Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Risk of transmission

So first of all thank you all medhelp community for what you do. I have an issue and feel like such an idiot.
I have a wonderful girlfriend and I cheated on her 4 days ago. It was not planned just happen to be drinking too much.
My main concern at the moment is herpes since I believe she had a cold sore on her chin. Yet ,was to drunk to think of that when it happened. I have and will avoid sex with my girlfriend since It was my fault and she has no reason to involved. Probably will break up with her if something does come up.
We had unprotected oral and vaginal sex. The bigger question is I am not in the USA, and they do not offer the IGg test here (Germany).
1 Question in the past I was seen by two doctors who believed I had a cold sore  8 years ago and never hay symptoms again (General doctor and high school nurse). I have tested for herpes in the past both with the igg and was negative since this incident.
I will go back home and test at the 3, 6 week mark since I have to be back in Germany. but I still do not know how good this accuracy will be. Questions is when would I expect to see some local symptoms?
2. If I do not develop the classic blisters, would a 6 week test be reliable? I am looking at my genitals and area 3 times a day.
3. How likely would be that her cold sore in the chin is as contagious as if it was in the lip?
4. I am circumsized, in great physical shape, and take vitamins daily to boost my inmune system in general. The sex was with little friction and my penis was not sore at all afterwards.
I have spoken to German doctors here and they say if I do not develop lesions after 15 days not to worry.

Thank you in advance,
1 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
207091 tn?1337709493
COMMUNITY LEADER
Okay so you could still have hsv1 already, even though you tested negative on the IgG test. It misses about 30% of hsv1 infections. I can't tell you if you are one of those 30%, but it may help you relax a bit.

Did you have unprotected vaginal sex as well as unprotected oral?

1 Question in the past I was seen by two doctors who believed I had a cold sore  8 years ago and never hay symptoms again (General doctor and high school nurse). I have tested for herpes in the past both with the igg and was negative since this incident.
I will go back home and test at the 3, 6 week mark since I have to be back in Germany. but I still do not know how good this accuracy will be. Questions is when would I expect to see some local symptoms?

See above. The IgG misses about 30% of hsv1 infections. You could still have it even though you tested negative. Can you get a Western Blot test there? That would confirm whether or not you have it. I don't know where home is for you - and don't have to know - but your doctor may be able to tell you.

The average time that you'd see symptoms is 12 days. It can be up to 20.


2. If I do not develop the classic blisters, would a 6 week test be reliable? I am looking at my genitals and area 3 times a day.

Yes, most people will test positive by 6 weeks.

3. How likely would be that her cold sore in the chin is as contagious as if it was in the lip?

She wouldn't be shedding from her chin, but she probably would be from her lips. Also, if her sore touched your genital area, it could transmit.

A sore on the chin could be so many things. She could have fallen and scrapped it. It could be impetigo (also contagious). It could be an infected pimple.

4. I am circumsized, in great physical shape, and take vitamins daily to boost my inmune system in general. The sex was with little friction and my penis was not sore at all afterwards.
I have spoken to German doctors here and they say if I do not develop lesions after 15 days not to worry.

I'd agree with this.


If you had unprotected oral sex and vaginal sex, you are at risk for other STDs, not just herpes. I don't know if you gave and received oral, so I'm giving you info for both.

Giving unprotected oral sex to a vagina puts you at risk for gonorrhea and syphilis, though this is not that likely. You can test for oral gonorrhea with a throat swab (be sure to specify that you had unprotected oral sex and need a gonorrhea test) at 5 days, and syphilis is a blood test you can do at 6 weeks.

Receiving unprotected oral sex puts you at risk for gonorrhea, syphilis, genital hsv1, and NGU. You can test for gonorrhea and NGU (an infection in your urethra that can be caused by normal mouth bacteria, along with different viruses and bacteria) at 5 days. Syphilis is the blood test at 6 weeks.

Unprotected vaginal sex puts you at risk for just about all the STDs -

gonorrhea, chlamydia, NGU- these can be tested for at 5 days;
syphilis, hsv2 - these can be tested for at 6 weeks;
HIV - take a 4th generation DUO test at 28 days;
Hepatitis B (if you aren't vaccinated) - take a test at 6 weeks


I don't mean to freak you out, just inform you.
Helpful - 0
18 Comments
Dear Aunt Jessie thank you for commenting.

