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Imflamed Fordyce Spot or STD?
Hello-
I engaged in mutual masturbation and condom protected oral and vaginal sex in late June on 3 separate occasions with CSWs. Since then I have had a slight itching under my the skin of my penis, but no discharge or burning while urinating. Two days ago, I noticed a bump on the shaft of my penis. I have many, many Fordyce spots and this bump is in the middle of a grouping of them. Of course, I stupidly picked at it, and it opened and bled. I have since applied neosporin for 2 days and it is still there, but it is not painful at all. However, it hasn't really gone down in size and I am obviously a bit worried that it could be herpes. I have HSV-1 already since childhood. Questions:
1-what are the risks of herpes from protected oral and vaginal intercourse?
2-can Fordyce spots become inflamed?
3-how long after exposure would the first herpes sores appear?
4-if the sore is painless, does that mean that is is NOT herpes?
thanks.
I engaged in mutual masturbation and condom protected oral and vaginal sex in late June on 3 separate occasions with CSWs. Since then I have had a slight itching under my the skin of my penis, but no discharge or burning while urinating. Two days ago, I noticed a bump on the shaft of my penis. I have many, many Fordyce spots and this bump is in the middle of a grouping of them. Of course, I stupidly picked at it, and it opened and bled. I have since applied neosporin for 2 days and it is still there, but it is not painful at all. However, it hasn't really gone down in size and I am obviously a bit worried that it could be herpes. I have HSV-1 already since childhood. Questions:
1-what are the risks of herpes from protected oral and vaginal intercourse?
2-can Fordyce spots become inflamed?
3-how long after exposure would the first herpes sores appear?
4-if the sore is painless, does that mean that is is NOT herpes?
thanks.
A related discussion, genital herpes or fordyce lesions? was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Pain is highly variable with herpes; some lesions hurt, others don't. Partly it relates to the body part affected. The lips and face have more pain nerve endings and the skin is more tightly bound to the underlying tissues than, for example, the skin of the penile shaft. (Try to pick up and stretch the skin of your lip compared to your penis.) Also, lesions on moist surfaces, such as the vaginal or penile opening, ulcerate early and can be extremely painful, while at the same time a lesion on nearby dry skin can be painless. This is the main reason genital herpes tends to be worse in women than men.
Quick follow up - so genital herpes sores, unlike oral herpes sores, can be painless? I ask because I've had many, many cold sores in my life and they are all incredibly painful.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
From your description, trauma/irritation from the hand job seems the most likely explanation for the lesion you describe. However, this is by no means certain; I suppose it is possible you have herpes in addition to the Fordyce spots. No matter what the cause of a skin lesion, healing takes several days after a lesion is open or bleeds. Presence or absence of pain also doesn't help in judging one cause or another. However, if you have herpes, it is very unlikely you caught it during the sexual exposures you describe.
1) Herpes is not transmitted by hand-genital contact and condoms are highly protective. If you have herpes, you probably caught it sometime other than the sexual exposures in June.
2) Any skin lesion can become inflamed if rubbed or irritated.
3) Usually 3-5 days, sometimes up to 10 days, rarely as long as 3 weeks.
4) As I said above, presence or absence of pain doesn't help judge any particular cause.
All things considered, herpes seems unlikely. Since the lesion is now healing, there probably isn't much point in being examined. Of course see a provider promptly if irritation reappears in the future, especially if there blister-like lesions. After about 3 months you could have a blood test to see if you are infected with HSV-2 (in addition to HSV-1, which apparently you already have).
Regards--- HHH, MD
1) Herpes is not transmitted by hand-genital contact and condoms are highly protective. If you have herpes, you probably caught it sometime other than the sexual exposures in June.
2) Any skin lesion can become inflamed if rubbed or irritated.
3) Usually 3-5 days, sometimes up to 10 days, rarely as long as 3 weeks.
4) As I said above, presence or absence of pain doesn't help judge any particular cause.
All things considered, herpes seems unlikely. Since the lesion is now healing, there probably isn't much point in being examined. Of course see a provider promptly if irritation reappears in the future, especially if there blister-like lesions. After about 3 months you could have a blood test to see if you are infected with HSV-2 (in addition to HSV-1, which apparently you already have).
Regards--- HHH, MD
You are reading content posted in the STDs Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
