Do I have HSV??

hello Dr. i am a 22 year old male and last week while shaving my pubic area i noticed a very small cluster of what looked to me like warts. I immediately panicked and went to the clinic. The doctor took a look and said she did not think these bumps were HSV. She offered to do a blood test only because she could tell how freaked out i was. She said if i wasn't so scared she would have just told me its not herpes and to go about my business. Today i returned to the clinic to get the reselts of the blood test. I saw a different doctor and he told me the test results were positive for HSV. Since the first visit a small bump has come up on the shaft of my penis. but it is not painful. I let this second doctor take a look at the original small cluster in the pubic area as well as the new bump on the shaft and he also said that he doesn't think these bumps look like HSV. He then said that the test results can be misleading and asked if i have ever had cold sores. I told him i have never had cold sores but i did have an ulcer in my mouth about a week ago. He then seemed to think that maybe the ulcer in my mouth caused the positive HSV tests. Now they are running some other kind of lab test and i am supposed to go back and get the results in a few days. I am really freaked out about the positive tests but two doctors looked at the bumps and didn't think they were HSV and the bumps are not painful. Please tell me what you think.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  I have a comment or two but really need to know more information about the herpes test (was is a blood test?) that was performed.

The bumps you describe really do not sound like HSV. If they were they would not have been there the entire time you have been waiting for test results, they would have changed and/or gone away by now.  The could be warts, molluscum contagiousum or folliculitis.  Perhaps with a trip to your local STD clinic you can have someone take a look.  Alternatively you might ask a dermatologist.

My guess is that the bumps you describe are not HSV but that does not mean that you don't have HSV.  The topic of herpes is a complex one.  The disease is common with HSV-1 being present in over 60% of adults and HSV-2 (the virus which causes most genital herpes) being present in about 1 in 5 Americans.  For both infections, the majority of people who have the infections are not aware that they are infected, either because they either acquired it without knowing in the past or because they misidentified their herpes as something else.  Many questions and lots of information about herpes can be obtained by accessing excellent informational web sites such as the one run by the American Social Health Association (disclosure, Dr. Handsfield and I are both on the Board of Directors of ASHA).  

Was it a blood test.  What type?  Can you tell me the results and whether the tests were positive for HSV-1  or HSV-2.  All of this will help me to help you.  EWH

[cj304]

Yes it was a blood test for types 1 and 2. I think it was positive for both, but the Dr. seemed to not be very convinced with the results. He actually said that he thinks there is a good chance that i have neither 1 or 2. The only thing i know about the results is that they were positive. The tests being done now i believe are type specific tests? Maybe an Igg or something? It was all somewhat confusing with all the different possibilities he was explaining to me. I feel confident about the fact that two doctors looked and said they did not believe it was genital herpes, but i am still freaked out about the positive test results. The first bumps i noticed a week ago have remained the same with no pain. The bump on my shaft i just noticed a couple days ago has remained unchanged. None of the bumps are painful. Its been a month since i had sex. Why did i have positive test results??  Thank you very much for your help.

[cj304]

I went back to the clinic and the results were not in yet. I have to go back monday. The test being done now is an IGM not an IGG. I taked again with the doctor and he truly believes as do I that I do not have HSV-2. He thinks that I will probably be positive for HSV-1, but I understand that HSV-1 is very common (60% of the population if i remember correctly). Still the bumps are not painful. The one on the shaft of my penis is slowly going away i think. The ones in my pubic area that look like very small warts have remained the same for atleast over a week. Please let me know what you think about all of this.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I have heard nothing that suggests HSV to me either. Furthermore, we firmly recommend against EVER testing with IgM tests. Their results are unreliable and typically misleading.  If you are going to have a blood test, you need a type specfici IgG test such as the HerpeSelect.  

If your current doctor has not provided a diagnosis, you may wish to seek the opinion of another health care provider- perhaps at a local STD Clinic or a dermatologist.  EWH

[cj304]

ok Dr. Hook thanks for the advice. I guess i will not put alot of trust in the IgM results. I will probably try to get an IgG somehwere. I will let you know of any new developments. Thank you very much what you're doing here.

[cj304]

Ok so the Dr. called me and said that the IgM test came back positive but she feels the same way that you do about IgM tests. They are unreliable and basically pointless. She told me that she still doesn't think i have herpes and that i should just not worry about it and go on about my business. I feel pretty confident that i do not have herpes but i am still wondering what these other wart-like bumps are in my pubic area. They have been there for atleast 2 weeks. painless. I've noticed two more recently one over towards my hip and one just below my belly button. Two doctors looked at them and weren't concerned, didn't really say anything about them except they aren't herpes. What could these be? Should i be concerned? Should i refrain from intercourse?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

I would not worry and see no reason for you to abstain from intercourse.  There are many things that this cold be but the bottom line is that you have been seen by a doctor who has told you that it is not something to worry about.  I agree.  If you want someone to put a "label" on the lesions, my advice would be to go and see a dermatologist.  EWH

[cj304]

ok Dr. so since my last post nothing drastic has changed but a few days ago i noticed a spot on the shaft of my penis that looked like dry skin. It didn't hurt and i didnt really worry about it. By yesterday, the spot was fading and almost gone. Last night i had sex with my ex girlfriend and used a condom. Immediately after sex i went to the bathroom and removed the condom and noticed that the spot was very red like it was irritated. Now i am beginning to worry. Today the spot is still red. i could best describe it as oval shaped, red around the perimeter, but flesh colered in the center, maybe a little darker than flesh colored. it looks almost like a blister maybe from masterbating (masturbating), but i haven't masterbated very much. It does not hurt at all, even if i apply pressure to it, no pain. It is not raised. 1. Since it is not raised and not painful does that mean it isn't HSV?  2. Should i be worried? 3. Could this be HSV? I had those positive HSV blood tests a couple weeks ago, but 3 doctors have told me not to worry about it. What do you think? Thank you so much.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This will be your last answer.  You are spending entirely too much time worrying about things that at any other time you would ignore.  The spot you describe in no way sounds like herpes.  Please work to stop examining yourself for every possible new bump and spot.  You will find many but they will not be HSV.  EWH