Possible Herpes

[Across the Pond]

Hello,
     I am a 22 year old male who recently (friday night) had unprotected sex with a girl I have been seeing since the beginning of the school year. Immediately after sex I had red spots on the head of my penis. I checked online and the spots were consistent with the rough sex. Today however, I woke up to find a sore on the shaft of my penis. I don't know if it is really a sore as it is not raised. It is simply an inflamed red area with a break in the skin. It does not weep unless I squeeze it really hard. What comes out is clear though.  It also has one or two small red bumps around it that are slightly raised off of the skin. I have had itching in the groin area recently but that is because I often get jockitch from not washing my bike shorts as often as I should.  (I use antifungal ointment with that on a regular basis and it tends to go away.) I am worried because what I am desribing sounds consistent with the symptoms of herpes that I have read online. The pictures of herpe outbreaks that I have seen online seem a lot more severe that my own though. But I know that some people don't get symptoms at all so I just wanted to check.

I am going to see the college nurse tomorrow afternoon anyways. I just wanted to see if I was being a total hypchondriac.

Thanks.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Sounds like the whole thing is irritation from sex, not herpes.  Just leave the area alone till you see the nurse.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff

[sparkeler]

No std shows up immediatly after sex.  You have to give it at least 2 days.  Now, if you have any other unprotected exposures it could be something.  Some of what you describe sounds suspicious, but maybe the doctor can give you some alternate insight.  Good luck!

[Across the Pond]

I the break in the skin is small and only appears in one place. Does that make it more unlikely that its herpes? Do I need to get a type II herpes test (one where they swab the break in the skin) for an accurate assessment?

[sparkeler]

No, if it was an initial outbreak I think it would be more of clusters in different spots.  I think reoccurring herpes is in only one spot.  I don't think it is herpes.  Usually for a culture to be accurate it has to be swabbed w/in the first 24 hours of appearance.  You could have a herpes select typed (for 2) blood test.  However you have to wait at least 2 - 3months after exposure for it to show positive.  Anyway, it doesnt sound *classical* for herpes.

[yayo1]

Hello
Are you a medical profess, because you can get titers for herpes and it will tellyou if it is an acute outbreak or chronic and it will not tke but a couple of days

[Across the Pond]

Doc,
   I got home last night and realized that I had two red raised dots on my groin in my pubic hair (both had a hair follical coming out of them.) The skin where my break in the skin was is really dry. Does this help in determining what I have got? Thanks.

[Across the Pond]

i should also mention that when I woke up today the red bumps had gone down a bit. Does this sound like Herpes or is a rash? If it is a rash is there something I could look for that is over the counter?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Vaseline.

Dr. Rockoff

[sparkeler]

I meant people if he was recently infected, he won't develop hsv2 antibodies until after 2 - 3months.  The blood test is accurate if you take it 2 - 3 months (of when one suspects they became infected.  Otherwise if they notice a sore or a tear they should have it cultured w/in the first 24 hours of appearance or see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.