Pain from ???

I have been having some minor abdominal pain, really just some twinges in the extreme lower abdominal region, right above my penis. I had one risky sexual encounter about 6 weeks ago and I'm concerned it could be an STD. However, I was tested about 3 weeks ago and nothing turned up. Did I test too soon? I haven't had any other symptoms such as discharge. I also was put on Prevacid for heat burn around the same time as I started having some pain. Could this be it?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Doubtful it is an STD and probably unrelated to your exposure 6 weeks ago; that's too long for symptoms like this to show up.  And pain so low in the abdomen isn't likely due to heartburn or related problems.

But one caveat:  conceivably pain "right above the penis" could be coming from the bladder, raising the possibility of a urinary tract infection.  UTIs are rare in men, except in certain special circumstances.  One of those circumstances is unprotected anal sex.  If your risky encounter included anal sex without a condom, please see a health care provider and have a urinalysis.

HHH, MD

[Jdoe]

Thank you for the response. No, my encounter was not anal but rather the usual kind of intercouse. I hate to sound like a hypochondriac, but the painful twinges are enough to worry me. My father had bladder cancer about ten years ago and beat it. Should I see some sort of urinary specialist?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Cancer of the bladder (and of most other organs) usually isn't painful.  Periodic or on/off pain ("twinges") generally are muscular in origin or may come from the gastrointestinal tract--in any case, generally not serious.  But if the symptoms continue, see your health care provider.

HHH, MD