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STDs (Expert Forum)
Concerned about possible STD
Answered by
University of Washington
Seattle - WA
This forum does not cover AIDS/HIV issues. This forum is for questions and support regarding STD issues such as: Chlamydia, Crabs (pubic lice scabies), Gonorrhea, Hepatitis (viral), Herpes, HPV, Molluscum Contagiosum, PID, Rectal Infections, Syphilis, Trichomonas, Warts, Yeast Infection.
IMPORTANT
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
This forum is limited to questions about STDs other than HIV/AIDS. For questions about HIV prevention, or if you have general questions about safe sex (e.g., condoms, how to protect yourself from HIV and STDs), please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum
Some of the most common types of questions concern the risk of HIV or STD after a particular sexual exposure, and about symptoms that might or might not be due to HIV. If your question is along these lines, please visit the HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum.
Concerned about possible STD
by hills22, Feb 02, 2007 12:00AM
Hello Dr. and thank you so much for your help. Last Saturday, 1/27 I had sex with a girl I met that night. It was protected until she got on top for a couple minutes, and at some point the condom came off which I noticed only after she got off of me. The next day I noticed a some pain/irritation at the tip of my penis which I have felt before after using a condom. However, it did not go away and got worse the next day. At this point, it doesn't burn quite as bad but there are occasional flare ups throughout the day and I can feel slight burning on the top of the penis head. I also have this dull ache throughout my groin and yesterday for about 10 minutes I felt foggy like I was coming down with the flu, but I seriously don't know if this was psychosomatic. There are no blisters, discharge or physical sign of irritation but I am still concerned as to what's going on down there. You've mentioned STD symptoms usually do not appear within a day, and I could feel this when I got up the next morning. I'm really concerned about herpes because of the wide range of symptoms that can occur, from blisters to nothing at all. I feel like it can't be ruled out at this point, but my mind also tends to go a little crazy in situations like these. I went to the doctor last Monday and he took a urine sample. I'll get the results today, but regardless I will still get blood work done. I've just noticed how knowledgeable you are on these matters and wanted to get your thoughts. Any idea what this could be? Thanks again.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Feb 02, 2007 12:00AM
, Feb 02, 2007 12:00AM
No STD, including herpes, can cause symptoms the next day; 2-3 days is always the minimum. Thus, whatever caused your initial symptoms, it wasn't herpes. More important, the symptoms you describe really don't sound like herpes anyway, and I really wouldn't worry about it. Your 'psychosomatic' comment is a clue: when a person suspects his or her own symptoms likely have an emotional or psychological origin, s/he probably is almost always right, and the vagueness of the complaints you describe sound to me more like anxiety than anything else. I recommend against having a blood test for herpes. Just let the whole thing go; your symptoms probably will fade. But of course follow your doc's advice if the problem continues.
Good luck-- HHH, MD
Good luck-- HHH, MD
I believe I have read once or twice in your threads where you advised somebody who did not sound as if they herpes to NOT get blood tested for herpes. Is there any reason why you would advise that? Wouldn't knowing be better or is it possible that lab error may occur and cause unnecessary stress/shock or something?
HHH, MD