Worried about Herpes, chances?

[thinkimcrazy]

Almost 4 weeks ago I had sex with a friend used a condom, then the next week had sex with her again using a spermicidal condom. Two days later I developed the burning sensation when I pee. I went to the doctor, he said it could be chylamidia or just a Urniary Tract Infection from the spermicide. He gave me something to take care of both. I told the girl, she went to get tested for Chylamidia and Gonhorhea and came back negative on both counts. We figured it was just a UTI. A week later I got jock itch. (I do suffer from jock itch, especially in the warm weather, which is exactly when it started to get upper 90's out.) I got worried and thought it might be Herpes and went to the doctor, he looked at it and said it was definetly jock itch and I shouldn't worry at all under the circumstances. We had sex again 3 more times with a condom last week. She kind of rubbed the side of my leg raw during one encounter as well. Now I still am suffering from the jock itch, is there a chance any of this could be herpes? What are my chances of even contracting Herpes with condom use? She's only been with 3 people besides me, but they were all relationships and she didn't use a condom sometimes. She's never had any symptoms or even a yeast infection her whole life. Should I worry? I can barely sleep at night.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This doesn't sound at all like herpes.  You probably have a chemical injury from the spermicide plus jock itch.  The two are not related.  And whether your partner has had a yeast infection (or might be carrying yeasts in her vagina, as most women do from time to time) also is irrelevant; jock itch is caused by an entirely different fungus than vaginal yeasts.

If your partner has genital herpes (or asymptomatic HSV-2 infection), consistent condom use will reduce but not entirely eliminate the chance of transmission.  If she doesn't have HSV-2, there obviously is no risk with or without condoms.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[thinkimcrazy]

I'd like to add it feels again like it's starting to burn when I pee. But not serious yet, it could be anxiety. Can you get infected with Herpes in your Urethra even if you use a condom? Could it be something else like a prostate problem or something like that?

[ronanator]

Doc I had quick question. How long could a male carry Chlamydia without showing any symptoms? The reason I ask is because I had unprotected vaginal sex for about 30 seconds and was fine until a year or more later I started having symptoms of what I believe to be NGU. Is this possible?

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You probably can't catch herpes in the urethra while wearing a condom.  But see a health care provider and get it checked out.

The maximum duration men can carry chlamydia hasn't been studied, but probably a few months.  In women, it can be 4 years or longer.  Hwever, chlamydia won't cause symptoms after carrying it that long; if you have NGU symptoms, you acquired NGU within the preceding 2-3 weeks.

HHH, MD