Ask QC: I Cheated, But Do I Have Herpes?

Perhaps our last Ask QC about HPV inspired this reader to write another STI-related question:

Hey QueerClick!

I am 18 years old and I am afraid that I might have oral herpes! Why I say I think is because I just found tiny bumps at the end of my lips and when I looked up pictures and symptom of this I got scared!

When I looked at pictures it kinda looked like that but I don’t have the symptom. I am still worried about it and plan to go to the health clinic for the first time to get an STD/HIV test and to see if this could be oral herpes that I have. I am currently in a relationship
with my boyfriend of more than a year and I love him dearly and would be devastated if I lose him.

The only way I could have gotten this was from the two guys I had slept with. They didn’t have any bumps and they both said they were clean. The only reason I did this is because we were going through some problems and let my penis head think on its
own.

I am really scared at this point and pray to god it it’s nothing. What do you think I should do? Should I worry? Should I tell?

A few things strike us about this reader’s letter. First off, the web’s a horrible place to diagnose one’s self. Once when we had an ingrown hair, the web told us that we had skin cancer. Second, herpes is mega-contagious and about 1 in 2 people has it—your grandma can give you the herp just by kissing you on the cheek. That being said, no one likes cold sores, especially on your genitals. Lastly, our own QColumnist slept around on his boyfriend recently and got differing opinions on whether or not to tell. But we’ll stop there and let our readers weigh in. What should he do about bumps and his boy? Please share your advice and experiences in the QComments.
Have a question for QC? Send ’em to [email protected] and we’ll do our best to solve your problems!