Could this be an STD?

[abcd123456358]

Friday afternoon (today is Tuesday), I started to notice a pain on the head of my penis when my clothing rubbed against it.  It was relatively minor on Friday, but was worse on Saturday and through the weekend and really hurts pretty bad.  It hurts in one particular spot, and generally only when touched (like when clothing is rubbed against it.  It seems like it is feeling slightly better today, but still hurts pretty bad.  The pain is right around the rim of the head on the right side and maybe slightly underneath, it's hard to tell exactly.  

I've seen both my regular doctor and a dermatologist.. my regular doctor assured me he saw nothing and not to worry about it, and the dermatologist said maybe it's slightly reddish, but other than that he really sees nothing.  The dermatologist has me even more freaked out than before because he said Herpes can sometimes start off painful and not present symptoms for a few days, but he also did add that it probably would not be painful for five days prior to any symptoms showing up.  He was prepared to write a prescription for Valtrex in case something else shows up I'd be able to start taking it without going back to him.  I cannot really see anything at the area other than maybe some redness.  It looks like there could be a slight opening, but if so, it's incredibly small and hard to tell and both doctors did not see it.  

2-3 weeks ago I had a negative blood test for all STDs including HSV-1 and HSV-2, but I have been in a new relationship for slightly over a month and have received unprotected oral sex over that period which I suspect would not show up on the blood test (which took place at most two weeks after first receiving oral sex).  Do you think I have anything to worry about?  Could Herpes hurt this bad without being visible for five days?  What else could it be?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum.  I have to say, I tend to agree with the two doctors who have had a chance to examine you and came to the conclusion that this heightened sensitivity is not an STD.  Your dermatologist is correct that with HSV discomfort at the site of an outbreak can be present before the outbreak occurs but this happens only for a few hours or a day, not for 5 days.  

A agree with your decision not to take valacyclovir u nless you know that you have HSV.  

My advice is that this is not an STD or anything to worry about.  if it persists you may wish to seek further evaluation but at this time I see little reason to do so.  

Take care.  EWH

[abcd123456358]

It still hurts today (Saturday, about 8 days later), probably about the same or worse than when it first started, but the appearance does not seem to have changed at all.  There is still a tiny reddish area (I think my doctor said about 4mm) and that's about it.  No fluid, scabbing, blistering, or anything like that.  I saw my doctor again (and another doctor at student health) who both saw the reddish spot, but insist it is not an STD.  Does this change your advice at all that it has lasted so long?  What kind of doctor should I even see at this point?  The dermatologist did not seem to really have any advice, and so I'm not sure where to turn.  I have to admit I have a tendency to obsess over this sort of thing even when I do not have symptoms, but here it does appear there is at least this one spot.  I think I would be able to forget about it if it did not still hurt.    

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If anything, the fact that this has persisted for what is now close to 10 days and perhaps even longer without changing much makes the possibility of an STD even less likely.  I realize that this does not help you to know what it is but it is hopefully a step forward.   I thiink a call to either your dermatologist or your regular doctor to try to figure out how to make it stop hurting is a logical next step.  The dermatologist in particular may have a topical or local therapy which might help. EWH