I have a sever anxiety at the moment specially because well I am hypochondriac and have a girlfriend. I actually talked to her the girl I slept with recently and asked if it was a cold sore on chin and she said  it was a pimple. She told me I have nothing to worry about but I really don’t remember all the details we had both oral and vaginal unprotected. I  would like to believe her in order to relax a bit. I am from the USA and live border to Mexico. Usually whenever I check for diseases I get the specific igg in anylab test and get a mixed igg from a Mexican clinic. Sadly here in Germany is almost impossible to get a igg and even less a western blot. That’s why I can only test up to six weeks since I will have to be back in Germany.  Today it’s close to the six day mark and have no symptoms, no discharge, no pain, and no blisters. At day 4 I did a urine tilter test and it was negative for bacterias. I have been checking my temperature and lymph nodes and so far everything good. I know it’s just a waiting game at the moment but if everything works on my favor which I hope. No symptoms as in blisters like the typical pictures. And negative igg both specific and mixed at 6 weeks.  Would that be a good sign.? Also I am testing today for the common like syphilis, hiv, hepatitis, chlam and gono. Just to start a baseline. I really hope I get out of this one. Thank you and will herp you updated.
So first, stop checking yourself so much. You're going to irritate yourself and get some symptoms from that and freak yourself out. If you get symptoms of herpes, you'll know it. Limit your checking to once a day. No more is needed.

If you get a fever, you'll know that, too. No need to check it. Let the doctors check your lymph nodes. Most of us, myself included, have no idea what our own lymph nodes feel like when they're swollen.

I don't know what a urine tilter test is, but it sounds like it just tests for UTIs, maybe?

And definitely talk to someone about your anxiety. It sounds like maybe you're in the military (and please don't confirm that if you are), and I get that there are concerns about getting mental health treatment while in the military, but there must be ways of doing that.

If the girl said it was a pimple, believe it. Most people don't lie about this stuff. :)

Hang in there, okay?
Dear Aunt Jessi,
Thank you for your words. You have no idea how they have helped me. I recently got tested for gon/chlam 5/6 days after exposure. It was negative and testes for hiv/syphilis negative since it was just to make a record of my check. I won’t be able to test for herpes until I get to the USA, which I will test 2 weeks post for a timeline. It has been 8 days post exposure still no blister symptoms, fever, discharge. Dry throat but that’s about it.
I have some questions which are probably lead by anxiety but it really has been getting better. I have actually slept a bit today.
1. Can boosting my immune system with vitamins make symptoms asymptotic?
2. I have read that most symptoms have in around 10-14 days? Is that accurate ? 8 days and counting is a good sign?
3.  If I continue to show no symptoms and test negative after 6 weeks would you suggest a follow up?
4. I was able to find a provider private that tests for igg here in Germany. I was planning on testing if everything negative until then at 9/10 weeks. Would this be a good estimate ?
5. Really, earlier your words helped me and you have no idea how much. That hang in there made a difference. Thank you and if you would like I would like to follow up with you in the time to come.

Your gonorrhea and chlamydia tests are conclusive. You don't need to test for these again.

1. Can boosting my immune system with vitamins make symptoms asymptotic?

Nope, but it might help you not get a cold, which is never a bad thing.

2. I have read that most symptoms have in around 10-14 days? Is that accurate ? 8 days and counting is a good sign?

The herpes incubation period (time of infection to when you get symptoms) is 2-12 days, with an average of 4 days, if you don't already have either type (hsv1 or hsv2). If you have hsv1 already, that means that you won't have a primary outbreak (an outbreak of a new infection when you don't have either type, which is usually pretty severe).

3.  If I continue to show no symptoms and test negative after 6 weeks would you suggest a follow up?

No. There is a good chance of false positives, and that will send you down an anxiety spiral that can take months to get out of, with expensive and hard-to-get confirmatory tests. Even if you were here in the states, I'd say no. Given that you're out of the country, it's a bigger no.

4. I was able to find a provider private that tests for igg here in Germany. I was planning on testing if everything negative until then at 9/10 weeks. Would this be a good estimate ?

I think if you test again, do it once, whether it's at 6 weeks or at 9 weeks. The more you test, the better the chance of a false positive.


5. Really, earlier your words helped me and you have no idea how much. That hang in there made a difference. Thank you and if you would like I would like to follow up with you in the time to come.

