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Nervous / Worried HSV
I have a quick question. I had protected sex 6 months ago but unprotected oral (did not notice any cold sores to my recollection). I think if I saw them I would run but I also didn't develop any cold sores myself so I slept well knowing the above.
Three months ago I felt a slight itching on the right part of my lower groin. It went away after a few days (4-5). I felt a little soreness in the legs by I choked that up to anxiety. By the way, no other symptoms were present. I went to my doctor and he said "you're fine" and gave me an antibiotic for some reason. I took it and felt fine.
A month later I felt some mild itching (intermittent, not constant) on the lower right side of my groin and a slight crawling sensation on the bottom part of my testicles (nowhere else). I examined myself extensively and found nothing. I didn't have the other symptoms like rash, sores, blisters, swollen glands, backaches, fever, no urine pain, fatigue...nothing! I did develop a Hemorrhoid which I don't know if that's related. I went to a new doctor and told him the above and he said the same thing "you're fine" but I also explained that I developed severe anxiety and stress! He said a blood test is unnecessary as he has seen hundreds of cases and nothing I mention matches HSV2.
A few weeks later (3-4) I felt just a crawling sensation around my lower testicles. It lasted a week and went away. I did notice a small bump that I mistook for a sore I think. It was on the upper part of my penis near the rim. It felt like a surface level bump and I freaked and picked and prodded on it. It went away after 3 days. Probably unrelated but I became nervous. I have no other symptoms other than some mild leg soreness.
Each doctor tells me there is no need for a test and my anxiety is getting the best of me. My GF I have been with since the encounter above knows I am worried but says she feels fine and would have prolly got it by now from me if I had it and please relax.
Three months ago I felt a slight itching on the right part of my lower groin. It went away after a few days (4-5). I felt a little soreness in the legs by I choked that up to anxiety. By the way, no other symptoms were present. I went to my doctor and he said "you're fine" and gave me an antibiotic for some reason. I took it and felt fine.
A month later I felt some mild itching (intermittent, not constant) on the lower right side of my groin and a slight crawling sensation on the bottom part of my testicles (nowhere else). I examined myself extensively and found nothing. I didn't have the other symptoms like rash, sores, blisters, swollen glands, backaches, fever, no urine pain, fatigue...nothing! I did develop a Hemorrhoid which I don't know if that's related. I went to a new doctor and told him the above and he said the same thing "you're fine" but I also explained that I developed severe anxiety and stress! He said a blood test is unnecessary as he has seen hundreds of cases and nothing I mention matches HSV2.
A few weeks later (3-4) I felt just a crawling sensation around my lower testicles. It lasted a week and went away. I did notice a small bump that I mistook for a sore I think. It was on the upper part of my penis near the rim. It felt like a surface level bump and I freaked and picked and prodded on it. It went away after 3 days. Probably unrelated but I became nervous. I have no other symptoms other than some mild leg soreness.
Each doctor tells me there is no need for a test and my anxiety is getting the best of me. My GF I have been with since the encounter above knows I am worried but says she feels fine and would have prolly got it by now from me if I had it and please relax.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No it is not.
And now it is time for this thread to end. There will be no further answers. eWH
And now it is time for this thread to end. There will be no further answers. eWH
Understood and thank you doctor!
It seems every few weeks I get nerve sensations in the scrotum (localized -- never beyond that area) that last a few days with very mild itching (a scratch here and there) and then go away.
Very confusing. Is this something to be concerned about?
Thank you in advance!
It seems every few weeks I get nerve sensations in the scrotum (localized -- never beyond that area) that last a few days with very mild itching (a scratch here and there) and then go away.
Very confusing. Is this something to be concerned about?
Thank you in advance!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, now that yoiu have proven that you did not get HSV, you should stop worrying. The fact is that if you focus on your genitals you will become more aware of normal sensations than you would otherwise- these normal sensations are often experienced as a mild itch or tingling. We see this quite often. EWH
Dr,
Shortly after your post I went and have a blood test done which came back hsv2 negative :-) it was performed within 6 months of the encounter which I feel is a good enough length of time to test for accuracy.
I still have the nerve/tingle sensation in the scrotum every few weeks.
Any thoughts on next steps?
Thank you!
Shortly after your post I went and have a blood test done which came back hsv2 negative :-) it was performed within 6 months of the encounter which I feel is a good enough length of time to test for accuracy.
I still have the nerve/tingle sensation in the scrotum every few weeks.
Any thoughts on next steps?
Thank you!
Thank you again Dr. Your candor and support have been greatly helpful!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
As I said in my original answer, " I can tell you that almost any time that a person becomes worried and starts to focus on the possibility of genital symptoms, they have a tendency to notice sensations which have always been there but went unnoticed before that person began to focus on them. When this occurs, the typical sensations which are experienced are "itching" or "crawling" sensations without obvious sores of lesions, just as you describe." I continue to think this is the likely cause. What you are experiencing is quite common. EWH
Dr,
One thing that I forgot to ask. Based on your assessment above, what does it sound like I am experiencing? I think I would have noticed the sensations and itching before so I'm not clear why it's very pronounced now.
