herpes or candida? or something else

I recently had a sexual encounter with another man one week ago today.  There was no penetration, but the genitalia did rub together frequently.  The day after the encounter, I went biking for quite a distance without being in shape to do so, and a day or two later, I had an itchy rash in the groin area that I hoped to god was jock itch.  It appeared between the thigh and scrotum, where jock itch usually appears.  However, a few days later up until now, the head of my penis started to feel a numb, burning sensation and it stings a little when I urinate.  I have no lesions, or anything like that as of this point.  I went into the doctor yesterday, and she examined me and said that she sees genital herpes everyday, and she said it did not look like herpes, but rather candida, and told me to use desitin (a baby rash cream).  She took a blood sample from me to check for herpes even though it is still early to detect it in the blood.

In summary, I am on day 7 since my foolish encounter and day 6 since my bike ride, and still no lesions, but the tip of my penis has a numb, cool burning sensation, and burns slightly when I urinate.  Any second thoughts on what it could be?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it can be contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction to the cosmetics, soaps, fabrics etc or fungal infection causing balanoposthitis. Balanoposthitis is the inflammation of the foreskin and glans (glands) and can be caused by bacterial or fungal origins or by contact dermatitis.

Oral course of antibiotics is needed. In addition, please don’t use any cosmetics on the penis, instead use some topical antimicrobials like Bacitracin or Lotrimin. Also corticosteroids and topical immunosuppressants can be used but they are available under prescription. Also retract the foreskin daily and soak in warm water to clean penis and foreskin. In case the symptoms persist then please consult a urologist/dermatologist for evaluation and antimicrobials and steroids prescription. Also get evaluated for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[ghostdogface]

Thank you for your advice!

I am circumsized, so it makes it easier to clean the penis.  I have been using antibacterial soap on my groin area for the last day and a half, and I have been using the desitin for 2.5 days.  The numbness and burning have definitely faded, but are not gone.  It is day 9 since my sexual encounter and still no lesions of any sort, so I am gradually feeling at ease that I don't have herpes, but I'm still concerned about this problem/infection.  My penis head still get irritated easily with rubbing/contact.  I have been doing a good job of keeping the area dry and aired out, I have been staying very hydrated, and keeping my exercise to a minimum.  I don't really feel a burn when I urinate anymore, maybe just a little bit on the opening of the urethra.

It feels like it IS improving, but I want this thing gone, so I will ask my doctor on Monday about those things you suggested.  Thank you so much!

[ghostdogface]

sorry, one more thing!

after I urinate, I seem to have the "dribbles", but it's just urine--I have yet to have any sort of abnormal discharge and my urine seems to be of normal color.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Burning urination and dribbling of urine may e found in urinary tract infection also. Drink plenty of fluids and get a urine examination and culture done to confirm the diagnosis. You may need a course of antibiotics for UTI.

I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[ghostdogface]

So I had blood taken and a urine sample taken, and I was cleared of all STDs, which narrowed it down to candida albicans or some other infection.  I was once again told to keep using the desitin cream and in a week it should be 100% gone.  One week was last thursday, and while the symptoms have greatly been reduced, they flare up at times.

I have been keeping the area dry and using the cream regularly.  I shower twice daily (morning and night) using antibacterial soap, and I have been avoiding exercise that will cause me to sweat a lot.  Now it has been almost 2 weeks on the cream, and it is not gone.  Today I decided to stop using antibacterial soap as I have read that sometimes this kills helpful bacteria, but I will continue with the cream.  

My symptoms that are persisting and flaring up at times are: dribbling after urination--sometimes takes a minute after I urinate before I feel like its done.  Very slight burning in the urethral opening at times, slight numbness in the penis head at times, and discoloration in the skin on the penis head.  The head of my penis seems to be ultra sensitive to irritation.

I know anxiety causes many symptoms, but since my test results came back negative, I have experienced very little anxiety and stress over it.  Any help or advice before I go back in to the doctor and spend more money would be greatly appreciated!

[ghostdogface]

Also to note: I feel that I have to urinate slightly more than usual