Symptoms

About 5 weeks ago (Jan 26th) i had unprotected sex (oral and vaginal) with a girl i met through some friends.  Anyways, almost immediately after (the 27th) I had some itching and tingling on my scrotum and the area where the scrotum meets the thigh.  This itching has persisted for 5 weeks now, the scrotum is red, but the penis appears unaffected.  No visible sores have been present through the duration.  This girl claims she is clean, but I don't know for sure.  I went to the doctor about 10 days after the encounter, got tested for STDs, everything turned out negative.  Obviously the herpes testing would be negative so soon after the encounter, but at least now I have something to compare it to when i go back in a few weeks.

I am a generally healthy man, never had any infections, rashes, etc.  So I am admittedly worried about this.  Some signs point to a fungal infection or jock itch, but it is my understanding that these conditions do not predominantly affect the scrotum or testicles.  I must have contracted it from this girl, the timing is just too coincidental for it to be from something else.  I just feel like at this point it HAS to be herpes, nothing else i have encountered could produce this reaction.

I've been using lotrimin on the area for about 4 days now, the itching seems to be subsiding a bit, but the redness is still very present.  If it IS in fact a fungal infection, what are the typical symptoms of it?  Can a herpes or a fungal infection last 5 weeks without any visible sores, and affect mostly the scrotum, even though it was hardly contacting her genitals during intercourse?  I feel like if i would be seeing anything it would be on the penis, and it would be obvious. I've also read that fungal infections cannot be eradicated completely with topical creams, and that pills must be taken to kill the internal infection, is this true?

I am seeing a girl now that I really care about, I don't want to expose her to anything like herpes, I wouldn't be able to live with myself,  please, any input you have would be greatly appreciated.
thank you.

[talik]

well herpes can stay dormant and not show up for like 10 years. a lot of people dont have symptoms.

i dont know much about fungal infections

[Mistakeguy789]

Hi

First lets get some questions out of the way and hopefully some explaining.  

What you are describing doesn't fit herpes.  Here is why.  Herpes doesn't typically last 5 weeks.  So in that regards you are pretty much out of the woods.  What you have does sound like a fungal infection.  The redness and itching are pretty common in fungal infections.  While true you may not have had this you may have gotten it from this girl if she had a yeast infection or something of the sort.  Could also be you got it from yourself.  We males can and do get fungal infections.  

I am not sure where you are getting some of your information but fungal infections can affect the scrotum. It can and does get red.  Mine is red and I am fighting a fungal infection.  So it is possible.  Fungal infections if left untreated will remain and may not leave without assistance from medical creams.  You do NOT have to take a pill to get rid of it if you have the proper medicine and you are fighting it off with that.  It may take up some time before you see a big improvement.  

You stated you talked to your doctor.  What did he say when he looked you over?  What did he believe it was?  

You are also correct in that if you had something waiting 10 days for a blood test wouldn't show herpes.  You would get the bacteria ones typically out of the way.  So nothing to worry about that if you got that.  

Now lets talk about doctors.  PCP's are good to start with to look you over.  If he isn't sure whats going on see a dermatologist.  They specialize in the skin issues and can tell pretty easily whats going on and get you taken care of.  This is all they look at.  Don't be afarid to show him your private region to let him inspect.  Again I wasn't to comfy but having him exam me was the best thing I could do.  They can also advise you where to start just like your PCP can about what creams to use.  

On to the next subject the girl.  Chances are she hasn't had and HSV test as its not routinely offered on STD panels.  Which is wrong imo because in school we are taught its an STD and when I ask for something I assume its on there.  Chances are low that she has anything other then HSV-1 Oral as a large part of the adult population has HSV-1.  Chances are she could not have it as well.  

What to do?  At this point follow up with a dermatologist and let them check you out.  I think you are fine on the herpes end as your symptoms have been on going for too long and also started way to soon.  Herpes takes 2-20 days before symtoms (symptoms) to show up.  

Please feel free to ask more questions.

[gracefromHHP]

this doesn't sound at all like herpes going on. see your provider again for a proper exam and go from there.

grace