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Nervous out about herpes
Doc,
I am a 24 year old, circumsized male and I practice safe sex. I have only had unprotected sex with one woman (a girlfriend 3 years ago - only unprotected 5-10 times). I am currently experiencing some symptoms that make me nervous because I had also experienced something strange 3 years ago (during that relationship). So here goes:
1. About 3 years ago I noticed a red spot on the shaft of my penis toward the base. A day or so later I noticed another two red spots toward the middle of the shaft. A day or so later I noticed three red spots on the underside of my penis very spread out. A day later I noticed another red spot really close to the area between the head and the shaft. They were all very spread out. These spots were very slightly raised, contained no fluid, didn't hurt, itch, burn, tingle, blister, burst, crust, or open. I remember trying to pop one and nothing happened. They weren't tender to touch. They were not on a red base, the only red was the actual spot. Each individual spot probably lasted no longer than 5-7 days and the whole episode lasted no longer than 10 days. The spots never changed, just came and went. Some possible irritants that I can recall are that I was using spermicidal lube condoms and my girlfriend did have a yeast infection at some point before I noticed these spots. I had probably had unprotected sex with this girlfriend 2-3 times before this experience. Haven't had unprotected sex since.
2. I have a little sebacceous prominence on the underside of my shaft and about 2 weeks ago, noticed that two glands (one in the middle and one toward the base of the shaft) were red and a little raised. When I strectched the skin I could see a tiny whitehead at the top of each gland. This redness went away in about a week, the glands are still there, and there is hair coming out of each one. Again they weren't tender to touch.
My Question: I have read that herpes can be mild. Do either of these experiences sound like herpes?
I am a 24 year old, circumsized male and I practice safe sex. I have only had unprotected sex with one woman (a girlfriend 3 years ago - only unprotected 5-10 times). I am currently experiencing some symptoms that make me nervous because I had also experienced something strange 3 years ago (during that relationship). So here goes:
1. About 3 years ago I noticed a red spot on the shaft of my penis toward the base. A day or so later I noticed another two red spots toward the middle of the shaft. A day or so later I noticed three red spots on the underside of my penis very spread out. A day later I noticed another red spot really close to the area between the head and the shaft. They were all very spread out. These spots were very slightly raised, contained no fluid, didn't hurt, itch, burn, tingle, blister, burst, crust, or open. I remember trying to pop one and nothing happened. They weren't tender to touch. They were not on a red base, the only red was the actual spot. Each individual spot probably lasted no longer than 5-7 days and the whole episode lasted no longer than 10 days. The spots never changed, just came and went. Some possible irritants that I can recall are that I was using spermicidal lube condoms and my girlfriend did have a yeast infection at some point before I noticed these spots. I had probably had unprotected sex with this girlfriend 2-3 times before this experience. Haven't had unprotected sex since.
2. I have a little sebacceous prominence on the underside of my shaft and about 2 weeks ago, noticed that two glands (one in the middle and one toward the base of the shaft) were red and a little raised. When I strectched the skin I could see a tiny whitehead at the top of each gland. This redness went away in about a week, the glands are still there, and there is hair coming out of each one. Again they weren't tender to touch.
My Question: I have read that herpes can be mild. Do either of these experiences sound like herpes?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
You seem to be at very low risk for genital herpes, based on what you say about your sexual exposures. It seems a good bet your current girlfriend doesn't have genital herpes, and it sounds like there is no particular reason to believe any other partners had it either. (Let me know if in fact you have reason for suspicion about this.) As for your symptoms, herpes is among the most common causes of genital sores or other inflammatory lesions, can be quite variable in appearance, and atypical cases are common. On the other hand, neither the red spots 3 years ago nor your more recent "whiteheads" or red spots sounds like herpes.
Normal penile skin has whitehead-like spots that are readily seen when the skin is stretched. They are normal sweat and/or sebaceous (oil-secreting) glands. For sure those spots are not herpes.
The way to sort this out for sure is to see a health care provider. Your local public health STD clinic would be a good choice, or a dermatologist -- or your primary care provider as well. You could also have a blood test to see whether you are infected with HSV-1 (as is half the population) and/or HSV-2. But all things consiered, you probably can also just safely drop the whole business and move on. The chance you have genital herpes seems very low.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- HHH, MD
You seem to be at very low risk for genital herpes, based on what you say about your sexual exposures. It seems a good bet your current girlfriend doesn't have genital herpes, and it sounds like there is no particular reason to believe any other partners had it either. (Let me know if in fact you have reason for suspicion about this.) As for your symptoms, herpes is among the most common causes of genital sores or other inflammatory lesions, can be quite variable in appearance, and atypical cases are common. On the other hand, neither the red spots 3 years ago nor your more recent "whiteheads" or red spots sounds like herpes.
