Whil I ever know if this is herpes?

Hi Doc,

I had what seemed like every symptom 8 days after an unprot 1night stand with a female back in march '06. Im male. I had a tingling sensation in the tip of my penis, raw feeling on penis, sore testicles, sore perineum, fluid leaking from penis, crusting urethra, burning feeling in genital area, etc. At the same time I had flu symptoms and tingling/raw rub burn feeling in my lower back and burning in whole genital area. Also, my legs were very sore throughout which I attributed to my lymph nodes working. It wasn't chlamydia or gonorrhea. symptoms came back 3 months later. I got worried because i had a bump at the bottom of penis shaft that i was able to pop and a few crusty bumps in the crease of my leg. The penis bump seemed like an ingrown hair or something because a hair was under it. it was mostly painless and it formed a crater in my skin when i popped it. It healed in a few days. I decided to go to a doctor to get tested for herpes. It came back pos for HSV1 (I always get cold sores on my lip) and negative (less than .90) for HSV2. I was told I had prostatitis and took antibiotics for 4 months which seemed to help. Anyway, I tested negative for HSV2 almost out to about 1 year with 4 different tests starting at about 5 months post exposure. There were all herpes select.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You are considerate to not want to pass herpes on to your girlfriend.  You clearly do not have HSV-2.  The tests have told you this repeatedly and the tests are, in general better than most clinicians at telling whether or not you have herpes.  Your HSV-1cold sores) makes it VERY unlikely that you have HSV-1 of the genitals as well.

I do not know what your recurrent symptoms are due to but few confident that they are not herpes.   ther best way to find out is to see a health care professional.

From the sounds of things you have a regular health care provider.  I would work with him/her to address your recurrent symptoms, moving beyond herpes which you can be sure is not the problem.  there is no substitute for the advantage of being able to examine the areas that concern you.

Again, to be sure, the problems you are concerned about are not due to genital herpes type-2.  There is no reason from this perspective not to be able to have normal relations with your partner.,

I hope this helps.  EWH

[JustWorried1]

Sorry...I posted too soon on accident....

Two days ago, my penis felt a little itchy/raw ...but no more itchy than normal from perspiration and what not. I also had a sharp pain down my left leg all day yesterday. Last night, i noticed a tiny scab at the top of my penis and 3 little bumps that i popped at the very bottom of my penis in the pubic hair area. It looked like something I've had on my chest hair before. I popped one of them and it leaked a little and bled. I've masturbated a lot this week but I've used lube or shampoo every time. I'm wondering if friction caused this or if it could be herpes. The only girl I've been with since getting tested is my current girlfriend who DOES NOT have herpes. I looked at area today and it seems to have already started to heal up and almost go away. Does what I describe sound like herpes? I want to be confident that I don't have herpes so that me and my girlfriend can continue to have unprotected sex without worrying about giving her HSV2 if I indeed have it. Can i put herpes out of my mind or do you think i should get tested again to make sure? I don't want to pass something to my girlfriend that I don't know if I actually have it or not.

Thanks.

[JustWorried1]

Dr.,

Thank you very much for responding. I somehow forgot to mention that i've had a lip cold sore the past few days and i'm sure i've touched my penis after touching my lip. Do you think i could have passed this to my own penis? Also, does this sound more like infected hair follicles to you? What do you make of the sharp pains in my groin and down my leg yesterday? Would lymph nodes pain be apparent in infected hair follicles?  I really appreciate your help and thank you again. I just know I won't be able to go to the doc until after the holidays and want to make sure i don't pass anything to my girlfriend in the meantime.

Happy holidays.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

The presence of antibodies to your HSV-1 (cold sore) makes it very unlikely that you can transfer your infection to the penis after touching your lip.  It happens but hardly ever.

I suggested you see a health care provider for your other symptoms.  That remains my recommendation.  No further additions to my suggestions.  EWH

[JustWorried1]

Hey Doc,

So, now I have about 7-10 tiny little bumps at the very top of my pubic area in the hair. They burn. They are in the same area but spread out a little. What could this possibly be? Folliculitis? I can't see a doc until after Christmas and they'll probably be gone by then. Should I put anything on them? Cream? Spray? I really hope this isn't herpes!

Please help doc. I'm freakin out. I haven't shaved down there for at least a month. What else could cause this?

[JustWorried1]

Dr.,

Please please answer if you can. I really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

One last time. No diagnoses over the net.  See a health care provider.  Further posts will be deleted.  EWH