Aa
A Concern
Hi,
I went to the doctor a couple days ago for an STD checkup. I did the basic urine test, and asked about getting bloodwork done to test for HSV while there. The doc said it was unnecessary unless I had symptoms. I told him about a couple of irritations on my foreskin that I'd had in the past (I'm uncircumcised). He told me I didn't have anything to worry about and didn't think I needed the bloodwork.
But i feel like maybe I didn't thoroughly describe one of the irritations to the doc. I told him i had what looked like an irritated hair follicle, which i'm not sure was the best description even though that may be what it was. Anyway, it looked like two very small reddish bumps next to each other, a bit dry and scab-like, toward the forward end of the foreskin. From when i first noticed it, it was there for maybe five days. There was no pain or itching or other issues. I do at times have yeast/ jock itch issues. Also, I'm a very adamant washer of that area, and around that time (prior to the irritation) I had run out of soap and rubbed a little hand sanitizer on my foreskin. A bad idea now that I see how it sounds. Anyway, do you think I have any cause for concern? Thanks.
I went to the doctor a couple days ago for an STD checkup. I did the basic urine test, and asked about getting bloodwork done to test for HSV while there. The doc said it was unnecessary unless I had symptoms. I told him about a couple of irritations on my foreskin that I'd had in the past (I'm uncircumcised). He told me I didn't have anything to worry about and didn't think I needed the bloodwork.
But i feel like maybe I didn't thoroughly describe one of the irritations to the doc. I told him i had what looked like an irritated hair follicle, which i'm not sure was the best description even though that may be what it was. Anyway, it looked like two very small reddish bumps next to each other, a bit dry and scab-like, toward the forward end of the foreskin. From when i first noticed it, it was there for maybe five days. There was no pain or itching or other issues. I do at times have yeast/ jock itch issues. Also, I'm a very adamant washer of that area, and around that time (prior to the irritation) I had run out of soap and rubbed a little hand sanitizer on my foreskin. A bad idea now that I see how it sounds. Anyway, do you think I have any cause for concern? Thanks.
Okay. I really appreciate your help. Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This information also does not change anything. You need to stop obsessing about this. Based on what we know at this point, there is no information you can provide that will change my opinion or advice. So that will end this thread for sure.
Hi Dr. Handsfield,
After raking my brain, there is one last thing---Several years ago I had a single whiteheaded pimple (at least I think that's what it was) on my foreskin. I didn't pop it and it went away relatively quickly--I don't remember how long exactly, maybe a few days or a week. There were no other symptoms or issues before or during, besides stress. And I've never seen another one. At the time, I hadn't slept with anyone for six months or so. I told the doctor about it after it was gone, who told me it was nothing to worry about. I guess I just want some reaffirmation from someone who specializes in this sort of thing. Does that sound symptomatic of anything I should be concerned about?
Thanks a bunch.
After raking my brain, there is one last thing---Several years ago I had a single whiteheaded pimple (at least I think that's what it was) on my foreskin. I didn't pop it and it went away relatively quickly--I don't remember how long exactly, maybe a few days or a week. There were no other symptoms or issues before or during, besides stress. And I've never seen another one. At the time, I hadn't slept with anyone for six months or so. I told the doctor about it after it was gone, who told me it was nothing to worry about. I guess I just want some reaffirmation from someone who specializes in this sort of thing. Does that sound symptomatic of anything I should be concerned about?
Thanks a bunch.
Thank you.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It isn't "cold symptoms" that can accompany initial HSV infections. The usual terminology is "flu like", which is intended to mean various combinations of fever, headache, and muscle aching. With herpes, these occur only with the initial infection, and usually only with prominent and severe genital symptoms -- i.e. multiple, painful sores lasting a couple of weeks or more, usually with prominent inflamed swelling of lymph nodes in the groin. Such symptoms virtually never accompany mild genital symptoms of the sort you describe.
So your additional information doesn't change my opinion or advice. There is really nothing in your story that makes me suspicious you have genital herpes. A fungal (yeast) infection continues to sound most likely, by far.
So your additional information doesn't change my opinion or advice. There is really nothing in your story that makes me suspicious you have genital herpes. A fungal (yeast) infection continues to sound most likely, by far.
Hi Dr. Handsfield,
I just have one other question before putting this to bed. After further researching the symptoms and images of what yeast issues in men look like, it's obvious that this is something that's been going on for a rather long time. And the Ketoconazole seems to be helping.
