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Herpes Symptoms?

Hi,

Just over 4 weeks ago, I had sex with a condom with a girl.  After I ejaculated, she got on top of me for awhile, while I lost my erection.  After she got off, I noticed that the condom had ridden up a bit on my penis, so maybe it was half way up.  She said that she was tested in Dec 2009 and was clean.  

My symptoms:
1) 3 days after sex, I was itchy & had a burning sensation in my inner thighs and lower abdomen.  I got test 5 days out for STDs and everything came back negative.  About 7 days after, I developed a vertical line rash on the crease between my thighs and genitals.  I went to a urologist 3 weeks after sex, and he said this rash was not an STD, but probably an allergic reaction.

2) Today (4 weeks out), I noticed 3-4 small skin-colored bumps about 1/4 inch above where the condom had risen to and towards the head of my penis on the side facing my stomach.  Meaning this area with these bumps were probably covered by the condom the whole time.  They look identical in shape, color, size, to the hair follicles at the base of my penis.  I am a hairy person and have a lot of hair at the base and midway up my penis, and many follicles on my penis.  So it is reasonable to assume these bumps were always there and I never noticed them.

3) One bump is very small (sharp pencil point size), with a red ring around it and a white center.  It is near the same height as those other few bumps that look like hair follicles, but more on the left side of my penis.

Questions:
1) Do these bumps or that one with the white center sound like herpes?
2) Is it even possible to get herpes in an area where the condom covered the penis?
3) Let’s say this girl lied about being tested and has herpes without her knowing.  With a condom, what is the percentage chance that I could have caught herpes in one encounter?
4) I really need some piece of mind either way.  Could I get tested after 5 weeks, and would that give any early signs either way?

Thanks!
8 Responses
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55646 tn?1263660809
1) not so much, no, but they could something called molluscum contagiosum.  A professional could sort that out for you.
2)  yes, but the infection would occur in a uncovered area and the outbreak in could show up in an covered area as the virus travels along the nerve in that area.
3)  Very low.  I think you could ask her to check to see if herpes was included as you heard that it often is not and you just want to be certain.
4)  Testing after 5 weeks would give you about 70% accuracy, maybe not quite.  It would be better if you could clarify with her.  Have you ever been tested for herpes in the past?

The itching could easily be a fungal (yeast) infection, espeically with the red discoloration.

Terri
Helpful - 1
55646 tn?1263660809
Correct, herpes wouldn't stick around for 8 weeks.

If the lamisil cream made things worse, and not better, its unlikely to be fungal.  I'm sorry, John, I don't have any great ideas about this.  I'm really surprised that those medicines made things worse.  Is this still really bothersome for you, or are you more just worried about what it might be?

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi Terri,

If you remember we emailed in mid-march.  I have a follow up question.  Note, if you need me to pay again, just let me know and I’ll pay and start a new question thread.

Recall Symptoms:
* I had protected sex with a girl on Feb 12th.  
* Three days after sex, I was itchy & had a burning sensation in my inner thighs near genitals and lower abdomen, also on hairy area above genitals.  
* About 6 days after sex, I developed a red, vertical-line rash on the crease between my thighs and genitals.  Itching & burning went away after two weeks, but vertical line rash remained.
* I got tested for common STDs 5 weeks out, and Herpes 6 weeks out, all were negative.
* I went to a few doctors who diagnosed vertical line rash differently and prescribed creams which eventually all made itching, burning come back for a few days.  (see below)
* Now it has been about 8.5 weeks.

My questions for you:
-------------------------------
1) There is no way that a rash from Herpes (or other STD?) would last 8 weeks right?
2) Based on these facts, do you still think this is a Yeast Infection?  Is there an easy test or way to tell an STD from a Yeast Infection from an Allergic Reaction?

Doctor – Diagnosis – cream prescription - results
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
A) Urologist – allergic reaction -  Hydro Cortisone Cream – After 3 days made rash, itching, burning much worse so stopped cream
B) Dermatologist – allergic reaction – Protopic (tacrolimus ointment) – After 1 hour, made rash, itching, burning much worse.  So Stopped Cream.
C) Urgent Care – Jock Itch/Fungal Infection – Lamisil Cream – After 1.5 weeks, made rash, itching, burning worse.  So Stopped Cream.

Thanks again for your help,
John
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
I'm so glad you got that sorted out, John.  Its fine to test in 4 months, but my guess is that you are in the clear.

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks Terri,

I went to an urgent care doctor last week.  He said the rash is definitely a fungal infection, for which he prescribed anti-fungal cream.  I'm going to see a dermatologist next week to confirm.  Also, he said the little follicle looking bumps are nothing to worry about.

Lastly, I got the results from my std test last week, and everything was negative.  Herpes results were < 0.9.  So chances are I'm not infected.  Otherwise it would have shown as a higher number even just after 5 weeks, right?  Just for piece of mind, I'm going to get retested in a few weeks and again at 4 months.

Thanks for all your help!
John
Helpful - 0
55646 tn?1263660809
I'm not at all clear that the army tests for herpes in STD screens, that is something that she should ask specifically, because she would benefit from knowing as well.  
You could see an internist, a family practice provider or a dermatologist, an expert is not needed for a yeast infection.
You would most likely be in the clear after 4 months.  And if you are positive, there are online support groups and in person support groups and our clinic does phone consultations as well for this kind of problem.

Terri
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry last question
d) Is there a support counselor or psychologist that I could talk to if my results come back positive?  Any website that you can recommend to provide that type of counseling?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Terri,

Thank you very much for your help.  It's really comforting to be able to discuss this with someone as I can't really talk about this with anyone else.

A few short follow up questions:
a) I did speak with the girl today.  She reminded me that she's in medical school for the army, and they get regular exams and std checks.  Her last one was in December and her last boyfriend was in the fall.  She also said they checked for all STDs and did a physical exam.  So I should be good, right?

b) If I do have a yeast infection what sort of doctor should I go to, a urologist or dermatologist?  

c) If I do get tested for herpes, does the percentage accuracy increase from 70% to 100% by say 5% every week after 5 weeks after exposure?  Am I in the clear after 3 months?  

Thank you again very much!
John
Helpful - 0

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