During my second time period with this issue, according the above, I experienced intermittent issues. I had scratching (very minor) in a couple of areas around my scrotum which went away but then came back to the right side of my scrotum and then some leg discomfort coupled with very intermittent crawling in my testicles (came and went). The scratching seemed more pronounced after a shower and was on one side of body (right side near testicles - on that skin - not near legs). The third episode in 12 weeks was minor crawling and minor leg pain/headache. This is all strange and I'm trying to rationalize all of this.
Your expertise is a great help and look forward to your response Dr.
One thing that I forgot to ask. Based on your assessment above, what does it sound like I am experiencing? I think I would have noticed the sensations and itching before so I'm not clear why it's very pronounced now.
During my second time period with this issue, according the above, I experienced intermittent issues. I had scratching (very minor) in a couple of areas around my scrotum which went away but then came back to the right side of my scrotum and then some leg discomfort coupled with very intermittent crawling in my testicles (came and went). The scratching seemed more pronounced after a shower and was on one side of body (right side near testicles - on that skin - not near legs). The third episode in 12 weeks was minor crawling and minor leg pain/headache. This is all strange and I'm trying to rationalize all of this.
Your expertise is a great help and look forward to your response Dr.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Great. I think you are making the right decision. Take care. EWH
Thank you Dr!
This is very interesting. I have never had sores of lesions (blisters) because I read they are associated with a first outbreak, painful and take a while to heal (a week or more). I have spoken to people with HSV2 and they tell me if I had it I would know it (based on a first OB).
I came back from a trip 4 months ago with my GF and I felt some itching along one side for a few days and some slight leg pain in my quads but no place else. I researched the internet and started to panic. When it occurred a second time almost exactly the same way then I really lost it (mentally). Then a third time in 3 months and I fell apart. I kept asking myself "no direct symptoms related to HSV2 but i have tingling, slightly sore quads and a slight headache... I wonder what is going on".
Well, based on the above, I won't seek a test as a false positive would be awful.
God bless you sir.
This is very interesting. I have never had sores of lesions (blisters) because I read they are associated with a first outbreak, painful and take a while to heal (a week or more). I have spoken to people with HSV2 and they tell me if I had it I would know it (based on a first OB).
I came back from a trip 4 months ago with my GF and I felt some itching along one side for a few days and some slight leg pain in my quads but no place else. I researched the internet and started to panic. When it occurred a second time almost exactly the same way then I really lost it (mentally). Then a third time in 3 months and I fell apart. I kept asking myself "no direct symptoms related to HSV2 but i have tingling, slightly sore quads and a slight headache... I wonder what is going on".
Well, based on the above, I won't seek a test as a false positive would be awful.
God bless you sir.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the Forum. Let me start by saying that I agree completely with your girlfriend and the doctors you have spoken with. There is no reason, related to either the history of symptoms that you have provided, nor the history of exposures for you to be worried about having acquired genital HSV within the past 6 months. The convergence of our national conflicting fixations on sex/sexuality and fear and stigmatization of genital herpes and persons with the infection create a sort of anxiety "perfect storm" which often leads to experiences such as you are describing.
This risk of having acquired herpes from receipt of oral sex is very, very small, particularly of your partner did not have visible cold sores at the time and if you have not experienced an outbreak. In addition, I can tell you that almost any time that a person becomes worried and starts to focus on the possibility of genital symptoms, they have a tendency to notice sensations which have always been there but went unnoticed before that person began to focus on them. When this occurs, the typical sensations which are experienced are "itching" or "crawling" sensations without obvious sores of lesions, just as you describe.
My advice is to do your best not to worry. I also agree that for you to have a blood test is not a wise idea. There is no reason and blood tests all too often cause problems, particularly because of the rather frequent occurrence of falsely positive results. I hope my comments are helpful to you. EWH
This risk of having acquired herpes from receipt of oral sex is very, very small, particularly of your partner did not have visible cold sores at the time and if you have not experienced an outbreak. In addition, I can tell you that almost any time that a person becomes worried and starts to focus on the possibility of genital symptoms, they have a tendency to notice sensations which have always been there but went unnoticed before that person began to focus on them. When this occurs, the typical sensations which are experienced are "itching" or "crawling" sensations without obvious sores of lesions, just as you describe.
My advice is to do your best not to worry. I also agree that for you to have a blood test is not a wise idea. There is no reason and blood tests all too often cause problems, particularly because of the rather frequent occurrence of falsely positive results. I hope my comments are helpful to you. EWH
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
