Not sure...

First off I want to say thanks for having such a great forum tht Im sure has helped many many people. I am a 19 year old college student. I am very paranoid about any stds i might have contracted so i got a test and i receive the results tommorow. I am however concerned i might have herpes. the one girl who i belive might have had id, i had sex with her with a condom a little more then a month ago... but i did take off the condom and "finished" if you know what i mean. Is there anyway i could get herpes that way? and the other question i have is that yesterday i notices a few little sores on the underside of my penis, right where there is some excess skin with folds ( iam circumsized). it doesnt really hurt, but it does feel a little odd as far as chaffing is concerned...and it is red. thank you for your time

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Thanks for your kind comment about the STD Forum.  I hope I can help.

In regard to "if you know what I mean":  I don't!  That is, I don't know what you mean by having sex with a condom but then "finishing" without it.  If you pulled out, took off the condom, and ejaculated outside your partner--i.e., there was no genital contact after the condom was removed--your risk is low.  But if "finished" means you resumed vaginal penetration, or even placed your penis on/near her vaginal or anal area--then your risk is higher.  Using condoms "consistently and correctly" (the terminology often used by health educators) means NO genital contact except/unless the condom is in place.

And you won't like this part of my answer:   I think your concern about genital herpes may be realistic. Most people who have "little sores" on the penis have herpes.  Even when such lesions occur in spots that might be rubbed vigorously during sex or masturbation, such as redundant skin folds or foreskin remnants, herpes still is the most common cause.

Bottom line:  You need to see a health care provider with good knowledge about herpes, and probably should have a blood test to see if you are infected.  It has to be the right kind of test (see other posts and responses on this Forum).  Because of the frequency of genital herpes due to herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in people your age (especially, it seems, in college settings), you should be tested for that virus as well as HSV-2.  These days most universities' student health services are pretty familiar with herpes and other STDs.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[KuJohn]

i forgot to mention i have no had that many sexual partners... i have always used a condom also.... and the chaffing almost feels like a "cool" feeling if that makes sense

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I'm less concerned by what it feels like ("cool" or whatever) than I am about what you see.  I interpreted "little sores" to mean you have inflamed lesions of some kind.  Even consistent condom users generally don't use them for oral sex--which is a common source these days for genital herpes.

But as I always say, online advice never rules the day.  See a health care provider when the sores--or whatever you are experiencing--are present.

Good luck again--  HHH, MD