Herpes? Going Crazy...

[mblake]

I had unprotected sex about 30 days ago. About 5 days after, I noticed a little burning sensation during urination. This seemed to go away a couple of days after. 2 weeks later, the tip of my penis started tingling a little after urination. This started right after having sex again with someone that a couple of days later came up with a yeast infection (which I started thinking that I gave her something). Well week 3, my scrotum and around my pubic area seem real hot and my testicles are a little red. This sensation seems to be worst while sitting down. This has been going on now for 4 days. I did go to a clinic 7 days ago and had all the std tests ran. So far all have came back negative, except for the herpes test which I am suppose to get back on Monday. I have been checking myself everyday for bumps, scrapes, lescions or anything related to herpes by don't have any signs except for the burning sensation in the genital area. Is it possible I got a yeast infection or something else non std? I am freaking out because I have never felt this way before. Please help...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Herpes really is not suggested by either your early symptoms (burning on urination and penile tingling) nor the later ones (scrotoal skin irritation and warmth).  Conceivably you had urethritis, and the early symptoms and timing of their onset is consistent with chlamydia or nonchlamydial NGU (nongonococcal urethritis)--and standard STD testing might have missed things other than chlamydia or gonorrhea.  However, the scrotal symptoms are not suggestive of anything sexually transmitted, and are not typical of yeast infection.  It is hard for me to interpret the ocurrence of a yeast infection in your partner; yeast infections can be confused with other things, and in any case yeast infections are so common in women that its appearance is most likely to just be a coincidence.

Might you have a positive test for HSV?  Sure.  (I hope the clinic used the right kind of test.  Search this forum for information on proper herpes blood tests.)  But if you turn out to be positive for HSV-2, it won't necessarily mean you acquired it during your exposure a month ago, or that it is the cause of your symptoms.

In any case, my advice is to sight tight and await the HSV test results, and follow the advice of your provider.  In the meantime, it is unlikely that you have nothing serious, ie nothing that will harm you in any serious way or that you can transmit to a sex partner.

Good luck-- HHH, MD

[mblake]

Forgot to mention sometimes it does kinda ache in my penis, just for a short time and then goes away. The burning sensation kinda feels like icy hot (not that I have every put icy hot on my testicles, but can just imagine). I have read several articles that mention anxiety which I know could be part of the problem since I have been so down by this whole thing and worring about it everyday.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

My only additional comment is to make a point I have emphasized many other times on this forum:  When a person suggests his or her own symptoms might be due to anxiety, s/he probably is right most of the time.  And your symptoms seem compatible with anxiety.

I believe anxiety rarely creates physical symptoms out of nothing.  But anxiety and stress can have a powerful effect in magnifying minor discomforts or otherwise normal body sensations.  The resulting discomfort is just as real as pain due to an infection or other physical injury.  But it doesn't necessarily indicate a physical condition in the commonly used sense.

HHH, MD

[mblake]

Thank you for the fast reply. I know that I just need to wait until tomorrow to get the test results back, but I am still very worried. I used some vagisil on my genitals and it seems to have stopped the burning sensation (not sure if this was the right thing to do, but I was desparate). I still haven't seen any sores and it hasn't bothered me to urinate lastnight or today. One other thing I noticed was a mild aching in my buttocks area, this could be do to me sitting so much lately (depressed), not sure. sure I be concerned about this? The last girl I saw has had a real bad sinus infection the past 4 to 5 days and has been complaining about stomach pain yesterday and today. I ask her if she was still itching/burning down in her vagina and she says it is not as bad. Anymore advise would be greatly appreciated. Thank you...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

There is no point in speculating about either your symptoms or your partner's; a professional visit is the way to know what might be causing them.  Await your test result then address the issues with your health care provider.

HHH,, MD

[mblake]

The test results came in:

HSV-1 IGG 4.64 in range
HSV-2 IGG 0.01 out of range
HSV IGM 0.96   out of range

My questions are:
1. Does this mean that the problems I have described above could be from the positive results on the HSV-1?
2. Could this be something that I contracted long before, but just never had test to show?
3. Should I share this info with any sex partners in the future?
4. Should I be retested at a later date? This test was taken at 4 weeks.

Thanks again...

[mblake]

Sorry...2 more questions.

1. Is it very easy to pass HSV-1 to partners through sexual contact?
2. Should I get some other testing done for this mild burning sensation in my genitals? It has been now 6 days.

Thanks..

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Your follow-up questions were partly answered in my original response:  "Might you have a positive test for HSV? Sure. (I hope the clinic used the right kind of test. Search this forum for information on proper herpes blood tests.) But if you turn out to be positive for HSV-2, it won't necessarily mean you acquired it during your exposure a month ago, or that it is the cause of your symptoms."

The same comment applies to HSV-1, which is an even less likely cause of your symptoms than HSV-2.  Half the population has HSV-1, and like the large majority of them, you probably have had it since childhood.  There are plenty of resources for more detailed information about HSV infections, either online or by telephone.  Start with the American Social Health Association (www.ashastd.org) and CDC (www.cdc.gov/std).

To answer your specific quesions succinctly in sequence:

1) No, almost certainly not.
2) Yes.
3) No; see question (1) below.
4) There is no need for further testing, unless for some reason your own provider recommends it.
1) Not for oral infection; and usually not for genital HSV-1 infection either.  This is why the answer to question (3) is no.
2) See my replies on Feb. 4.  Your HSV-1 test results do not explain your symptoms and I doubt you have any STD that explains them.  Follow up with your own health care provider if your symptoms persist.

HHH, MD

[mblake]

Sorry to be a pain. Even though the tests came back negative, I still have a mild burning sensation in my testicles. It's not constant and seems to be worse while sitting. They even look a little red. Also every now and then I get a sharp pain in my penis in the shaft area, again this only happens sometimes. Today I tried milking my penis to see if anything would come out and I noticed a small amount of clear fluid (I had to try really hard to get anything). Is this something to be concerned about? Do you think it will go away? What could it possibly be? Thank you...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Anybody can milk out some clear fluid if they try hard enough - but such hard squeezing can itself cause irritation; stop it.  Anxiety sounds like a good bet the symptoms you describe.  See the last 2 sentences of my 2/06 reply.

HHH, MD

[mblake]

Still having unexplained issues. Even though I tested negative for HSV2 at 4 weeks, I am still noticing a couple of things that have been bothering me. First off, the burning sensation in my genital region has finally stopped, but my testicles are still red and every now and then I notice it is sometimes red around where pee comes out. also I just started noticing an aching on my left butt region which started up high and has worked its way down to the bottom into my hamstring area. This sometimes moves over to my right buttock region. I have even noticed 3 small pimples on my butt (2 on my left side and 1 on right side) they are on my cheek area not close to the center. The pain seems to be worst while sitting down. While standing I really don't notice it hurting. Sometimes the muscles in my butt twitch. This has been going on for 3 days now. One thing, I have been taking Aleve and muscle relaxers for pains in my neck (from an earlier problem that comes back every few months). My question is, do you think I need to get retested for HSV2 or is this something else (maybe anxiety). If it is anxiety, I find it hard to believe it can cause this much problems. Thanks again for your help.