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Herpes! Herpes?

Five nights ago I had oral sex with someone (we had sex before, over ten years ago, and we've both been in long-term monogamous relationships - several of them - since). Yesterday, I developed a cold sore. No biggie - I've gotten cold sores in the past and I figured it was due to stress, copious drinking and sleep deprivation. Today in the shower I noticed a round, firm bump on my inner labium. It's not painful or itchy, and I have no other symptoms (illness, fatigue, etc.) but... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I'm freaking. The last time I was tested (no new partners since, except the guy from the other night) I had a blood test for the strain of the virus that results in genital herpes, and it was negative. How worried should I be?

Rickler asked in Sex about 1 year ago | Report

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4 Answers

  • Amy-small_small
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    It would be a blister that hurts like hell, not a bump, anyway if it's herpes. If it doesn't resolve in a week or so, get it checked out.

    And the viruses - oral/genital - look exactly the same - and you can have oral "down there" and genital on your mouth. Testing just tells you you carry the virus, one or the other.

    And the virus sheds whether there is an active outbreak or not.

    Condoms, people.

    Amy Lang answered in Sex about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Enso_circle_small
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    Don't freak out. Get to a doctor to have an expert look at it, and maybe take a swab. Are you sure it is new?

    If it is herpes:
    (a) as I understand it you could have had it dormant in your system for a long time, so it is not a given you got it from Mr five nights ago. My GP told me there was little point getting tested for genital as oppose to oral herpes via blood test as they were indistinguishable*; and
    (b) if you have it you have it and the issue is management. It is common, not life threatening, and remember the more you treat it as a just another thing to be careful of, the less likely any partners will be to make a big deal of it.

    There have been some excellent Savage Love installments on herpes and also questions here.

    *if she was wrong, I'd be happy to hear it.

    ozchick answered in Sex about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Picture_115_small
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    You are unlikely to develop symptoms after one day. It may have been normal wear and tear. That said, relax and get tested in a month or so.

    Arsenic7 answered in Sex about 1 year ago | Report
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  • Red-swingline-1_small
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    Sounds like inflamed/irritated/infection oil glands. Nothing to do with the sex. Obviously get it checked out, but my guess is it will develop kind of like a pimple and will pop in a couple of days and then go away. Depending on where it is (in the pee stream or out of it) it may be a bit painful when that happens, but usually only lasts a day or so.

    MLP answered in Sex about 1 year ago | Report
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