Can't figure out if it's herpes

This past May, I had an intense itching in my crotch that lasted over a week.  Around the same time, on the shaft of my penis, there was a lot of dry skin (or something else) that was flaking.  In the middle of the shaft, there was a fairly sizable red spot that was sore/raw.  I figured the dry skin and sore was from either masturbation or sex with a condom, both of which I was doing/having at the time.  (I am kicking myself for not going to the doctor at that point.)

At the end of that month, my girlfriend was experiencing intense pain in the crotch and went to see her doctor.  Her doctor made a visual diagnosis of genital herpes.  Apparently, there was redness and small bumps around her vagina.The doctor took a culture, which came back negative for herpes.  The doctor also administered a blood test (the type of which I don

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Since 25% of the population has genital herpes, you might well be infected, simply by the law of averages.  It is also true that herpes can cause many atypical genital symptoms.  Putting those two facts together, it is possible you are infected.  That said, the symptoms you describe certainly are not typical.

If your girlfriend had the right kind of HSV blood test (see numerous previous questions and responses on this forum), it is likely she doesn't have HSV-2 infection.  But that doesn't mean you don't.  Any doctor who reassures someone s/he doesn't have genital herpes simply because of a negative culture test either doesn't know much about the infection or is trying to reassure you.

The bottom line is that the only way you can know with certainty that you don't have genital herpes is to be tested, using the HerpeSelect test, produced by Focus Technologies (see several other questions and responses on thie forum).

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[boston2004]

sorry, but here is some more information:

Around mid July, I developed what I would describe as two large zits in the center of my left buttock.  The zits were painful when I sat on them and applied direct pressure, but otherwise did not cause any discomfort or itching.  In August I developed another "zit" on the buttock with the same qualities.  In the last few months, I have had a series of "zits", one, then two, then one, on my buttock in the same location.  Also, with a mirror, I noticed a small area of red bumps that looked like a rash on the same buttock, but located down and closet to the anus (the point with the most pressure when I sit.)  I have tried putting 2.5% hydrocortisone on the area once or twice a day for the past five days, but things haven

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I really can't say much about the lesions on your buttocks without seeing them.  Any herpes blood test that includes "IgG" results is poor at distinguishing between HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection.  However, if such a test was negative for both HSV-1 and -2, your doctor probably is right--you have never been infected with either virus.  But to be certain, I suggest you get tested once more, making sure your doctor requests the Focus Technologies HerpeSelect test by name; the HerpeSelect test comes in two forms, one each for HSV-1 and HSV-2.  Make sure both are done.

By the way, it is quite common for people who think they have oral herpes to in fact not have it.  Lots of things other than herpes can cause sores in and around the mouth.

Bottom line:  confirm the blood test results with the right test.  If indeed you are negative for HSV-2, then for sure your buttock lesions aren't due to that virus.  And if you're negative for HSV-1 as well, you don't have oral herpes.  But as to what your rash actually is, I can say no more.  Sorry.

Best wishes--  HHH, MD

[Mandy00]

I had a bump come up on my interthigh about a week ago.  i thought it was just an ingrown hair.  Then a blister popped up around the same spot on my interthigh.  When it popped clear stuff came out.  Then an open sore came up on my butt.  Right on my butt bone.  Now there are more sores and 3 more blisters have came up.  I have not had sex or sexual intercourse with anyone for 3 months.  So i can't see how i have herpes.  Are these bumps just some kind of infection from shaving? Or are they hepers?