Intense red rash on scrotum

[stupid123456]

A bit over a week ago, I made the decision to sleep with a prostitute. I had unprotected oral and protected vaginal, did not come (not that it is relevant). About 6 days later I noticed a red rash on my scrotum area, not particularly bumpy but it is red (slightly itchy) and looks shriveled like a grape. I have no pain while urinating. The rash has spread under my penis, and my penis area is sensitive.

At this point, I have convinced myself I have herpes, though it is too early for any formal testing.

I am in an (otherwise) monogamous relationship (with my only other ever sexual partner) and I have informed about the 'rash', so am not having sex for the time being, but will not be able to put it off much longer. I do not want to run the risk of passing along an STD, but at the same time, do not want to tell her of the incident.

At this point, how should I proceed. What is my chance of having the Herpes virus and what would you do in my situation?

Thanks.

-Ashamed

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to the Forum.  there is little about the description of your rash that makes me worry about herpes.  The description you provide is far more consistent with a yeast infection or perhaps some sort of allergic reaction.  It is not too early to be evaluated.  I would suggest you go on and seek evaluation at your local STD clinic and get a culture of the rash you are concerned about .  If this is HSV the culture will be positive.  I predict the culture will be negative.  Alternatively, the clinician you see may tell you that there is nothing to be cultured.

Take care.  EWH

[stupid123456]

Sorry for the late follow up. I have not been able to go to the Dr. the last few days due to work schedule. The rash has gotten mostly better (there is still redness at the bottom of my scrotum, and I sometimes feel as tingling in my upper thighs, though this may be somewhat in my head.

I feel as if I may be having a hemrroid problem (have had before), but I do not have any bulging hemroids or noticable legions - is this something that happens with Herpes? Can it be internal?

I have had no noticable bumps or sores, just redness on the scrotum and these hemroid symptoms. Is this something I should worry about?

Thank you.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The symptoms you describe would not be typical of hemmorrhoids.  If you are having a flare-up of your hemmorrhoids, it is likely coincidental to whatever is going on at your scrotum.  I continue to doubt that your scrotal rash was HSV.  EWH