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potential herpes outbreak
I am a male in my mid-20s. I noticed on Sunday afternoon that I had a series of red dots on the head of my penis and under my foreskin. I freaked out, showered and applied hydrocorstisone to the affected area. I have seen a doctor and have gotten a blood test.
I am seeing one girl casually, but we always use condoms. Two weeks before I noticed the spots, I had casual sex with another girl, and also used a condom. A few days later, I started to get what I thought was a throat infection, for which I took antibiotics (amoxycillin). I had no fever, no body ache, no chills and no discharge. Also, I experienced no pain, itching or discomfort. After about a day or two, the dots on my penis were no longer red, but remain if you looked closely.
I had sex with the first girl the night before I found the bumps (also with a condom), but did not shower off the lubricant/spermicide off until about 4 the next day. Could these dots be some kind of reaction to the spermicide or latex? Is there any chance this is not herpes? I used another condom about a week later and had the same reaction after (red dots that became less inflamed after showering and hydrocortisone).
Would I be better off seeing a dermatologist or urologist at this point?
Sorry if this post is a bit scattered, thanks for your help,
I am seeing one girl casually, but we always use condoms. Two weeks before I noticed the spots, I had casual sex with another girl, and also used a condom. A few days later, I started to get what I thought was a throat infection, for which I took antibiotics (amoxycillin). I had no fever, no body ache, no chills and no discharge. Also, I experienced no pain, itching or discomfort. After about a day or two, the dots on my penis were no longer red, but remain if you looked closely.
I had sex with the first girl the night before I found the bumps (also with a condom), but did not shower off the lubricant/spermicide off until about 4 the next day. Could these dots be some kind of reaction to the spermicide or latex? Is there any chance this is not herpes? I used another condom about a week later and had the same reaction after (red dots that became less inflamed after showering and hydrocortisone).
Would I be better off seeing a dermatologist or urologist at this point?
Sorry if this post is a bit scattered, thanks for your help,
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
When herpes blood tests are done, many labs first do a screening test. Your results suggest the screening test was positive. However, that test often gives false results; the important results come from the HSV-1 and HSV-2 specific tests. This is a bit complex, but the bottom line is that your results are negative. You do not have HSV of either type. This confirms my conclusion that your penile red spots are not due to herpes. So congratulations -- no herpes worries!
Sorry for the late response. I finally got the results of my blood test back, and I tested positive for Herpes total, but not for HSV I or HSV II. The spots have all cleared up, but I'm a little confused about these results (as was my GP). Do you have any insights into this?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
This doesn't sound like herpes or any other STD. The most common cause of symptoms like yours are nonspecific balanitis and yeast balanitis. (Balanitis is the term for inflammation of the head of the penis.) Both are very common in uncircumcised men, and neither is dangerous. It is also possible you had some irritation from the spermicide, or allergy to latex. In any case, none of these things is serious. What did your doctor say about it? Unless s/he doesn't have answers, or if the problem doesn't clear up on its own, I see no need for you to see a specialist. If the diagnosis does remain unclear or you otherwise remain concerned, a dermatologist would make most sense. In the meantime, mellow out. This is no big deal, and almost certainly no STD.
Regards-- HHH, MD
This doesn't sound like herpes or any other STD. The most common cause of symptoms like yours are nonspecific balanitis and yeast balanitis. (Balanitis is the term for inflammation of the head of the penis.) Both are very common in uncircumcised men, and neither is dangerous. It is also possible you had some irritation from the spermicide, or allergy to latex. In any case, none of these things is serious. What did your doctor say about it? Unless s/he doesn't have answers, or if the problem doesn't clear up on its own, I see no need for you to see a specialist. If the diagnosis does remain unclear or you otherwise remain concerned, a dermatologist would make most sense. In the meantime, mellow out. This is no big deal, and almost certainly no STD.
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.
