even if you got herpes your life wouldn't be ruined, I promise, but this isn't herpes.

Leave it alone, except to wash it with a gentle soap and water. Keep it dry. Don't squeeze it, don't touch it. Your hands have bacteria on them that could cause an infection.

It also sounds like anxiety is an issue for you. If it is, consider counseling and talking to your doctor about it. Your reaction to this is out of proportion to the risk involved. I say that with compassion. You deserve to have peace.



Helpful - 0
6 Comments
Thank you for your time and care in the matter!
You're welcome. :)
One more anxiety driven question and then I'll leave all of you good nice people alone. As of today the skin issue I may or may not have created myself is almost completely healed. I know I was negative for both hsv 1 and 2 before this exposure. So is it safe to assume that a primary outbreak wouldn't resolve so quickly? And that there would be much more noticeable symptoms from a primary outbreak? I keep telling myself that this isn't herpes. And I'm looking for any reason to stop worrying.
Yes, you can assume that a primary wouldn't heal this quickly. My own lasted at least 2 weeks and the blisters just kept coming.

Really, you can relax now.

Thank you so much Ms. Jessi!! Truly a god send. I hope your day is going just as great as you just made mine!
You're welcome :)
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.