sore throat, itchy penis

[johndoe5454]

Over the past couple months I have had a few encounters with sex workers.  Activities included protected vaginal intercourse, unprotected cunnilingus on her, and protected fellatio on me.  There was also some non-insertive genital-to-gential rubbing and licking of the shaft of my penis prior to putting a condom on.  I have since developed two symptoms.  One is that in my throat it feels like there is something stuck.  I keep wanting to swallow or rinse to get it to go away but it does not.  The other symptom is intense itching of that ring of skin that is kind of bunched together just below the head of a circumscribed penis.  The itching is on the side of the penis that touches the testicles.  I find myself pinching the skin there between my thumb and finger and rapidly rubbing it back and forth between my thumb and finger to relieve the itching.  It is very intense itching (nothing vague about it) but it seems to be getting better and as of yet I have noticed no overt signs of sores or blisters or anything unusual other than red irritated skin.  

questions...

1) If these throat symptoms go away on their own (even if they temporarily develop into a full sore throat), does that mean I don't need to worry about any kind of STD infection?   Or can a chlamydia or gonnorhea infection persist in the throat despite resolution of symptoms in which case it might be good to get a culture done?  

2) Can a sore throat be a sign of syphillis infection?  Is the blood test for syphilis accurate and definitive?

3) With regards to the itching/irritation on the skin of my penis, what do you suspect this is?  Could it just be yeast?  

4) Does the itching symptom sound like herpes?  Am I correct to assume that if I had acquired herpes that by now I would see visible signs like sores or blisters?  

5) Coulid it be HPV?  Is HPV like herpes where you have it forever?

Thanks.  

[WhatIsWrongWithMe87]

A related discussion, Unprotected Fellatio = What? was started.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

If you had partial but not complete improvement with the inital treatment for yeast longer treatment, perhaps with a different anti-fungal medicine, may help. In addition, you need to do your best to stop scratching.  Scratching actually tends to make areas itch more, not less.  Your doctor might be willing to give you something to reduce the itch, particularly at night when it is worse for most folks.  EWH

Good luck.  EWH

[Gerard3906]

I have had the same symtoms for 4 months now. I've had the test for HSV and they came back neg. The itching is driving me crazy and now I get biting type pains on my penis. The Doctors suggest it yeast. I've been subscribed some medicine but it didn't work They gave me a longer regiment so Ima tr that.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Before I get to your questions, let me say that all of your exposures are what we consider low risk.  Now for the questions:

1.  Symptoms have no relationship whatsoever to throat infections with gonorrhea and chlamydial throat infections, for all practical purposes, do not occur.  Cunnilingus does not appear to be a very efficient way to acquire gonorrhea, thus your risk is very low.  If you get a culture, realize that it is not allay your anxiety, not because of risk.

2.  Syphilis of the mouth and tongue is typically accompanied by a painless sore.  You have no signs of infection.  Your discomfort is, as for gonorrhea and chlamydai, almost certainly not syphilis either.

3.  As for the itching of the penis, based on what you describe the first thing that occurs to me is that we find that scratching and itching seems to lead to more itching, not less.  If there was flaking or a rash, a fungal infection (yeast) is a less likely possibility.  You should see a health care provider before you assume it is yeast.

4 & 5.  We're working down the list here, aren't we.  No to both.  You would see lesions/sores.

In working through this, my guess is that this encounter has lead to some anxiety on your part and that is fueling your concerns in a major way.  I think you have nothing to worry about.  If this is not sufficient reassurance, then I would suggest you see a health care provider.  I am confident that the results of such an evaluation will be negative.  With either course of action, it is time to move beyond this and the concerns you have.

I hope this is helpful.  EWH