Please do keep me posted. We rarely get follow ups with test results and updates on how people are doing, and that's an important part. You could really help others if you finish the story, so to speak, and let people know what happens. :)

Dear aunt Jessie,  

So I need your input on something that happened to me earlier in the morning. Today it is day 12. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the restroom and I noticed a red patch in the head of the penis. I was like well here it is. I automatically panicked. I was just sleeping with shorts and I was assuming the string for the waist was rubbing my penis. Afterwards  I took it off and went to sleep red patch became less irritated. I continued my day normal and for some reason it just feels weird. My penis is really red, it even looks red and cracked. I have been looking and no sign of blister (like the pictures  online) no fever, no swollen lymph nodes, no pain while urination. I have no time for the doctor today, and will be flying early to the USA tommrow. My plan was to go to a urologist on Thursday and have him check it out.
I would like to suggest it feels like a Balanitis or a yeast infection. I have had them before. Things like changing my body wash or detergent that I have done have crossed my mind but still
I did have that unprotected encounter.

It has been 12.5 days past exposure and just wanted to ask some questions and what do you think.
    1 As soon as I arrive to the usa I will do    an igg to get a baseline
2. I have been washing my penis with baking soda for the past 3 days, as well that have been cleaning it plus showers around 4 times a day. The water is makes your skin really dry since it has large amounts of calcium. Could this excess cleaning make it red and dry like this?
3. For some reason I think I have a uti, since I always have a couple of pee drops afterwards and feel like the bacteria could be irritating the penis head? Could it be a ngu? I did get a urine test at 4 days post exposure and a swab for gono and chlam at 6 days.
4. If this was a primary outbreak wouldn’t had shown earlier with stronger symptoms ? Such as fever , swollen lymph nodes , and other flu symptoms ? Since my previous igg were in May and have been negative since I have been testing always 8 years ago.
5. I do have pictures and if you feel comfortable to take a look? From the red patch no for example after  when I let it rest for 3 hours. I would say afterwards it looks normal.
6. For example if I sweat or workout usually the penis skin since I am circumcised feels really right until where it reaches , if I had a full foreskin I would even think it is a phimosis , what do you think?
7. At the moment their is nothing that I can do other than wait. I am scared. but if it is only dry would you recommend me try to apply non hypo allergic cream, baby power , or anything to see if it improves the redness and dryness . Thank you helping out

Eagles6972
It has been 12.5 days past exposure and just wanted to ask some questions and what do you think.
    1 As soon as I arrive to the usa I will do    an igg to get a baseline

Remember that the more you test, the more likely that you'll get a false positive. You have a baseline - you had a negative test in May.


2. I have been washing my penis with baking soda for the past 3 days, as well that have been cleaning it plus showers around 4 times a day. The water is makes your skin really dry since it has large amounts of calcium. Could this excess cleaning make it red and dry like this?

YES. Baking soda isn't meant to be used on the skin.

https://www.healthline.com/health/baking-soda-for-face#1

That's what happens if you use it on your face, and the skin on your penis is a lot more sensitive. It's exfoliates - meaning removes skin - and that could be causing your symptoms. Add in 4 showers a day with the water you have, and I'm not surprised you have the symptoms you have.

Why are you showering so much?

Showering that much also gets rid of the good bacteria on your skin that helps keep things like fungal infections in check. You mention yeast and balanitis - both of these are fungal. (Balanitis can be bacterial, but it is often fungal.)


3. For some reason I think I have a uti, since I always have a couple of pee drops afterwards and feel like the bacteria could be irritating the penis head? Could it be a ngu? I did get a urine test at 4 days post exposure and a swab for gono and chlam at 6 days.

A couple of drops of urine after is normal. Ask the urologist to do a test to look for white blood cells in your urine and mention NGU by name.


4. If this was a primary outbreak wouldn’t had shown earlier with stronger symptoms ? Such as fever , swollen lymph nodes , and other flu symptoms ? Since my previous igg were in May and have been negative since I have been testing always 8 years ago.

Yes.


5. I do have pictures and if you feel comfortable to take a look? From the red patch no for example after  when I let it rest for 3 hours. I would say afterwards it looks normal.

I'm not a doctor, and fungal infections can look alike in pics. Since it's normal after you left it alone for a few hours, it's not herpes.


6. For example if I sweat or workout usually the penis skin since I am circumcised feels really right until where it reaches , if I had a full foreskin I would even think it is a phimosis , what do you think?

