might have herpes

[steve777]

I have been reading some of these posts, and the responses seem very helpful, so I hope maybe you have some answers for me! A couple of months ago I had unprotected sex with a girl. 2 days later, I noticed several (20-25) red spots on the left side of my hip. The total area was about 4 inches long and the spots clostest to the base of my penis were about 2 inches away from it. There was absolutely no pain, itchiness, or irritation of any kind. Normally I wouldn't have worried too much, but at the same time I came down with flu-like symptoms (fever, aching muscles), and I NEVER get sick.

I thought I might have herpes, so I went to the hospital to get checked out. The doctor said he thought it was just folliculitis, but it seemed too much of a coincidence that I had red spots on my groin AND and flu-like symptoms 2 days after having unprotected sex. He took a culture, and I'm pretty sure it turned out OK (I called the hospital several times, and every time they simply told me that if anything grew they would have contacted me, and I was never contacted). However, the doctor informed me that a negative result from the culture didn't necessarily mean I didn't have herpes.

I contacted the girl afterwards and she promised that she didn't have anything, although I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Within about a week, the red spots faded away and vanished. They never blistered or formed open lesions or anything like that. Also, I should mention that I did shave my chest and stomach a day before the symptoms appeared, although the area where the spots appeared were not quite where I shaved. Many of the spots were among the outer areas of my pubic hair.

I put this whole thing out of my mind until 2 weeks ago when I noticed what looked like a pimple in the same general area where those spots were, and it was about 5 inches from my penis. It itched a little bit, but it was not uncontrollable. I didn't pop it, and it eventually just went away. Again, it did not become a sore blister or open lesion.

I'm wondering, the initial symptoms I had, have you ever heard of  herpes starting out like that? There was no pain or irritation at all, and there were no blisters or open lesions. Regarding the pimple-like growth I had 2 weeks later, is it normal to just have one herpe? Also, if it is herpes, will it stay located on my hip area as long as I'm careful? And if I manage to keep that area covered during sex or oral sex, will I eliminate the chance of passing on the virus? Thank you, and any information you have will be most helpful!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

This does not sound particularly like herpes, but of course I cannot make a diagnosis on line.  Symptoms from initial genital herpes always involve the genitals themselves (e.g., penis), or the anal area.  Recurrences occasionally occur on the hip, buttocks, pubic area, etc--but not the initial outbreak.  And if a health care provider thought it was folliculitis, that's a pretty good bet; it's pretty easy for an experienced clinician to reliably tell the difference between herpes and folliculitis.

You could have an HSV-2 blood test if you want to follow up further with this.  However, 25% of the population have HSV-2, so a positive result won't necessarily mean that your symptoms were due to herpes, or that you acquired it during the encounter you describe.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[ryn21]

It does sound like folliculitis, which is common in the areas you describe.  You can try using an anti-fungal cream such as lotrimin, and it should clear up.  If it was herpes, the doctor would have likely diagnosed it as such.  Or, if your tests showed that the cultures were + for HSV, you would have definitely been contacted by the hospital.

[brgtrr34]

hi im a 20yo male and i was reading these comments and was hopeing u could help me? well any way i only have uprotected sex with my girlfriend and only her. when i have sex with another girl i use a condom. but i have given oral sex without any protection and this girl that i was giving oral sex to who has herpes told me that herpes could not be passed unless she had an outbreak. wich she didnt at the time so i proceded. a day after i gave herpes girl face i had uprotected sex with my girlfriend and i didnt have a chance to shower that day, and the following day my penis was itching really bad like i had to rub around my penis head for relife. so later that day i then got soap and water and a body puff and began to clean my penis thoroughly to the point where the itching became painful. im on day five now and there are a few tiny white bumps on my penis is this the first supposedly mild outbreak of herpes or something else for not showerin for a day after unprotected sex with my girlfriend. my girlfriend is clean std free befor all this. and another thing i dont understand is if it is herpes and i contracted it from giving that herpes girl face then why didnt i get it on my mouth rather than on my penis?

for a little more detail my penis is not any more red than it normaly is and the tiny white bumps along the edge of my penis head           ^^
             /    \
            /      \
           /        \
          /          \
         (************)
          l          l
          l          l
          l          l
          l          l
          l          l
          l          l
          l          l
where the stars are and not that many like five at the most on the right three tiny white bumps close but alined with the edge of my penis and on the left two tiny white bumps along the edge also

and they are very small i have seen a few photos of herpes on the net and the open sores are huge compaird to my tiny whit bumps i cannot see how these little white bumps could turn into large open sores. i also have not had any other symptoms of herpes like the fever or muscle aces or lower back pain. so im really confused im going to see a doctor as soon as i can but till then anything that will reasure me would help good or bad i just need reasureance.
thanks for any help and comments

-bjr-

[brgtrr34]

the diagram of my penis messedup but hope u get the idea

[ryn21]

It sounds more like irritation from what you describe rather than herpes.  Herpes takes more than 1 day to develop.  You should seek the advice of a GP rather than over the net for such conditions as no doctor can truly diagnose such a condition without seeing it in person.  I dont think its anything serious, but like i said, see the doctor.