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Can't Find an Answer, Need Help
My last sexual encounter was unprotected and happened over two months ago now. I don't know if it is related to my symptoms or not, but I am having trouble finding an explanation. About a week after the encounter I had red rash around the tip of my penis, in tiny spots. It wasn't raised and it did not turn into blisters. It was slightly uncomfortable, and had a bit of a tingle, like the area was sensitive, but it wasn't extremely painful by any means. I went to a doctor and he swabbed the area for herpes. The test came back negative and the rash cleared up a few days later. It was clear for two weeks, though I thought I could still feel a tingling discomfort inside the tip of my penis. Then the rash came back, cleared up in a few days again. They tested me for gonorrhea and chlamydia, but those came back negative also. The rash always clears up within a few days, but it has come back several times now over the course of 2 months. I had a blood test done recently for herpes, which I know isn't conclusive, but it came back negative as well. It's been clear all week, but this morning when I went to the bathroom I noticed it was back again. My doctor is telling me that these symptoms aren't very typical for herpes, but he doesn't have any answers for me. I'm frustrated and confused. Could this be herpes?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Good morning HenryPhil,
The timing of your symptoms is about right for herpes after your sexual encounter, but the symptoms aren't right. First of all, most herpes that we see is on the shaft of the penis. Sometimes we see lesions on the shaft AND the head of the penis, but very rarely on the head alone. Next, your description of a red rash that isn't raised or never blistered doesn't fit well with herpes.
Good that you had a swab test done when you had symptoms, that's helpful in ruling out herpes. And also good that you were tested for the other STD's and they are negative.
The recurrence rate and nature of your rash is not suggestive of herpes. It doesn't usually come and go this frequently, and normally, a herpes outbreak would last more than a few days. So that doesn't fit either.
What have tried on the rash, anything? Does anything seem to make it better or worse? Have you been exposed to anything, including condoms, that you might be sensitive to?
A negative blood test at 2 months is a good sign. You're right, its a bit early for a final answer, but a good sign nonetheless. You don't mention whether you are negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2 or just HSV 2. If you are negative for both, then its an even better sign that you aren't infected. The person who has neither HSV 1 nor HSV 2 will make antibody more quickly than the person who has HSV 1 and then acquires HSV 2.
In summary, it doesn't sound like herpes to me. But if you could answer those few questions for me, perhaps I can help you a little more.
Terri
The timing of your symptoms is about right for herpes after your sexual encounter, but the symptoms aren't right. First of all, most herpes that we see is on the shaft of the penis. Sometimes we see lesions on the shaft AND the head of the penis, but very rarely on the head alone. Next, your description of a red rash that isn't raised or never blistered doesn't fit well with herpes.
Good that you had a swab test done when you had symptoms, that's helpful in ruling out herpes. And also good that you were tested for the other STD's and they are negative.
The recurrence rate and nature of your rash is not suggestive of herpes. It doesn't usually come and go this frequently, and normally, a herpes outbreak would last more than a few days. So that doesn't fit either.
What have tried on the rash, anything? Does anything seem to make it better or worse? Have you been exposed to anything, including condoms, that you might be sensitive to?
A negative blood test at 2 months is a good sign. You're right, its a bit early for a final answer, but a good sign nonetheless. You don't mention whether you are negative for both HSV 1 and HSV 2 or just HSV 2. If you are negative for both, then its an even better sign that you aren't infected. The person who has neither HSV 1 nor HSV 2 will make antibody more quickly than the person who has HSV 1 and then acquires HSV 2.
In summary, it doesn't sound like herpes to me. But if you could answer those few questions for me, perhaps I can help you a little more.
Terri
Thank you for your help. They said I was negative for both and they did an IgG and an IgM. I don't put anything on the rash, it usually just goes away on its own after a few days. The only thing that seems to make it worse is if my boxer shorts are damp, or if it seems like excessive rubbing against the boxer shorts, though I guess it's hard to say if that makes it worse or if I just notice the discomfort a little more when that is the case. Not sure if that makes sense or not. You're answer was very detailed and provided a lot of insight that I wasn't finding elsewhere. I really appreciate all of your help and time. Do you have any insights on how I could figure out what else it may be?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If moisture makes it worse in the boxer shorts area, I'm wondering about fungal infection and candida balanitis. Look at some pictures and see if this looks familiar. Have you ever tried any antifungal medicine on this rash?
Let me know, OK?
Terri
Let me know, OK?
Terri
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
