Another herpes question

First some background, in the past five years i have been in 2 relationships.  I have not always had protected sex with the two girls that I have been with.  It came out a while back that the first girl i was with for 2 years was not faithful and had oral or genital herpes (Im not sure) in the time that she and i were together.  Shortly after having ended the relationship I notice a few red bumps in my pubic region (I shave from time to time so i wasnt to worried.  About a year later a red bump appeared on the head on my penis by the urethra?.  I didnt touch it or mess with it and it went away after a couple of days.  It didnt appear to be clear or have in fluid in it.  A few months after that a white bump showed up on the shaft of my penis (a cyst?)  I actually didnt mess with it and left it alone for 3 years or so until recently.  I squeezed it and it bled.  It was red for a week or so but then it disappeared.  That was about 2 months ago.

The second girl i was with was tested for stds a couple times and always came back as clean.  What I want to know is what is the likelihood that i have herpes after having unprotected sex on and off with the previous girl for 2 years.  I never saw anything visible on her (with the exception of a cold sore or too) that would lead be to believe she was infected.  

My scrotum at times becomes red and wrinkled and seems to tighten up and i have noticed little white bumps from time to time (not in the same place) when i squeeze them pus comes out.  I have read A LOT about herpes and i dont seem to have a reoccurence of bumps in the same place.  The bumps have never been watery.  I wonder how much of it is in my head and makes myself belief that I have it.  I am scared to death because I have yet to have sex with my current gf and would kill me if I had to tell her this.

Does the fact that the second girl i was with always came back as negative lead you to believe that I am clean or did she simply not receive it from me.  I know 2 years of unprotected sex is a long time and I would assume that if i had anything she would have gotten it.

I have scheduled an appointed with a urologist and havent been able to sleep over this whole deal.  I am scared to death to go to the doctor and hear I have herpes.  Will a blood test reveal whether I am positive?

Thank you for your time and I am sorry about the length.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The blood test will help, but is not a 100% sensitive test.  If you have had unprotected sex, the risk is always there that you may have contracted an STD, including herpes.

You may want to consider swabbing the lesions for viral culture in addition to the blood test for more accuracy.  

If the tests are negative, you may want to consider a cyst or genital warts as alternative diagnoses.  

These options can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
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