Feelings/itchings in the groin area

[feelingguilty]

Hi Doc,

Wanted to say thanks for setting up this service.  Here is my scenario:  I am married, 33 and unfortunate strayed from my marriage twice.  Once in July I had an unprotected oral sex (I was the receiver) and then on August 23rd had protected oral and vaginal sex.  Both times it only lasted for about 5 minutes or so.  

My wife and I have been using condoms as birth control (as we have 2 kids).  We switched to condoms with spermicidal in July.  Since that time she has been complaining of getting an itchy feeling after we have sex for 2-3 days.  Last Sunday September 10, she said that she probably would go get it checked out.  That is when I started to worry and started reading up on STDs on the Internet and started to freak out, until I found your site.

Then starting Friday September 15 I started experiencing tingling sensations around my groin.  I have checked they

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You were at virtually zero risk for any STD from the exposures you describe, and the symptoms you describe are not those of any STD.

1) Of course STDs occur without symptoms.  But this question doesn't otherwise make sense; it cannot "lead to infecton" if an infection is already present.  Perhaps you mean "lead to complications"?  Yes, asymptomatic STDs can lead to complications.  But there is absolutely nothing in your story that suggests any risk for that.

2) Your symptoms are not those of herpes, period.

3) Although I am confident about what is NOT causing your symptoms (no STD), I won't speculate as to what IS causing the. That's the job of your primary care provider.

4) In my experience, when a person suspects his or her own symptoms are due to anxiety, stress, guilt etc, s/he almost always is right.  So definitely yes, you should "calk this all up to the feeling of guilt".  And by all means stop looking at the internet for STD symptoms.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[Cassandra76]

I will just comment on your #4 and let the Dr handle the rest ... I know for a fact that our minds are very powerful and when you add some guilt and anxiety in that mixture your body will exhibit whatever symptoms we think of.  I have had every std in the book in my head however have been negative for all.  Reading forums like this can be good for educational purposes and other things but for people who are prone to anxiety issues it causes us some unnecessary stress.  When your reading about someone else itching/tingling and trying to figure out what is wrong with you i almost guarantee you will start itching/tingling and questioning everything you have ever done then in your head you have what the person whose story you are reading has.  Good Luck to you