Should I get tested for Herpes?

[Hankhill77]

I am a 28 year old male...8 Days ago I had a sexual encounter with a girl.  I only met her about 30 minutes before the encounter at a bar and we were both drinking so I do not know her very well.

She preformed unprotected oral sex on me, and I fingered her.  About 5 minutes after I used my finder on her i went to the bathroom and noticed that I still had some of her fluids on my hand after I touched my penis.  I then immediately washed my hands and penis(within 30 seconds of contact).

A few hours later I noticed some tingling in my urethra which lasted about 5 days,  i can still feel it slightly if i really focus on it.  I am assuming this is just all in my head.

I do not normally have one night stand encounters like this so I felt very strange after, i am hoping it is all in my head.

2 days later i went to the er and was tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea,  both of which were negative.  they said it would be unlikely to be herpes unless i have an outbreak, and it was too soon to test anyway.  they said it was most likely either a minor physical injury or just in my head.

The reason i am paranoid is because i found out afterward she gets around a lot,  but i didn't notice any sores or scars on her vagina or mouth at all, and she claimed to be STD free when I asked her.


1.  since i haven't had any other symptoms in 8 days since the encounter, how likely is it that I may have contracted herpes? Should i get tested

2. If I decided to get tested how long should I wait to make sure I have an accurate result?

3.  I take adderral for add,  since this medication is a stimulant if i took it could it trigger an outbreak if i happen to be infected?

I have a feeling this is just all paranoia on my part but would like a professional opinion.

Thank You!

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help. Nice to hear from another Hobart Alum.  Take care.  EWH

[Hankhill77]

Thank you very much for the reassurance Dr. Hook.  I figured that much but its nice to hear it from a specialist.

On a side note,  I am a fellow Hobart College Alumni, Class of 2004,  It's always nice to bump into someone from Hobart!

Best Wishes

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. The situation you describe is a common one and one that we have much experience with.  You did the right thing to go and get evaluated and it sounds like the advice you received was right on target.  Nothing you had told me suggests that you have an STD or that you need further testing.  Let me elaborate:

1.  You partner probably did not have an STD. Most people do not.
2.  Even if she did. most exposures to infected partners do not result in infection.
3.  STDs are not passed from one person to another on each other's hands.  Transmission involves direct contact.
4.  STD symptoms do not occur until at least 2 and more typically 3-4 days after exposure. It takes this long for infections to "get started".  
5. Your tests are negative and you have not had an outbreak to suggest that you might have gotten herpes.

Now let's go through your questions:

1.  Very, very low.  I would not recommend testing. In your situation testing is more likely to give incorrect and misleading information than to help.
2.  See above.
3.  No, the adderal would have no effect on your risk nor on the manifestations of infection were to to get infected (which, as I said, did not happen)

I hope this helps.  You have nothing to worry about.  EWH