Totally Stumped by What This Could Be

[w0rriedinWI]

I am a 23 y/o male. I have been sexually active since I was 17. But, until recently I haven't engaged in sexual intercourse for about a year.  A couple weeks ago I was with a female and she noticed a bump on the shaft of my penis, about where my thumb would be when masturbating.  I have noticed this bump in the past, but didn't think much of it until she asked what it was...I couldn't think of an answer. I've had this bump for longer than 2 months. I've picked at it then applied rubbing alcohol, neosporin. I've done a little bit of research on herpes and it says a lesion is to last about 7-14 days, then dry up and fall off..this isn't the case with me. This bump is about 1-2mm in diameter and circular.  Any ideas on what this could be? I'm planning on getting tested this week.

[Curiousitykilledthecat1225]

As I am not an MD, it would be difficult to say. In fact, it would be difficult for even the MDs in the expert forum (where you can pay to post ) to say without seeing them.  

Your best chance of reconciling these new symptoms is to see the dermatologist (if you don't trust the current one, choose another) and have that physician look at the area and if need be culture it. Since you are saying you have these symptoms right now appearing and they have just popped up, it would be smart to get into the doctor's tomorrow as cultures for herpes are most accurate within the first 48 hours of the symptoms appearing.

Also moving forward it would be wise for both you and the new partner to get STD testing, inclusive of Herpes Type Specific IgG test for HSV1 and HSV2.

[w0rriedinWI]

What do you think are the sores on the side of my penis..not the wart..

[Curiousitykilledthecat1225]

Hi WorriedinWI,

Best thing you can do for yourself is to:

A.) Stop popping or breaking the skin down there - you leave yourself susceptible to infections of all sorts If you pop a pimple (which yes you can get on your penis) of course you're going to get an open sore (you've just broken skin)

B.) Heed the advice of the forum moderator - Grace, and get the Herpes Select Blood Test and have your current girlfriend get tested.

C.) Find a new dermatologist if this one can not tell you definitively if the bump they are looking at that remains unchanged is a wart (which I assume is in a different place than the pimple you manipulated)

[w0rriedinWI]

****QUICK UPDATE*****
I went to my dermo - he didn't know what exactly the bump on the top of my shaft just below the glans (left center if looking down on my penis) is. He biopsied it to be sure, and even that didn't give him exact results. Sooo, he put me on a genital wart solution just to be sure...

NOW, keep in mind I've only recently begun having sex again. Protected vaginal intercourse, unprotected oral sex  and I've only had vaginal sex 3-5 times since I became sexually active again. I noticed a slight pain on the right side of my penis just recently. A couple days ago I inspected the area of pain..it looked a like a pimple..so I popped it. Ooooops..Now it looks to be an open sore :( I've also noticed a couple more bumps surrounding this one. I only notice minor pain when my underwear rubs when I walk and pain when touched. I BET this is herpes - but how so if i've only had protected vaginal intercourse...?! Some one help!

[shadedxdreams]

Bro that sounds more like hpv than hsv. In other words genital warts. If its been lingering for a while you might as your dermatologist about it. Its nothing deadly and will more than likely be supressed in the future if it is. But it might ease things if you know what you may have.. Good luck

[gracefromHHP]

Both of you getting the blood tests is the best course of action so that you know who has what.

Herpes will not stick around this long unchanged.  This bump is not due to herpes.  It also sounds like your doc had to look fairly hard to find it?

If your doc won't test you for herpes, check out www.tstd.org and www.healthcheckusa.com. Both offer type specific herpes igg blood testing for around $100 and you can get a full screening for std's for double that.  Even though tstd's site doesn't mention just herpes igg blood testing as an option, it is -just call and let them know that that's what you want.  

grace

[w0rriedinWI]

I went to go see my internist. When I showed him my penis, he asked where the bump is? I had to spread the area with my fingers and show him.. (the bump on my penis is still there and relatively unchanged) Right now, it hasn't been  scabbing over, but it's just like a flesh colored bump on the left side about a 1/2 inch down from the glans.  At first thought, my internist thought this could be herpes, but he said it's not acting like herpes.  He referred me to a dematologist. I've been tested for STDs in the past: results negative.  He said he doesn't do blood tests for things like this and plus if I've only recently begun having sex again (1 year hiatus), then the best thing to do would be to have a dermo take a look.

Does anyone have any advice, comments, besides "go see the dermo" which I am doing soon...??!?!

[gracefromHHP]

This isn't herpes. Herpes wouldn't stick around relatively unchanged for 2 months - especially not a recurrence.

Since you have a new partner, I recommend you both get a full std screening, including testing for herpes so that you know each other's status from the gitgo.  It's something that is never a bad idea.

grace

[w0rriedinWI]

does this sound like herpes? no itching, soreness, pain..Just this bump that won't seem to go away. Possibility of skin trauma due to frequent masturbation???

[petal130]

Your last sentence is what needs to happen. Other than that, rubbing alcohol and neosporin will only exacerbate herpes symptoms. Unfortunately a swab/culture at this point most likely won't pick up the herpes virus if in fact it is herpes - you need to get it swabbed within the first couple days of symptoms for an accurate result. Request an IgG type specific blood test at this point.