Please Help

Hi Doctor,

I am concerned that I may have contracted HSV.  Last Friday night I had an encounter with a female escort who performed unprotected oral sex on me, and I also had protected intercourse with her.  The condom was a little too small for me and did not cover my entire area.  Two days later I developed a burning sensation in my groin area and scrotum.  My scrotum also became very red, and I had some body aches which I think could just be stress from worrying.  Here I am 5 days later, and nothing has changed.  I have no visible sores or blisters, and no pain on urination or anything.  Does this sound like genital herpes to you?  If not, what else could it be?

Thanks.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

This really does not sound like genital herpes.  If it was herpes and your pain was due to herpes, we would expect the rash to evolve by now to form typical blisters and ulcers.  Furthermore, HSV involving the scrotum is quite rare.  As to what might be casuing your discomofort, sometimes after an exposure that, in retrospect, one wishes they had not had, persons tend to examine themselves and be far more attuned to genital sensations than in periods when they are not concerned.  This in turns leads to noticing what turn out to be normal sensations that might have been not noticed or ignored at other times.  The scrotum and tesicles are locations where this occurs most commonly.  Perhaps this was a contributor to your situation.  Hope this helps.  EWH