Normal penile skin has whitehead-like spots that are readily seen when the skin is stretched. They are normal sweat and/or sebaceous (oil-secreting) glands. For sure those spots are not herpes.
The way to sort this out for sure is to see a health care provider. Your local public health STD clinic would be a good choice, or a dermatologist -- or your primary care provider as well. You could also have a blood test to see whether you are infected with HSV-1 (as is half the population) and/or HSV-2. But all things consiered, you probably can also just safely drop the whole business and move on. The chance you have genital herpes seems very low.
I hope this helps. Best wishes--- HHH, MD
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The opinion of an experienced clinician, as at Planned Parenthood, is to be respected; her opinion is strong evidence your penile lesions were not due to herpes. But I don't agree with her advice about the HSV blood test. Although she is right that they aren't perfect, they work correctly most of the time.
It is irrational to "assume the worst"; it remains unlikely you have herpes. If you do have it, condoms will help protect your partners -- but only partly and should not be relied upon.
All in all, these additional comments do not change my opinion or advice. If you decide to have a blood test, I will be happy to say something about the result. Until then I won't have any further comments.
It is irrational to "assume the worst"; it remains unlikely you have herpes. If you do have it, condoms will help protect your partners -- but only partly and should not be relied upon.
All in all, these additional comments do not change my opinion or advice. If you decide to have a blood test, I will be happy to say something about the result. Until then I won't have any further comments.
First of all, thank you for your help!
The only partner I am suspicious of is the one from 3 years ago, and that is only because of the unexplained spots I had during that time and the fact that we had unprotected sex a couple of times. I am not 100% sure about her sexual history (I asked her several times about std's before we had sex, she knew i was concerned about herpes - she told me she was tested every 6 months at the gyno; now i know those tests don't include herpes). Also, she had a yeast infeciton while we were together and she told me she also had yeast infections often when she was younger. (I now know that herpes is often misdiagnosed as a yeast infection). I still see this girl every day, know 2 of her recent boyfriends (never heard anything about stds) and spoke to her roomate recently who says she was recently tested and clean - (dont know if that includes herpes). I know I have put myself at low risk, but I also know how unlucky i can be.
During my recent symptoms I went to Planned Parenthood to get tested for herpes. A female nurse took a look, said it didn't look like herpes and discouraged me from getting tested for herpes (talked about liability and the inaccuracy of blood tests). Tested me for syphillis and hiv - negative.
I am somewhat of a hypochondriac when it comes to STDs, I just understand herpes can be terrible for women and id hate the possibility of some day infecting a woman that i love. Do you think I should go back and force them to test me for herpes? Do you think I should drop this? Have you ever heard of/seen a case of herpes as mild as the symptoms I describe?
I am currently in the middle of studying for a very important test in my life. Let's say I put off getting tested for this for now. Assuming the worst, if I were to use condoms every time, am I putting a partner at risk?
Thank you for your time, Doctor!!
The only partner I am suspicious of is the one from 3 years ago, and that is only because of the unexplained spots I had during that time and the fact that we had unprotected sex a couple of times. I am not 100% sure about her sexual history (I asked her several times about std's before we had sex, she knew i was concerned about herpes - she told me she was tested every 6 months at the gyno; now i know those tests don't include herpes). Also, she had a yeast infeciton while we were together and she told me she also had yeast infections often when she was younger. (I now know that herpes is often misdiagnosed as a yeast infection). I still see this girl every day, know 2 of her recent boyfriends (never heard anything about stds) and spoke to her roomate recently who says she was recently tested and clean - (dont know if that includes herpes). I know I have put myself at low risk, but I also know how unlucky i can be.
During my recent symptoms I went to Planned Parenthood to get tested for herpes. A female nurse took a look, said it didn't look like herpes and discouraged me from getting tested for herpes (talked about liability and the inaccuracy of blood tests). Tested me for syphillis and hiv - negative.
I am somewhat of a hypochondriac when it comes to STDs, I just understand herpes can be terrible for women and id hate the possibility of some day infecting a woman that i love. Do you think I should go back and force them to test me for herpes? Do you think I should drop this? Have you ever heard of/seen a case of herpes as mild as the symptoms I describe?
I am currently in the middle of studying for a very important test in my life. Let's say I put off getting tested for this for now. Assuming the worst, if I were to use condoms every time, am I putting a partner at risk?
Thank you for your time, Doctor!!
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.