I'm not sure what you're asking here. Does it feel tight? That's not an STD, and something you should talk to your urologist about.


7. At the moment their is nothing that I can do other than wait. I am scared. but if it is only dry would you recommend me try to apply non hypo allergic cream, baby power , or anything to see if it improves the redness and dryness . Thank you helping out

I wouldn't apply anything right now. Let it be. Let it look however it's going to look so the doctor can see it. Don't put anything on it before seeing the doctor, or it could affect his diagnosis or make things worse for you.

In the shower, use a very gentle soap. No need to scrub or use anything else.
Thank you and usually I do it because for example after training and I was doing to wash my penis with the baking soda. I believe that maybe it could have been to strong for it and hence the redness. I have a mild cleanser back home that I will use. You are right. I will let it me. I will be following up later on the weekend probably to see what the doctor said. Thank you !
You're welcome! Take it easy, relax, and keep me posted. :)
Dear Aunt Jessi,

I hope your doing well. I finally arrived backed home and went to the doctor today. He said that my friend just looks irritated and agreed that it was mainly for to much washing. He also said if I would have caught something it would have shown up by now and also said because I am circumcised it is more difficult to catch a disease. That made me feel better not going to lie. I will keep updating later as it progresses or something new comes up. Thank you,

Eagles 6972
That's great news! Enjoy your holidays, whatever you celebrate. Take the time and relax!

Dear Auntiejessi,

I hope your doing well and you enjoyed the holidays. I just wanted to have an update with you regarding the situation.  I tested as soon as I landed and it was negative both iggs this was two weeks post exposure. This week at 4 weeks I decided to test for all stds . HIV, Hep b,c , Syphilis, Herpes 1/2 igg mixed si be in this lab they didn’t have the specific but negative after all , and all came negative. As well no physical symptoms.  In the next two weeks I plans to test for all of them. Do you have any advice ? As well for all stds in general would 6 weeks be a good parameter ? Thank you for everything

Eagles6972
Happy Holidays!

You don't need to test for Hep C - that's only transmitted by blood, and is very rarely sexually transmitted. When it is, it's almost always by anal sex.

What kind of HIV test did you have? If it was a 4th generation DUO test, it's conclusive at 4 weeks, and you don't need to retest for that.

With no symptoms for syphilis, and it being uncommon, and a negative 4 week test, I wouldn't worry about that. If you must test again, do it at 6 weeks and call it conclusive. I did some research - in Germany, which is where I think you had the unprotected sex, there were about 7,500 new cases of syphilis in 2017, compared to 300,000 new cases of chlamydia.

I wouldn't test again for herpes unless you get symptoms. You already know you're negative thus far, and there are so many false positives on these tests that I'd be really concerned that you'd get a false positive, and you couldn't handle the weeks of testing needed to sort that out. The chances you got herpes from this one-time encounter are probably 1 in 1000.

You've probably been vaccinated for hep B, depending on your age and definitely if you're in the military (again, don't need to tell me). You can check your records, or ask your doctor to run a blood test to find out if you have immunity to it.

I really think you can move on. Just learn from this, and maybe not drink so much again. :)
Dear Aunt Jessie,

Hi and by the way happy holidays and best wishes for this upcoming year. So just an update:. I did my physical this week and the doctor said I don’t have visible symptoms do anything.  He told me that if I caught something it would have shown by now. So I  am feeling better, less stressed. Just a quick question regarding the test. I tested at 5 weeks in the igg mixed 1,2 and negative. I was in .1  which positive above .9 .

How accurate are this exact mixed test? I am planning on testing at 6 week either way in an specific igg. I am just really confused. When I was 15 I did get a blister in the corner of my lip. It looked liked a typical sore but then again it could also be angular chelitis? I have tested negative since then with mixed and specific , how likely is that this test is being Missed or this was not HSV1?

Also fast forward 2 years andWhen I was 17  I remember. I felt a tingling in my lip when it was really cold and felt like a burning on the opposite side. Because I taught it was hsv 1 I bought some abreva and applied it. I have never developed anything so far.  I am 25 now and this weeks was the 5 week post exposure. What do you think from this ?

Sorry I am bothering you with all this questions

Kind regards

Eagles6972
Happy New Year!

The combo tests are just as accurate at detecting herpes, they just can't determine which type you have, or tell you if you have both types.

