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STDs (Expert Forum)
i think i have herpes
Answered by
Edward W Hook, MD - HIV Prevention, stds
Welcome to the STD Forum, which is intended only for questions and support pertaining to sexually transmitted diseases other than HIV/AIDS, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, human papillomavirus, genital warts, trichomonas, other vaginal infections, nongonoccal urethritis (NGU), cervicitis, molluscum contagiosum, chancroid, and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). All questions will be answered by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. or Edward W Hook, MD.
i think i have herpes
by whattodo123, Oct 28, 2009 01:22AM
hello doctors heres my story. i had brief unprotected sex with an girl (one night stand) and ever since i've been worried. i developed a bump on the upper part of my shaft about half inch from the head. this bump was sort of pink. the bump had a dimple in the center. i picked at it and tried to pop it but it wouldnt burst but when picking it pulled of some skin but didnt bleed. i went to a doctor and derm and the doc said a cyst of some kind but not std related, and the derm said it was either a wart or follical infection. i know it wasnt a wart i think he thought that because i was picking at it which is why it was a pink color. i got this bump about four months after i had the one nighter. i took a hole slew of herpesblood test the herpeselct test i believe. the last one i took was five months after sex and i know thats more than enough time but i think i just dont make antibodies. granted the bump or pimple whatever didnt hurt it just was in a wierd place. i dont know if maybe i got paranoid after this girl and i started inspecting myself so maybe that cause the irritation? anyways the bump went away in a week. after picking it, there looked like a scab was ther but not like what i've seen in herpes pics. i really dont know if it was a scab. the derm saw all that though and gave me a 100% assurance it was herpes but cmon a lesion like that in that place. are my blood test just bogus. ie had three done all after three months but im just confused how a bump gets there and then goes away. thank you for any help.
Doctor's Answer
by Edward W Hook, MD, Oct 28, 2009 08:11AM
, Oct 28, 2009 08:11AM
You think you have herpes - I don't. the evidence for you having herpes is zero. The Herpes Select blood test is a very good test and yours have been negative. Furthermore, the lesions you describe do not sound at all like herpes, nor do the trained health care professionals who you have asked think this is HSV either. Finally, your risk of HSV following a single exposure to a partner who you do not even know had herpes is statistically very low risk. Putting all of this together I hope that my comments, on top of all of the other advice that you have had will convince you to stop worrying about this. There is simply NO reason.
As far as what it might have been, there are many, many other explanations including the folliculitis and cyst explanations you have already received. I would believe the evaluations you have already had.
I note that you have given very good advice to others on the HSV community site. I hope you can apply the same logic to your own situation. EWH
As far as what it might have been, there are many, many other explanations including the folliculitis and cyst explanations you have already received. I would believe the evaluations you have already had.
I note that you have given very good advice to others on the HSV community site. I hope you can apply the same logic to your own situation. EWH
Post Comment
For evaluation of lesions a culture or PCR test is a better approach than to do a blood test as the blood test can be negative in some people with relatively recent infections.
This will end this thread. If you wish to learn more about HSV and HSV testing I would suggest a visit to the ASHA web site (disclosure, Dr. HaNdsfield and I are each on the ASHA Board). EWH