Question:
Hello,
I've recently entered a relationship (beginning of October 2007) with a woman who informed me that she has genital herpes (HSV-2). She is on valtrex daily and hasn't had an outbreak for about 2 years. I decided to stay in the relationship after doing much research; so I do know the risks.

Anyways, I've been experiencing some symptoms recently and don't know if they are anxiety kicking in or actual herpes. We have been having vaginal sex and have used condoms everytime.

Symptoms:
The tip of my penis burns. It looks a little red, but I don't know if that is me obsessing over it. There are no blisters. Around my anus also burns. There are no marks/blisters/red area.

Funny thing:
This is actually the second round of these symptoms. I experienced these before in mid October. I also got a small red rash on the inner thigh in October but that went away in a few days. However, we were only mouth kissing (not having sex or anything else) when I experienced these symptoms the first time. It's just weird that they came back; I'm thinking it's herpes because they came back. However, my doctor said I can't get it from only kissing (saw him after the first round of symptoms - I haven't seen him since).

From doing research, it seems the risk is pretty low of getting genital herpes from having sex when 1) she is on valtrex daily 2) we don't have sex when she has outbreaks 3) we use condoms everytime...however, there is still risk

Any advice. Thanks!!

Answer:
It could be herpes or it could be some other infection or irritation. The only way to know really is to get tested..

And yes, you can get it from kissing - I don't know what your doctor was on. Maybe he meant that you can't get genital herpes from kissing (mouth-to-mouth that is). That is generally true, although I think there is always a risk that it might travel all the way down there (even though it is negligible).

Answer:
ever considered the possibility that you had herpes before meeting her and never knew? its very common for people to not have signs or symptoms and not realize they have it. Just an idea. Have you ever had your blood specifically tested for herpes previously? if not then you could very well have had it prior. I recommend a blood test now to see if there are antibodies....sometimes they can tell around how new an infection is by antibodies. But either way get a blood test.....it all depends to if you had these symptoms previously before you met her or only after. You might have herpes because the symptoms definitely fit....especially the pain around the anus and tip of penis....and the symptom you had on your thigh....because condoms only cover a small area of you.....any other skin in contact with her genital region can be infected accidentally.....even when she sees and feels nothing is wrong down below ....asymptomatic shedding.....and think of how close the thigh is to the genital region....so it really makes me wonder and say get tested via blood asap.