Am I okay now?

[heythere1980]

Doc,
Here is my previous concern posted earlier this month.
You told me to go get a blood test for Herpes, which I did even though my doctor felt it was unnecessary as he had done a visual exam and swab (which came back negative) earlier
Today, my doctor called me back and said it the blood test came back negative.
It was a major relief, but for some reason I can't get it out of my mind something might be wrong with me.
My doctor told me I should relax and be fully confident it's not herpes.
But what if these scabs come back? Should I just accept it as something normal and unharmful?

Post
heythere1980
01/03/2006
. Hi Doc,
Here's my long-winded herpes concern.
Three months ago, noticed a mild burning from shaft of penis (on back of penis below head). Few days later, three red raised dots appear. Kind of look like scabs. Immediately think I have herpes. There is minor burning, very little pain and no itching.
Go to walk-in clinic. Doc says it doesn't look like herpes and says it is bacterial infection. Does a swab, anyway. It comes back negative for herpes. I also see my family doc and his assistant and both say it is not herpes. The assistant, a med student, goes as far to say it is not herpes.
About eight days after spot first appears, it seems to come off in shower.
Two weeks ago, however, a raised red spot appears on exact same spot of penis and within a day, it is a scab. I am on the road travelling at this time and go to a walk-in clinic and again, he says he does not think it is herpes, despite me being convinced it is because it is in the exact same spot. I have acne on my face and take medication and he wonders if this spot comes about from me touching my face and then going to urinate. I also call my regular doctor, who says I should not worry. Four days later, spot is gone.
STD clinic I call says swab is most reliable form of testing and because it came back negative, I should not be so worried. Dermatology doc on this forum also said this does not sound like herpes.
But the problem is I, for whatever reason and despite all these doctors telling me I should not have herpes fears, can't get it out of my head that this has to be herpes or some other STD. What else could it be? Why would it re-occur in the exact same spot?
The exposure I am concerned about came with a couple of women when we engaged in mutual masturbation. There was no sex or oral sex, but we were both naked and her genitals may have come in contact with my groin or stomach area briefly. I have NEVER engaged in unprotected sex or oral sex of any kind. The incidents I described above are the ones I am concerned about.
Am I right in thinking this sounds like herpes? Is there another test I should undergo? Does this sound like another STD?
Thank you for your help,

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your original thread has dropped off, so I cannot see my response.  But I doubt I said you definitely needed testing for herpes.  More likely I suggested you might want to do it to put your mind at ease, but not because I suspected herpes.  There is nothing in your story that made herpes seem likely, either from your symptoms or the exposure you describe.  Herpes never is transmitted by hand-to-genital contact.

But now that you have a negative test result, and your doctor has assured you that you don't have herpes, there is nothing I can add.  You don't have it, period.  If symptoms come back that you are concerned about, see a health care provider promptly.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[heythere1980]

It may have been brief genital to genital contact. Our bodies were rubbing against each other.
Is that a potential for anything?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is a low chance of transmitting anything by non-insertive genital contact, and absolutely no chance for something that explains the symptoms you describe.  Please no follow-up questions here; I won't respond.

HHH, MD