Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Anal Herpes

Hi Doctor, Thank you for providing such an extensive and informative answers on STDs. I am extremely worried about anal herpes. I had sex over a year ago with a CSW in Ireland. This was a drunken mistake and one which i really regret. I had vaginal sex for maybe 10 minutes. I currently engaged to my long term girlfriend and im afraid I could infect her. I have had STD test done at 3 and 6 months and everything came back negative, including a type specific herpes bloodtest. I also had my anus examed 3 months ago by an std specialist and he could find nothing,  I have recurring symptoms though that lead me to question this test. I have continious anal itching and have pain when going to the toilet. I looked in the mirror this morning and seen three or four purple looking lumps right at my anal opening. This has left me fretting that I could indeed have anal herpes. Please give me some advice as this is really effecting my relationship with my fiance. Thank you for your time.
6 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum.

I agree with the advice you had from Grace on the herpes community forum.  Not only do your symptoms not suggest herpes, but anal HSV infections are uncommon in heterosexual men; and having had sex with a CSW does not imply a risk for it.  Your symptoms are most suggestive of the physical manifestation of anxiety over a seual choice you regret.  Further, a negative HSV blood test is highly reliable.

Anal itching is one of the most common of all sensations and symptoms experienced by human beings.  Everybody has it from time to time.  Usually no specific cause can be found.  In that circumstance, it even has its own Latin name -- pruritus ani.  Sounds fancy, but it just means itchy anus.  Since at least one professional examination found nothing abnormal, you can be quite sure you have no important underlying cause.  You could try self-treatment with an over-the-counter steroid cream, like hydrocortisone; plus local hygiene, i.e. washing with soap and water a couple times a day and assuring you wipe well after defecation.  In any case, herpes is a rare cause of pruritus ani.  And prominent blood vessels of the anus -- your "purple bumps" -- are entirely normal.

Could you be a highly atypical case, with atypical symptoms, plus atypical exposure history, plus false negative blood test?  No.  Any one of those, by itself, is possible.  But the odds that all those atypical features would break the wrong way are zero for all practical purposes. There simply is no chance you have anal or genital HSV.

"Please give me some advice":  I advise you to stop examining your anus; to try the simple things I suggested to help the itching; to accept the symptoms as nothing abnormal or important; and move on with your life.  If you cannot do so despite such overwhelming evidence and reasoned reassurance -- both here and from the STD specialist you saw -- then you'll have to consider professional counseling.

Good luck-- HHH, MD
Helpful - 1
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
From your description, does not sound typical for herpes, but it is impossible to tell based on your second hand description.  If it continues or she remains concerned, she should have it professionally evaluated.  In the event she has herpes or any other STD, you can be quite sure it is unrelated to your anal itching; and even if herpes, it sounds more like a recurrent outbreak, not an initial infection.

Feel free to return to let me know the diagnosis after she has seen a doctor about it.  Until then there is nothing more I can say or advise.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi doctor, My girlfriend only recently started experiencing large spot on her vagina just in her pubic hair. These spots are itchy. She first taught it was an ingrown hair but she is a beauty therapist and later discovered that there was no ingrown hair. Im terrified i have infected her. I never had sex with her when the symptoms were active and although ive tested negative for everything, Im terrified that something has been missed and that I am after infecting her with an STD such as herpes. Im going crazy with worry. Any advice on what you think I should do?
Thanking you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank You doctor,
Helpful - 0
239123 tn?1267647614
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I was modifying my reply when you were adding this comment, in anticipation of exactly this question.  It's now addressed above.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you doctor for your quick response,
have you any idea what the purple lumps could be though as its really freaking me out. I take it you think there is no need to return to my specialist but what do you think these lumps could be? As i said they cause itching and are sore when i wipe after going to toilet. They are right at the opening to my anus?
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum

Popular Resources
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.