Herpes/Folliculitis/why me!??!

Well, I'm sure this post will come as nothing new, having read the many herpes vs. follculitis spreads in this forum. Still, as I'm sure you can sympathsize, I need to state my own case here for piece of mind.

I have a history of weird penis problems/STD scares, from a weird scrotum blister in high school (Doctor's first comment upon examimnation, "Well, it's not herpes so you can rest easy.")to folliculitis just a year or so ago.

Once again, I have a red bump on my shaft, higher than usual but still barely within the region where hair can grow. There is no hair on it this time, but does appear to be a hole where hair normally grows very, very close by (I shave so the hair is gone -- although has grown back from the last shave in all spots BUT here). There is no pain, no scab, no blister, no apparant pus, no fever, no swollen lymph nodes, no nothing other than an occaisonaly tingle/itch. Just a red bump. I have not had any unprotected vaginal sex, although I have received oral unprotected sex here and there. I have never had a fever blister on my mouth, either.

This is the 4th or 5th time this has happened to me. Of course, I always freak out and it turns out to be nothing, but that does little to relieve me the next time. I usually put Neosporin on it and it goes away in 3-4 days. This time has lasted a little longer (like 10-12 days now) and does seem to be healing a little after 7 days of Neosporin but is not going away as quickly as usual.

What do you think and why does this seem to be happening to me all the time? Hygiene is not an issue -- I'm anally clean -- but I guess shaving perhaps is. Still, I'm scared, I'm in a comitted straight relationship of five years, and just cant bear to tell my girlfriend I have another bump, scaring us both like the last time it was folliculitis. So I'm here.

Thanks!
Whyme?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I suppose that shaving can result in this sort of cyst, which is what it sounds like.  I don't see any way for you to be sure it's a cyst unless you show someone, though.  If you're in a committed (I assume that means monogamous) relationship for 5 years, you should be pretty unlikely to come down with an STD.  I suggest you get a specific diagnosis and avoid shaving, to see if that stops the bumps from coming and causing you anxiety.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff