Herpes?

Good Day. About 2 months ago I had unprotected sex with someone for the first time. A couple days later I started expieriencing itching in my whole genital area. I became concerned that I may have been infected with genital herpes from the unprotected sex that I had ingaged in. I also started noticing little red bumps in my pubic region and lower stomach. Sometimes as many as 6 or 7 at a time. The bumps all seem to be red with a hair follicle growing on or around them. I knew this points to ingrown hair follicles since herpes usually shows up as small clusters of blisters. But from what I read on the internet only 10 percent of people infected expierience the blisters. The most common symptom according to many different internet sites is itching and discomfort in the genital region or no symtoms (symptoms) at all. So two weeks after the initial itching I went and saw my Doctor who said he didn't think it was herpes and tested me for Gonoria and Clamydia (chlamydia) which both came up negative. The itching persisted so last week I went to my dermatologist who said I was fine and it was just infected hair follicles and not to worry about it. The only thing is that when I saw the derm I wasn't really having an outbreak of the rash. I continue to expierience itching and some throbbing pain in the head of my penis. Last week I again had sex with that same person again, about 8 hours after sex I developed two red bumps, both with hair follicles on or around them on my penis this time. Do I need to go to the doctor again and demand a blood test for herpes? Or should I trust his diagnosis. Thanks for your help. Bart

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Trust his diagnosis.  Bumps with follicles around them are folliculitis, the result of heat and sweat.

I don't know where the internet sites you read come up with the statement that itching and discomfort or no symptoms at all are common in herpes.  To diagnose herpes there have to be blisters, at least sometimes.  In between attacks there may be no symptoms, but there have to be blistery attacks for there to be a "between" period.  You never had an attack.

As for itching, people itch in groins all the time.  Thinking you have herpes can certainly make you itch.

Hepres blood tests aren't much help, because having herpes antibodies in the blood just means that the herpes virus affected the body sometime in your life, but jot necessarily genital herpes.

I'd suggest avoiding unprotected sex.  The post-sex anxiety just isn't worth it.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[BartSimpson]

Is there anything you could suggest to reduce the symptoms of Folliculitis? Would Folliculitis cause the itching? Thanks Bart.

[spider2086]

hello,i am a teenager and i have been expercining red bumps all around my my privite area and rashes under my   genitals i got jock itch care... and taking care of that but this other day red bumps with white pulse a lil hairs growing threw the bump...and i dont kno if its herpes or jus part of the jock itch cuz they said jock itch has some part in making litle rashes in the pubic hair area but im getting this rashes more and more around the area and its really scaring me...so could you please tell what to use or you to go see jus answer back  with your answers  thank you so much   yours mike

[spider2086]

hello,i am a teenager and i have been expercining red bumps all around my my privite area and rashes under my   genitals i got jock itch care... and taking care of that but this other day red bumps with white pulse a lil hairs growing threw the bump...and i dont kno if its herpes or jus part of the jock itch cuz they said jock itch has some part in making litle rashes in the pubic hair area but im getting this rashes more and more around the area and its really scaring me...so could you please tell what to use or you to go see jus answer back  with your answers  thank you so much   yours mike

[xlilbabiegurl]

I've noticed these little red bumps around my pubic area.  They dont itch or anything their just there.  There are about 7 of them and they have been there 4 about 2-3 weeks, could this be herpes or not?

[Maar]

A related discussion, Itchy Groin was started.