genital itching

[A.Hart]

Sir,
    For the past few days, I have had genital itching, with no other signs.  The whole area seems to itch, including the testicles.  It has not been painful, however.  Some of the area is red due to scratching. I already ruled out the likihood of jockitch or rash due to clothes(eventhough I guess it is still possible)  I think it could be due to a sexual encounter( oral) I had a few months ago.  I started itching a few weeks after that(but only after I started worring).  When I first started itching, I think I might of had a very small discharge once(but it was so small of one, more like a couple of drops)  I saw a doctor then, and he told me I was fine and it was most likely neither herpes nor an STD, but just me stressing for nothing.
    One of my friends told me that it could be herpes.  Could it be herpes, something else(like jock itch, crabs, etc.), or just nothing.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Itching without a rash sounds like anxiety, not herpes.  I suggest you apply a lotion containing camphor-menthol or diphenhydramine (no Rx needed--ask your druggist) to help the itch.  If you get a visible rash, show your doctor.  Meantime, don't worry, and don't scratch.  And don't ask your friend.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff

[Ang437737]

Dear A.Hart,

One way to find out for sure if you have herpes is to have herpes Type-1 and Type-2 antibody testing using type specific serology. Mertz et al showed that up to 70% of transmission may result from sexual contact during periods of asymptomatic viral shedding. A majority of patients with genital herpes experience asymptomatic viral shedding which often occurs independent of outbreaks. Patients who are seropositive with no reported history of genital herpes shed virus asymptomatically at a rate similar to patients with a reported history of outbreaks (3.0% vs 2.7%, respectively according to Wald A, Zeh J, Selke S, et al.) Up to 90% of those infected are unaware they have the virus that causes genital herpes. (according to Fleming DT, McQuillan GM, Johnson RE, et al.) Lastly, since herpes is not part of the screening process,  and doctors can’t always see the virus, it’s probably a good idea to ask for some testing… it certainly can’t hurt. If anything you’ll be able to rule everything out better. I know a little bit about this because I have had genital herpes for almost nine years and am aware of what is not always readily available to the patient.

Sincerely,

Angela Stevens

[TRIGGER313]

Hey Babe leave the Diagnosis to the pro's

[The_Rajah]

Nobody is making a diagnosis online, it's clearly not possible. What Angela is suggesting is that the person asking the question get type-specific serum testing. Testing is the only way to make an accurate diagnosis. That seems so me like a reasonable approach. The other information that she posted is from peer-reviewed publications and you don't have to have a medical degree to refer to articles that are applicable.

[CRAZY BRAIN]

Once again this is a hot topic, please read all the past debates on this issue. You will have to decide if testing is useful to you or not, it only will tell you if you never had symptoms that you could transmit the virus to someone else with no symptoms %4 of the time, but they cannot tell you if in fact you will in fact transmit it, just that the people they did studies on did. Condoms reduce that risk to less than %2. Now don't you think that if 90% of the people that had HSV 2 did not know it that the rate would increase not decreas by %5 nationally? Think about this. Remember the Medical community has very often been wrong.

[TRIGGER313]

We are paying 19 bucks to get a professional opinion for our penile woes. Not to get guess from some body who does not practice medicine. You could be only telling half truths and not even know it and filling people up with unnecessary anxiety. Being a physician takes year and years of mastery. Please stop it.

[The_Rajah]

Crazy, you are quite correct that a statistical study won't tell you whether or not you will someday transmit herpes to someone else. Statistics, clearly, cannot predict what will occur in an individual case. IMO, the information is still worth having so that a person can do the ethical thing in the situation of having a prospective sexual partner. I cannot think for a minute that ignorance is bliss regarding herpes in the long term. I've always made it quite clear to my partners what the situation is and I've found in all cases that it has not sent them running and, in fact, has been a factor in my favor since they understood that I cared enough about them to take the risk of telling and therefore giving them the right of informed consent.

I find it morally bankrupt for someone, in spite of suspecting they are infected with herpes, to avoid getting tested so that they can cop out with, "Gosh, I didn't know I had that." If a partner does get infected on down the road. How would they feel about that?

Trigger, just look on the extra, high-quality advice you have gotten here as being a bonus at no extra charge. If you suspect half-truths, there are lots of online resources where you can check it against information from peer-reviewed medical sources.

Good luck and have a nice day.

[CRAZY BRAIN]

That sounds great. But IMO you need to tell them all the DATA. EX: that there is a %2 risk without symptoms but a condom is used. Don't just say that 90% of people that have it don't know it. This is FEAR manipulation. Besides no one is 100% sure that b/c you have HSV 2 you will be transmitting it when you get a blood test? Just that the people studied could have done so %4 -10%  of the time without symptoms. But that % was including right before and right after physical symptoms. Blisters, cuts, or a rash that returns in much the same place, that very often hurts bad or itches could be the asymptomatic symptoms. So tell people that too. Stop the vague description BS. The disease is on a decline without HSV 2 Serology being used eveyrwhere. The Medical community also did not consider Alcoholism a Disease until 1956, even though people with logic knew it for longer than that.
Peace

[helpme23]

I had worries earlier about irritated hair folicals turning being herpies (herpes).  I even made myself believe that my scrotum was burning or had a cooling feeling, I really couldnt tell.  I got all worked up about this and kept reading internet sites on it and it only convenced me more that I had herpies (herpes).  All of the sites I have seen said with herpies (herpes) you either have extreme symptoms, mild ones, or no symptoms at all.  Doesnt everyone fit into one of those catagories?  Does that mean we all have herpies (herpes)? No, thats crazy.  I saw my doctor and immediately he said I had irritated hair folicals and not herpies (herpes).  I even told him the last time I had sex was 4 months earlier and I asked him if I was to get herpies (herpes) I should have had signs of it already and he said yes.  Your mind really cause you to have a lot of physical symptoms especially if your a worrier, like me.

The point is doctors, like Dr. Rockoff, are the experts.  We should listen to them.  They went to medical school and have much experience in the matter.  All these web sites are either selling drugs and want you to start taking them or they are trying to stop the spread of herpies (herpes) by scare techniques or they just want to cover themselves legally.

See you doctor, trust there judgment, and go on with your life.

Thanks

[Ang437737]

Dear Helpme23,

You are right... we really should listen to the experts. Reading peer reviewed publications can help to set the record straight. It's not unreasonable for folks to request proper testing from the experts so they can safely rule out herpes. Not everything going on with skin related symptoms is herpes. But, if a person suspects that they might have herpes and they aren't sure if they have ever been tested... what's the harm in ruling it out by getting the proper testing done? It's clearly not possible to get a diagnosis over the internet. Proper testing is the only way to receive an accurate diagnosis.

For the folks that do have herpes… some have signs and symptoms of an outbreak and others do not. Everybody’s experiences are there own and even the experts can not always see a sexually transmitted disease with their eyes. That is why many experts insist on proper testing so they can rule out herpes without any question. Each expert is entitled to do what they feel is best for their patient. It’s the patient’s responsibility to determine if they are receiving the best possible care.

Sincerely,

Angela Stevens

[worried542]

Recently I had unprotected sex with a lover, we have had unprotected sex before and I have never had a reaction. Yet last week we had unprotected sex and a few days later I noticed a light itching, now the itching has become unbearable. I tried douching and it burned, I used cold water and that burned. I just don't know what to do. Is their anything that someone could possibly suggest that this could be. I have never had a reaction quite like this.