The type 1 IgG test does miss about 30% of infections, but with all your tests, including the combo test, I'd be surprised if it missed it on all your tests.

You are over testing. I'm afraid that one of them is going to come back as a false positive and you won't be able to believe that it's a false positive. Don't test again until 12-16 weeks has passed.

I don't know what you had on your mouth - chapped lips, cheilitis, hsv1, an allergic reaction to something you ate, drank or put on your lips (like chap stick) or what. There's no way for me to know that.

The girl you were with said she had a pimple. That's far more likely to be true than for it to be a cold sore. You need to find a way to get some help for your anxiety. Your reaction is so disproportionate to your risk. Again, I'm assuming you're in the military, and don't confirm that if it will hurt you somehow, and anxiety in the military can be tricky, but there has to be a way to get help.
Dear Aunt Jessie,

Thank you for the advices and trust me when I say that your words here mean a
lot. They have helped to me stay calm and relax. Just a update regarding the situation.
Tested for all stds since I found out my Hiv test done before was a third generation.
Syphilis by Plasma Negative 6 week ( no symptoms)
Hep B& C negative
Hiv fourth Generation no symptoms Negative
Herpes 1 <.10 Negative
Herpes 2 .21 Negative
Gono and Chlam Negative by urine.
2 week doctor saw me said no signs of anything
4 weeks went for my annual physical General doctor and said nothing
6 weeks went to another urologist for a checkup and no signs of anything.
Not going to lie, I feel way better.
I have decided to join a anxiety group online and searching for help.
First appointment with a professional in two weeks regarding this anxiety (I know it is not normal my level of stress)
I have decided to stop drinking so I can avoid situations like this(one month and a half sober). I know you have told me not to do so but I will test at 10 weeks here in Germany. Since that's the time a German Physician was enough and did some research on the herpes igg test in Germany. They are similar and rather accurate as the herpeselect By the way, I am not in the military. I am a phd students and teacher. Studying this is quite interesting but I went for another field in my youth.
Hopefully this will be my last test ever.  Btw german doctors recommend 6 week testing only with the igg weird huh?
Which I know(hope) will come out negative. I have tested negative since 17(that comes from another story I will post in a journal 4 weeks from now maybe)  I will be here around since really sometimes we just need someone that tells you, you are ok. Thank you for everything you do in this forum. Really in the first days you were like a clip holding me not to fall.
Thank you and best wishes

eagles6972
"I have decided to join a anxiety group online and searching for help.
First appointment with a professional in two weeks regarding this anxiety (I know it is not normal my level of stress)
I have decided to stop drinking so I can avoid situations like this(one month and a half sober)."

This is the best news. :)

If you test again, please know that there is a decent chance that you will get a false positive. Before testing, get some good time in with the therapist and anxiety group, okay? Then make the decision.

German doctors probably recommend a 6 week test because the vast majority of people will test positive by then, and they know about the false positives, and without symptoms, there's no need to test again.

If you decide to test again, let us know the results, but I'm sure they'll be negative.

If this is your last post, I wish you nothing but the best. You're getting your PhD - you're going to do great things. :)
Dear Aunt Jessie,

I just wanted to let you know I got my 9 weeks negative result here in Germany. They tested for both IGG & IGM but it was specific for each amd negative values.
I want to say thank you, that you have no idea how much you words meant in my moment of despair. For those who read this in an update version, I had one unprotected encounter and no symptoms and 9 weeks negative test. I will let it go  and focus on other things now. I have been in this forum and westoverhieghts for the past 7 years. I have no medical background but research and statistics are something I am. Trust me guys when I say I have  spend some time on my research on herpes. If anyone ever has a question or need help, even if it is only support, feel free to message me.  I see post of all the wold, I speak German, English, Spanish, and Portuguese. For who ever needs .help

Thank you once again aunt Jessie , and best wishes from the bottom of my heart.
eagles6972

also known as F.J. Her.
Wow you've been here for 7 years? And on Westover Heights? Seriously, I think you might want to talk to someone about this. You've spent a LONG time worrying about all this. I don't know what happened 7-8 years ago, but herpes isn't worth the amount of time you've spent worrying about it.

I say that with compassion, and not criticism. You deserve to be able to move beyond it, truly.

I'm very happy to hear that you're tests were negative. I hope you've found peace with everything. :)
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.