Possible STD

[trailrider400]

Hi doctor thank you in advance for answering my questions

About 10 weeks ago I had unprotected sex with a questinable parner.  After a couple of days I started to experience some itching.  It has now been 10 weeks and I still have itching on my scrotum as well as on the shaft of my penis and my pubic hair region.  The tip of my penis has also been very sensitive and I have been experiencing some painful masterbation (masturbation) and the skin looks red afterwards as well as some burning inside my penis.  I was tested for clamidia/gohhnorea and herpes 1 and 2 about 8 weeks after the incident and all the tests came back negative.  I have also seen no visible signs of herpes or any rash or irritation just fairly constant itching and some burning.  A couple of questions 1. How reliable is my herpes test after only 8 weeks? 2. Are there any other stds I should get tested for showing these symptoms? 3. Do you recommend I see a doctor about my continued symptoms? 4.  Any idea what might be wrong with me. 5. and finally you said that it is fairly difficult to contract herpes.  Why then is it estimated that approx 1 in 4 people are infected with it?  Thanks doctor

[Ripazzio]

This is not the doctor forum.

Your symptoms are pretty similar to mine, even though my risk situation was only oral sex.
Chlamydia and gonorrhea tests @ 8 weeks are reliable and they would most likely have caused some other, more typical symptoms as well.
Syphilis, hepatitis, hiv and herpes testes are effective after 3 months, some of them even sooner, but I would recommend 3 months so that you can be absolutely certain.

1) somewhat, but herpes blood test may still change to positive. If you have no clear visual symptoms, only a re-test later may verify it.

2) really can't tell. I have similar symptoms, have been tested for pretty much everything, and nothing has been found. But it will do no harm to take more tests if your symptoms persist. And more importantly, you should consult a professional.

3) absolutely, there is no need to suffer and ask questions here, since a professional can give you a much more accurate diagnosis after a closer inspection.

4) no. the only thing "wrong" with you and I is that we had unprotected sex. And I guess we will not be doing that anymore!

5) the odds are that one encounter is probably not a high risk, however, you will never know when virus shedding is going on. Let's say the risk per year is 96%. If you hump like a rabbit 100-150 times a year, and continue doing it with several partners, it odds to catch the virus increase over time.

[jda123]

Herpes symptoms don't last for 10 weeks.  An outbreak comes and goes in about 1-2 weeks.  And while Ripazzio is right that for 100% accuracy you should wait 3 months, a negative Herpes test at 8 weeks is fairly accurate.  

Test again 3 months after your last possible exposure if you need to be 100% sure, but it doesn't sound like you should be worried about Herpes.