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Possible Genital HSV-1
I would like to start off by thanking you for your work and time on this forum – your help is truly appreciated. I will try to keep this brief and outline my case. I am worrying about genital HSV-1. I am white, 23, male.
- 11/26/09 I have brief oral w/ female friend. She has no apparent cold sores. 2/16/10 she tests neg for all STDs, HSV-2 neg, but HSV-1 positive, cold sores as kid.
- 12/13/09, I run a half-marathon. Used icy-hot type product and masturbated with the same hand. I take bath and suddenly tip of penis turns very red. Over few days, red peels off and the center of this mark remains and turns very white in hot/warm water.
- 12/30/09 I see family Dr. Test neg for all STDs, HSV viral culture and HSV-2 blood test. No fever, swollen lymph nodes or other symptoms. Spot shrinks and peels many times. Left small, white/translucent scar, still there today.
- 1/8/10 notice a small bump on the inside of my foreskin. I picked it a lot. Bump got bigger and peeled several times.
- 1/13/10 return to doctor. Repeat HSV serology, non-specific this time (never had cold sores), IgG (0.20) and IgM (0.44) both neg. Red area remains to this day, with surrounding inflamed tissue. Feels like deep, red bumps surrounding the lesion, which left a similar white scar as first lesion.
- I have since visited 2 Derms, both ruled out herpes on visual inspection.
- 3/15/10 saw my GP, doesn't believe it's herpes. I ask to take another blood test. HSV non-specific IgG (0.28) and IgM (0.40), both neg. Over this time, I notice frequent urination and strange pains in lower abdomen, penis and right leg.
- 3/22/10 see urologist, doesn’t think it looks like herpes. Diagnosed frequent urination as prostatitis and prescribed Cipro 500mg for 30 days.
Is there any possibility this could still be herpes? After 15 weeks, can HSV serology still be negative? Could my body just not be producing antibodies and this is why it is lingering so long? Is this all me freaking out and perhaps something else?
- 11/26/09 I have brief oral w/ female friend. She has no apparent cold sores. 2/16/10 she tests neg for all STDs, HSV-2 neg, but HSV-1 positive, cold sores as kid.
- 12/13/09, I run a half-marathon. Used icy-hot type product and masturbated with the same hand. I take bath and suddenly tip of penis turns very red. Over few days, red peels off and the center of this mark remains and turns very white in hot/warm water.
- 12/30/09 I see family Dr. Test neg for all STDs, HSV viral culture and HSV-2 blood test. No fever, swollen lymph nodes or other symptoms. Spot shrinks and peels many times. Left small, white/translucent scar, still there today.
- 1/8/10 notice a small bump on the inside of my foreskin. I picked it a lot. Bump got bigger and peeled several times.
- 1/13/10 return to doctor. Repeat HSV serology, non-specific this time (never had cold sores), IgG (0.20) and IgM (0.44) both neg. Red area remains to this day, with surrounding inflamed tissue. Feels like deep, red bumps surrounding the lesion, which left a similar white scar as first lesion.
- I have since visited 2 Derms, both ruled out herpes on visual inspection.
- 3/15/10 saw my GP, doesn't believe it's herpes. I ask to take another blood test. HSV non-specific IgG (0.28) and IgM (0.40), both neg. Over this time, I notice frequent urination and strange pains in lower abdomen, penis and right leg.
- 3/22/10 see urologist, doesn’t think it looks like herpes. Diagnosed frequent urination as prostatitis and prescribed Cipro 500mg for 30 days.
Is there any possibility this could still be herpes? After 15 weeks, can HSV serology still be negative? Could my body just not be producing antibodies and this is why it is lingering so long? Is this all me freaking out and perhaps something else?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Thanks for the thanks, both for the forum and personally. I do hope you can let the herpes thing go. And forget about the penile mark, even if it persists, as long as the dermatologist agrees it's nothing worth any concern.
Thank you very much Dr. Handsfield. I admit that I am a very anxious and worrisome individual. I guess I just really freaked out when the first thing I heard is that I could possibly have herpes, I just hope this lesion/mark soon goes away. Once again, thanks for providing such a great resource for us! Also I would like to congratulate you about the Thomas Parran Award - you're most deserving.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Herpes does not behave in any way like these spots apparently do. Same for all your other symptoms. If your dermatologist hasn't seen the penile "lesion", have him or her examine you again. If s/he has already reassured you that it's nothing to worry about, then please stop worrying about it. Most likely this has nothing at all to do with your sexual encounter 15 weeks ago.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help.
To be honest, I find it somewhat mysterious that you continue to worry about herpes. Your symptoms don't sound at all like herpes; the lab tests are accurate; and your have the unequivocal opinions of 4 doctors (your primary provider, your urologist, and two [count 'em, 2!] dermatologists). It is absolutely clear you do not have genital herpes or HSV-1. You need to stop testing and stop seeking additional opinions about it.
May I also suggest you educate yourself about genital HSV-1 infections? Genital herpes due to HSV-1 is generally a trivial matter, with few recurrent oubreaks, and low risk of future transmission to partners. Nobody wants genital herpes due to either HSV--1 or -2, but if it has to heppen, genital HSV-1 is the type to have; it really is nothing to be as worried about as you seem to be.
Regards-- HHH, MD
To be honest, I find it somewhat mysterious that you continue to worry about herpes. Your symptoms don't sound at all like herpes; the lab tests are accurate; and your have the unequivocal opinions of 4 doctors (your primary provider, your urologist, and two [count 'em, 2!] dermatologists). It is absolutely clear you do not have genital herpes or HSV-1. You need to stop testing and stop seeking additional opinions about it.
May I also suggest you educate yourself about genital HSV-1 infections? Genital herpes due to HSV-1 is generally a trivial matter, with few recurrent oubreaks, and low risk of future transmission to partners. Nobody wants genital herpes due to either HSV--1 or -2, but if it has to heppen, genital HSV-1 is the type to have; it really is nothing to be as worried about as you seem to be.
Regards-- HHH, MD
I'd just like to add that the lesion on the inside of the foreskin is still there, after noticing it almost 3 months ago. Pretty much all of the symptoms have been present this time. Also, the oral sex encounter has been my only sexual encounter since this time. The actual lesion does not hurt, only when I pick at it or peel off too much skin.
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.
