Do I or do I NOT have herpes?

[JustWorried1]

Hi Doc,

I'm hoping you can help me out. About a year and a half ago. March of 06 to be exact, I had a one night stand with a girl. About a week later I had the following symptoms: It started with a weird tingling feeling in my penis, heavy almost sore testicles, burning and raw like feeling on my penis for about 2 days and a few days after that I came down with the flu with fever for about 4 more days. I also had a weird tingling/almost rub burn feeling in my lower back and tingling in my legs and numb legs for a few days. There was a tiny little bump on my penis that I think I was able to pop but that was about it for external symptoms at the time. I went to the std clinic and they did not think it was herpes.

I let it go...but about 2 months later I noticed a bump on the very end of my penis close to the pubic area. It was just like a zit but it didn't hurt.  I popped it and some thick puss like stuff came out but no blood. I sort of rubbed it off and it left a little crater for about 3-4 days. Never any pain though. So, of course I was concerned about herpes again so had a blood test and it came back pos for type 1 and neg for type 2. HerpesSelect. About 6 months after the exposure I had similar symptoms. Very annoying tingling in my penis. Intense burning in my genital areas, aching abdomen area and itching on my penis which felt raw in a few places that had a couple of tiny bumps but it seems like they've been there awhile. I was actually able to pop one but it seemed like a little wax or zit type stuff came out - not really a liquid. I also had a couple sores on the very inside of my upper leg right in the crease but that kind of looked like ingrown hairs or something. I went and had herpeselect tests again and got the same results pos for type 1 and neg for type 2. I've gotten cold sores on my lip my entire life.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

The reason for the word limit is to force people to ask their question in the space provided.  I will be happy to respond to a condensed question that meets the limitation.  (On most MedHelp forums, the moderator sets the default so that s/he doesn't even see the comments.)

HHH, MD

[JustWorried1]

Finally, I went to a urologist and he told me that I had all the typical symptoms of prostatitis. Tip of penis sticky and raw after ejaculation, sore testicles, sore perineum, etc. I took antibiotics for 4 months and pretty much all the symptoms have gone away. Every now and then I'll get sore testicles but that's about it. I had yet another blood test about 10 months after possible exposure and got the results yet again pos for type 1 >5.00 and neg for typ 2 .10.

My questions:

1) With the genital lesions I had and other symptoms does this sound like genital herpes to you despite the negative blood tests?

2) Are my blood test results accurate and do they rule out herpes or are they not 100%?

3) Does prostatitis sound right? I thought younger people don't get it...I'm only 25.

4) Do I assume I have genital herpes and tell people that? I had sex with my girlfriend of 6 months the other night and she was very dry. A few days later she was complaining of a cut like burn feeling on the bottom of her vagina but didn't feel anything. She said she had a yeast infection as she just got off of antibiotics from having strep a few days before. Should she get tested?

5) Is there anything else you think it could have been or do I just go on with my life ASSUMING it is not genital herpes?

Thanks Doc.

[JustWorried1]

How's this...

Hi Doc,

I'm hoping you can help me out. About a year and a half ago. March of 06 to be exact, I had a one night stand with a girl. About a week later I had the following symptoms: It started with a weird tingling feeling in my penis, heavy almost sore testicles, burning and raw like feeling on my penis for about 2 days and a few days after that I came down with the flu with fever for about 4 more days. I also had a weird tingling/almost rub burn feeling in my lower back and tingling in my legs and numb legs for a few days. There was a tiny little bump on my penis that I think I was able to pop but that was about it for external symptoms at the time. I went to the std clinic and they did not think it was herpes. I let it go...but about 2 months later I noticed a bump on the very end of my penis close to the pubic area. It was just like a zit but it didn't hurt.  I popped it and some thick puss like stuff came out but no blood. I sort of rubbed it off and it left a little crater for about 3-4 days. Never any pain though.   Finally, I went to a urologist and he told me that I had all the typical symptoms of prostatitis. I had yet another blood test about 10 months after possible exposure and got the results yet again pos for type 1 >5.00 and neg for typ 2 .10.

My questions:

1) With the genital lesions I had and other symptoms does this sound like genital herpes to you despite the negative blood tests?

2) Are my blood test results accurate and do they rule out herpes or are they not 100%?

3) Does prostatitis sound right? I thought younger people don't get it...I'm only 25.

4) Do I assume I have genital herpes and tell people that? I had sex with my girlfriend of 6 months the other night and she was very dry. A few days later she was complaining of a cut like burn feeling on the bottom of her vagina but didn't feel anything. She said she had a yeast infection as she just got off of antibiotics from having strep a few days before. Should she get tested?

5) Is there anything else you think it could have been or do I just go on with my life ASSUMING it is not genital herpes?

Thanks Doc.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for the shorter version.  Most of the symptoms you describe do not suggest herpes.  Further, herpes does not produce lesions with "thick pus".  In general, think of herpes lesions as being "on" the skin, whereas pimples, folliculitis, and most other lesions from which you can express pus are "in" the skin--i.e, there is a deeper lump/swelling associated with the pustule.  This isn't hard and fast, but the lesion you describe sounds more like a small sebaceous cyst that gets infected when its pore gets blocked.

1,2) Therefore, I am sure you don't have herpes.  The tests aren't perfect, but the combination of the blood test plus the nature of your symptoms rules out herpes with certainty.

3) You describe perfect symptoms of the chronic pelvic pain syndrome, which is the revised recommended terminlogy for what used to be called nonbacterial prostatitis.  However, many providers still use the older terminology and some of them believe an infection may be responsible for some cases, but mostly they are wrong.  You can google "chronic pelvic pain syndrome" to see lots of information about it.  One of the best summaries is the Wikipedia article, which obviously was written by a knowledgeable professionals.  (But be careful about some sites that will come up in a Google search.)  As you will see, many (most? all?) cases are related to anxiety, which increases pelvic muscle tension resulting in pain the testicles, lower abdomen, etc.  It is not an STD and, most important, is totally without known serious health consequences.

4,5) Definitely go on with life secure in the knowledge you do not have genital herpes.  There is nothing to mention about it to sex partners.

Regards---  HHH, MD

[JustWorried1]

Hey Doc,

Sorry...i left out a few other questions.

1) Could this be herpes 1? or would i be immune to catching that again?
2) What could have caused the flu and genital symptoms one week after the unprotected 1 night stand if not herpes?
3) I read that herpes or other genital viruses could cause prostatitis...is this true?
4) What about my girlfriends symptoms? Would they suggest herpes?

I honestly agree with what you say but part of me still feels like there is a chance I might have herpes and that I have passed it on to my girlfriend. Thanks for answering these last couple of questions doc...it really helps.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

1) No and yes.  2) Any of a hundred garden variety viruses could cause the flu-like symptoms whether from kissing your casual partner or anyone else you shook hands with at about that time.  The genital pain probably was anxiety.  3) Neither herpes nor any other virus is known to cause prostatitis.  4) Your gf's symptoms don't sound like herpes, but if she still has symptoms that she is concerned about (not that YOU are concerned about!), she should see her health care provider.

Herpes simply isn't an issue for you and I'm not going to answer any more "yes but" questions.  You came to this forum for reassurance and I gave it.  Accept it and stop trying to talk me (and yourself) into the opposite conclusion.  Let it go.