At a Loss, Is this Herpes?

[Duder]

I have had one unprotective sexual encounter (vaginal) with a girl I didn't know very well. For a long time after this, I felt like my genital area was either in a state of tingling or itchiness until I got tired and chalked it up to my imagination.  It is now 3 months later and I fear that I may have Herpes. For a long time I think I was just paranoid about the one common VD you can't really test easily for, but now I have a couple of tiny red and whitish spots on the underside of my penis near the head that have been there for at least 4 weeks. They are not painful and I wouldn't even say the area is even itchy. Also, the skin on my penis seems particularly dry and a little flaky when erect. I also had a somewhat painful sexual experience before i noticed the spots that I didn't really attribute to anything besides somewhat rough play, until I realized that there was a small scab left behind after only a day or so of healing.

Anyway, this thing has been toying with me for a long time, first thinking I don't have Herpes and then being convinced I do. I've been tested for other STD's and the results were negative. I am quite simply tired of this game, and have been avoiding certain people to the point where relationships are being damaged. Does this sounds like Herpes? should I return to the STD clinic and see a qualified nurse there? or should I go to a walk-in clinic to see if a doctor can tell anything? I don't have a family doctor so it will have to be one of these options i suppose. Any help would be appreciated..

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your symptoms don't sound like herpes, which does not cause prolonged tingling or itchiness, dry/flaky skin, or "spots" that remain more or less unchanged for weeks at a time.  You are wrong about herpes being the "VD you can't really test easily for".  Accurate blood tests are available to determine whether a person is infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, both, or neither.  You could be tested, whether at a walk-in clinic or elsewhere.

But regardless of the result, I am certain herpes is not the explanation for your symptoms; and since 25% of the population has HSV-2, you might find you are infected but still not know what's going on.  See a health care provider if your symptoms persist; at a minimum, s/he will be able to tell you whether the "spots" are abnormal or not.  In the meantime, it is unlikely you have an STD or anything you can transmit to a sex partner.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[HHH,MD]

After I posted my response, I realize I missed your comment about the scab.  That symptom (and only that one) does raise my suspicion about herpes a little bit.  Only a little, but perhaps worth checking out.  You might want to go ahead and have the herpes blood test.

HHH, MD