HELP PLEASE!!!

within the past week, i have noticed this little red mark on my perineum. There are no clusters, no blisters, no puss, no bleeding, no itch ,no legions in numerous areas of my body, no anything. But it hurts if  a little bit of pee gets on it. The actual act of urinating doesn't hurt when it comes out my vagina. i went to the doctor yesterday and she says it doesn't follow the classic symptoms of herpes but took a culture nonetheless. i wear a lot of thongs  maybe there was just some rubbing going on that led to this redness? It's right between my anus and my vagina. It  looks ripped or scratched, stretched but there are no bumps, blisters, or sores. The doctor agreed that it just looked raw like it ripped or tight clothing rubbed against it. She said that because it's so sensitive in just that  extremely red area, no other legions or anything, that she doesn't believe it's herpes. She did  a culture just for good measure but kept saying that she thinks the test will come back negative because I don't have any of the classic symptoms and the one irritation I have on my perineum doesn't look like a classic herpes legion. There were no other legions, no clusters of blisters or anything anywhere on the rest of my body, no discharge, NOTHING. Doesn't itch, I mean i'm still nervous nonetheless because I've never had to worry about anything like this before. i have no idea what's going on.  Any suggestions.  i have been using neosporin and it helps alot. just nervous! HELP!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I really can't help much.  If a health care provider cannot come up with a clear diagnosis after direct examination, there is nothing an online expert (or anybody else) can tell just from your description.

The only thing I will add is that herpes is the most common overall cause of genital area ulceration, and it often presents with non-classical lesions.  If the HSV culture is negative, it will be reassuring.  But even if that test is negative, if a similar lesion comes back again, return to your doc immediately (when the lesion is no more than 24 hours old) for reevaluation.

Good luck--  HHH, MD