Fear of Herpes

Hi Doc as always thank you for your time. I understand you cannot diagnose via net but appreciate any insight into my concern.

Im going to give you as brief of a history as possible. Last year had three episodes in a 3-4 month period I had 3 instances of irritation on the shaft of my penis, each incident was in the same general location and had similar characteristics. I am also a hypochondriac and have a general fear of sexually transmitted diseases ever since a molluscum diagnosis yrs ago.

The irritation was always hours or a day after masturbation which I have always practiced masturbation without lubrication and it sometimes got rough, some of those times I masturbated more than once in a day. The irritation typically would look red and like dry skin slightly flaky sometimes. one specific time I randomly located a tiny scab (1-2mm) without having any other symptoms prior. Second and third time just redness and one of those two times a tiny scab again. Typically I would pick the scab or the skin would look dry and flaky before it healed. I never had any visible blisters that looked like vesicles, one time I had what looked like a 1mm and very very shallow ulcer but I believe that was from the scab. There was never any real pain or itchiness, just the feeling of irritated skin and anxiety issues. I should also note that I do not ever remember having any type of primary herpes symptoms with the flu like sickness.

Each time this occurred I would stop masturbation and the "sore" would clear up in 2-4 days, typically 4 days for a full clearance but the sore quickly dissapered day to day. I always have been fearful of STDs and regularly several times a day would check for abnormalities. I had this happen in appx august, september and november of last yr.

In November I decided I would cut back on my masturbation and start using lubricant and have been doing so since. It has now been six months since the last episode and since starting the lubrication masturbation and I have not had any incidents since November.

I spoke to my personal derm who treated me for Molluscum yrs ago. I spoke to him via phone and described most of what I have told you regarding appearance and time and he stated he did not need to see me, and there is no reason to suspect herpes.

So my questions are about possibility, I know the test is the most accurate way to know but my docs dont seem to think its necessary. As a side note Im concerned now because Im starting a new relationship and do not know if I should hold off on sexual activity with my new potential partner.

I guess my questions are...

Does this sound like irritation given the 6 months without another "sore" after changing masturbation methods?

Is herpes unlikely, and could the sore area be coincidental due to an area I was rubbing?

The 3-4 days clearance is very atypical for herpes lesions I understand, correct?

Again THANK YOU! You make difficult situation easier for all of us to talk about.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I recognoze your username as someone who has asked anxiety-driven questions before, altough I do not recall whether they were herpes-related or not. With apology, I cannot imagine why you think an online description to me would provide more useful information than your own dermatlogist, and I cannot judge your masturbation techniques or the relationship to whatever irritation you may be having.  But I agree with your personal dermatologist:  your symptoms do not suggest herpes and I see no reason to hold off on starting sex with a new partner.  Of course I never guarantee that a person is uninfected.  If you haven't have a type-specific HSV blood test, you could do that to prove once and for all whether or not you are infected with either type of HSV.

I won't have any follow-up comments.  Good luck.

HHH, MD