a little confused

Doctor,

Recently I was tested for HIV and genital herpes after 4 months of possible exposure.  The tests both came back negative which is good.  The new question that is raised is then what really is my problem?  The irritation is still occuring on the top righ side of my penis shaft.  There is no sores or rashes, it just feels raw and sensitive.  This has come and gone 3-4 times in 4 months now.  So i sit here and think and i wonder about HSV 1 and whether that could dbe causing my genital woes.  I have read that oral herpes can affect the gential (genital) area.  This encounter with this girl did not involve oral sex being performed on me.  So I have a few questions...

1) How common/likely that oral herpes is the cause of my gential (genital) problems?  Could the girl have had a mild case or oral herpes in her genital area and not know it?

2) Are the tests I had done after 4 months relaiable?  Should I get retested?

3) If the next herpes test is negative what should I do?  Assume I have a case of oral herpes on my genitals? I know that most of the population would test positive for HSV 1 and even then they dont say what area is affected.  Should I get the test done anyways?

4)  What else could cause this type of reoccuring irritation in the same spot?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Why do you think that recurrent irritation is oral herpes?  In my experience, recurrent infection is just that--irritation.  On the penis this is aggravated by friction, sex, and so forth.  Negative tests at 3 months are reliable.  You can get a herpes 1 test, I suppose, but a positive test for herpes 1 does not localize the infection--to the penis or anywhere else.  (You could have had an oral herpes outbreak and have positive herpes 1 titers.

What you should do is confirm that the herpes 2 e=test you had was of the reliable kind, and ask the doctor who ordered them to examine you when the irritation is there so you can get a definitive diagnosis.

At some point you may well be able to come to terms with the fact that you don't have herpes.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[pb1322]

well i still dont know what the probelm is and i rwad that oral herpes could be a possibility.  I hope its not and i know there is no real way to know either.  i just dont want to rule it out and then give it to a girl....also i dont want to run my life just thinkin i haveit either. i don tknow anymore what to do

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

There is a real way and you did it.  Time to move on.  Get another test if you need it for reassurance.

Dr. Rockoff