Could it be herpes??

[Dutchmatt]

Ok a few days ago i noticed I started to develope some small, red bumps in my pubic hair region. Most are concentrated around where the elestic on my boxers would sit. These bumps are absolutely painless and do not itch at all. Most bumps are barley raised above the skin. I have popped i few of them and only blood comes out...no puss or fluid. I dont think there is any swelling in my groin, no tenderness or anything. There is no discharge from my penis or pain while peeing. I have noticed that they appear to have a dimple in the middle of them as well. I trim down there with a beard trimmer regualrly but they dont appear to be ingrown hairs, because of the number and the fact that i didnt see any hair folice when i popped it.

I have had unprotected sex about a month ago, but I have asked that person about their history and she said she was recently tested for STIs and was fine. Also, about a week ago, I was in a hot tub in my boxers. I was in the water for about 20 min and wore the wet boxers for about 45min after, so maybe thats the cause.

Im really at a loss here. The bumps do look similar to herpes, but the only herpes related symptom i have are the bumps themselves. There are so many things could have caused this so I am kinda freaking out here!

Any insight you can give would be great!

[gin27]

A related discussion, DON'T BELIEVE IT was started.

[soulsk8er-15]

hi im 16 and the girl i lost my virginity to told me that i gave her herpes,? and i was freaked but since than i have had protected sex about 5 times and havent passed anything on to anybody.
i have recently had unprotected sex with a girl and am worrie becuase i have  lots of very small bump like things on the shft of the penis and when i squeez them little white stuff comes out that is about pen piont size.. once i squeeze them they are kind of like a hollow bump and i have alot of them. i can hardly even see them though. can u please help me out and tell me what this is because i am scared that i ight have gave this girl herpes!

thanx..

[PatrickBateman]

No I didnt squeeze or pick at them when I noticed them.  Waited about 5 days to see if it would go away then I went to the doctor because it was embarassing.  Went in and it took about 30 seconds to get it removed.  

[Dutchmatt]

Thanks for the response! As you can probably tell I am a little freaked out wiht all this! I guess I just need to suck it up and see a doc. Its so weird though, all these bumps and no pain or itch. But thats a good thing...it they did, I think Id be in trouble.

Just wondering did you ever pop any of them? If so, what came out?

Thanks again!

[PatrickBateman]

I'm not the doctor responding, but I've had MC and your symptoms sound very similar.  My case was right below my waistband in pubic hair as well.  I went to a dermatologist and he froze them off, and never saw them again.

[Dutchmatt]

Questions123 thanks for the info!!

I was still hoping the doc my answer my other questions. I apprietiate your help so far and answering those questions would really make me feel much better!

Hope to here from you soon dr HHH

[Questions123]

When very small sometimes the core is not formed so it is liquidy. Whn you see teh whitehead thats the core to get out. I had it for about 7 months and destroyed them as I discovered them by piercing the top of the lesion with a pin the popping out the core. They are a bit tougher than zits and you need to get under them and squeeze up - the core is infectious so wash it away quickly. They love to form around the base of the penis because its a skin fold area - warm and cozy is what they like, and damp. They can form on the penis - head and shaft. I always kept mine covered with liquid bandaid called New Skin - use a separate towel for that area - MC lives on towels and you can spread it over your body or someone ellse if they use it. Dont shave the area - it will spread, use scissors to trim the hair and use a magnifying glass to find them when theyre tiny. Even when not whitehead I would pierce them just to harass them.

[Dutchmatt]

Thanks for the response. Just a couple follow up questions.

1. If it is molluscum contagiosum, what would come out if one of bumps were popped?
2. Can these also occure close to the base of the penis?
3. Im assuming if this were herpes, i would a)be itching, and b) the bumps would be full of puss/fluid rather than blood. Correct?
4. Also, I just started to notice similar bumps (look like very very small white headed pimples) on my inner tigh...6in from my groin and closer to my knee. Is this consistant with molluscum contagiosum?
5. Last one, can these bumps be clustered in three? There are two places where they have clustered.

Thanks!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Stopping after the first sentence:  The pubic hair area is a rare place for genital herpes.  Folliculitis or another superficial infection (staph, strep, etc) is more likely.

Now to the rest of your question:  Not herpes.  Sounds like molluscum contagiosum, a common minor infection--often but not always sexually acquired (in adults).  See a health care provider to be sure, and to get advice about prevention and treatment.  For more information, use this forum's search link to look for 'molluscum contagiosum'.  In the meantime, definitely stop shaving and trimming; you're probably spreading the lesions.

If a provider confirms MC, you need to inform anybody you have had sex with in the past couple of months, they can be on the lookout for lesions and to be checked by their own providers.

Good luck--  HHH, MD