STDs  (Expert Forum)

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tingling sensation. question about herpes/prodrome?

Answered by
H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. -
University of Washington Seattle - WA
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.
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MedHelp Member's Question
tingling sensation. question about herpes/prodrome?
by bigmonkeycar, Nov 25, 2005 12:00AM
For about the past 6-7 days, on and off, I've experienced a tingling sensation that seems to be localized in the tip of the penis, but occasionally is vague and seems to involve the entire penis. I have no visible lesions or disturbances on the penis itself, and no common pain during urination except once in the past week a very mild pain while urinating (but I've been hyperconscious of things like that, so it's probably nothing).  My question...

1.) The fact that it's lasted 6-7 days discards the possibility of it being a herpes 'prodrome' symptom, correct? And a "tingling" without any lesions wouldn't suggest herpes either? Is there anything else that could cause tingling of this sort? (I've been dousing myself with Goldbaum Medicated Powder...i've stopped recently, but it could be possible that some of this has gotten inside my penis and caused irritation even days later?)

2.) This is a corrolary question...if you say that it's very difficult to pass genital HSV-1 to another person's GENITALS during sex, why is it common for someone to pass ORAL HSV-1 from the mouth to someone else's genitals during oral sex? And why is it that you say most people with genital HSV-1 rarely have recurrent outbreaks, when it's obvious that at least a good percentage of folks have recurrent ORAL HSV-1 outbreaks? Just curious...

Thanks again, you're always so helpful.
Doctor's Answer
by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D., Nov 26, 2005 12:00AM
Tingling of the sort you describe is not typical for herpes.  Herpes prodrome is associated with recurrent, not initial herpes, and typically lasts only 1-2 days before overt herpes lesions appear.  Conceivably you have urethritis (chlamydia, NGU or gonorrhea).  I have no idea what's in the powder you describe or whether it might cause urethral irritation; but your symptoms are compatible with chemical irritation.  If the symptoms persist, see an STD-knowledgeable health care provider, such as your local health dept STD clinic.

Oral or genital HSV-1 or HSV-2 probably are more or less equally transmissible if overt lesions or asymptomatic shedding are present and if the exposed person is susceptible (ie, not previously infected with the same virus).  But genital HSV-1 recurs much less frequently than genital HSV-2, both with and without symptoms.  Second, half the population has had HSV-1 orally, and all such persons are immune to catching HSV-1 again; therefore, half the partners of people with genital HSV-1 are not susceptible to it.  Between these 2 factors, it is uncommon for people to acquire genital HSV-1 from genital intercourse.  The biological reasons for the differences in how HSV-1 and HSV-2 behave in the oral and genital regions are not known.

HHH, MD
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Member Comments (2)
by sdrake, Dec 01, 2005 12:00AM
Ok I have a question doc?? I went to a clinic and got a pap smear done. While the doc was checking me out I had a few bumps around the inside walls of my vagina, and she told me it looked like genital warts.she was supposed to test me for HIV but i still haven't herd anything bact from her and it's been a month. And that was my only symptom. But now there is like this tingling and itching sensation everywhere down there and I don’t know what to do. And now it seems like I have bumps everywhere around my clit, and on my lips what is it? And what should I do about it? and if I need treatment is it expensive and will it make them go away forever? I have a boyfriend and I don’t know what to do? Can he get them? We have been together for 6 months and I have just recently got the symptoms with in the last month. We have unprotected sex we have only used a comdom a few times out of all the times we have had sex and we have sex all the time about 4-5 time a week! And it seems the more I worry the more bumps I get. And my boyfriend doesn’t have any symptoms should he be worried? Is there a chance that he gave it to me and he just doesn’t know about it, and has no symptoms? And if i get treatment, should he get it too? what if i get treament and he don't is that a waist? i just don't know!
by BabyOh, Oct 15, 2009 02:50PM
A related discussion, Is an odor normal for genital herpes? was started.
by GodsChild780, Jun 27, 2010 10:14AM
A related discussion, STD ? was started.
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