But one other thing on my mind after scouring it for past issues is, a little over a year ago, I noticed what looked like one of these yeast/fungal issues on my foreskin. I don't remember exactly what it looked like, but it did seem to be in line with what I've come to realize are yeast issues (redness, dryness, etc.). But I also remember feeling like i had a bit of a head cold at the time, though I never got full-blown sick. I've read that cold symptoms can accompany HSV. There weren't any other symptoms signifying HSV (i.e. lesions, clusters, pain), and I really doubt that it was something other than the yeast issue occurring while also happening to have some cold symptoms. Does this sound like anything other than that? I just feel like I need to hear it from a doctor before forgetting about it.
Thanks.
I just have one other question before putting this to bed. After further researching the symptoms and images of what yeast issues in men look like, it's obvious that this is something that's been going on for a rather long time. And the Ketoconazole seems to be helping.
But one other thing on my mind after scouring it for past issues is, a little over a year ago, I noticed what looked like one of these yeast/fungal issues on my foreskin. I don't remember exactly what it looked like, but it did seem to be in line with what I've come to realize are yeast issues (redness, dryness, etc.). But I also remember feeling like i had a bit of a head cold at the time, though I never got full-blown sick. I've read that cold symptoms can accompany HSV. There weren't any other symptoms signifying HSV (i.e. lesions, clusters, pain), and I really doubt that it was something other than the yeast issue occurring while also happening to have some cold symptoms. Does this sound like anything other than that? I just feel like I need to hear it from a doctor before forgetting about it.
Thanks.
Thanks. Between the doctor telling me that I don't have anything to worry about and you saying that I could expect a negative result, it sounds like I need to just stop worrying about it. The doctor also told me that, based on my sexual history, I'm not at high-risk.
Also, he prescribed Ketoconazole for the yeast/jock itch issues and that already seems to be helping with dryness/irritation in the region.
Also, he prescribed Ketoconazole for the yeast/jock itch issues and that already seems to be helping with dryness/irritation in the region.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.
I agree with your doctor, that your symptoms are not particularly suspicious for herpes, and that includes the possible irritated hair follicle and the jock itch, which really cannot be confused with herpes.
That said, there is no reason you couldn't be tested for HSV if you remain concerned. Although many health professionals (including many STD experts) agree with your doctor, i.e. no testing unless the suspicion is quite high, others are more flexible. But please understand some important issues. First, the blood tests are not perfect. Sometimes the results are difficult to interpret, which can result in even more anxiety while undergoing more sophisticated (and more expensive) tests to sort it out. Second, if your test were positive for either HSV-1 or HSV-2, it would not necessarily explain your symptoms. If positive, it would be more likely that you have asymptomatic infection plus something else causing the genital symptoms you have noticed.
On the other hand, most of the time the blood test results are definitive -- i.e. clearly positive or clearly negative. In those cases, the negative result can be reassuring, and a positive result can resolve uncertainty and allow the patient to be on the alert for more typical symptoms, and sometimes to take anti-herpetic therapy to reduce the potential for transmission to partners.
So the decision is yours (or should be). If you proceed, just be prepared for the possible uncertainties. You might print out this thread and discuss it with your doctor; my guess he would agree to testing once assured you understand the pros and cons, and if confident you wouldn't go off the deep end if the result were positive or uncertain.
But the bottom line is that I doubt you have herpes, and if tested you can expect a negative result for HSV-2.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I agree with your doctor, that your symptoms are not particularly suspicious for herpes, and that includes the possible irritated hair follicle and the jock itch, which really cannot be confused with herpes.
That said, there is no reason you couldn't be tested for HSV if you remain concerned. Although many health professionals (including many STD experts) agree with your doctor, i.e. no testing unless the suspicion is quite high, others are more flexible. But please understand some important issues. First, the blood tests are not perfect. Sometimes the results are difficult to interpret, which can result in even more anxiety while undergoing more sophisticated (and more expensive) tests to sort it out. Second, if your test were positive for either HSV-1 or HSV-2, it would not necessarily explain your symptoms. If positive, it would be more likely that you have asymptomatic infection plus something else causing the genital symptoms you have noticed.
On the other hand, most of the time the blood test results are definitive -- i.e. clearly positive or clearly negative. In those cases, the negative result can be reassuring, and a positive result can resolve uncertainty and allow the patient to be on the alert for more typical symptoms, and sometimes to take anti-herpetic therapy to reduce the potential for transmission to partners.
So the decision is yours (or should be). If you proceed, just be prepared for the possible uncertainties. You might print out this thread and discuss it with your doctor; my guess he would agree to testing once assured you understand the pros and cons, and if confident you wouldn't go off the deep end if the result were positive or uncertain.
But the bottom line is that I doubt you have herpes, and if tested you can expect a negative result for HSV-2.
Regards-- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs 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.
