Do you think I have this illness?

[ALeeD]

About 2 months ago a nurse said I might have this illness.  I had one symptom.  It was something similar to a pimple on the shaft of my penis.  I popped it and it went away.  It did not spread.  It was indented after popping it.  Yet, it went away and there is no symptom of it there now.  Then, about 3 weeks later I found what looked like a pimple, a single pimple on my forarm.  Its size was I suppose about 2 mm wide.  It never spread.    This was after being outside where mosquitos and other insects could bite me.  I popped it and it went away.  I did not see a indentation in it after popping it.  It appears to be healing and going away completely.  I believe I have no other illnesses.  I read somewhere that if the simptoms stay away for a month or so, you can think of yourself to be cured.  I would like to have sex.  So, do you think I have this illness?  Do I need to wait a month?  Is it spread from only direct contact with the pimple?  If need be, can it be diagnosed with 100% certainty at a family physician's office, and how?  It doesn't seem necessary based on my symptoms.

Thanks  

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

What illness did the nurse say you have?  Recurrent genital pimple-like lesions suggest the possibility of genital herpes, but your symptoms also suggest the possibility of molluscum contagiosum.  Whether or not you have something that can be transmitted sexually to a partner simply isn't possible to tell from the information you provide.  Since this isn't clear, you must avoid sex until you know for sure what is going on and a knowledgeable health care provider assures you that you are not infectious.  Consider getting a second opinion, such as at a public health STD clinic.



Good luck-- HHH, MD

[Joe2000]

i didn't think you could "pop" molluscum thingys

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Apologies; I never noticed the title of your thread, and your question doesn't mention molluscum contagiosum.



Search the forum for several other threads on molluscum contagiosum; your questions have been answered there.  You should wait to have sex for at least 2-3 months after your last recurrent lesion; after that, you can be pretty sure the infection is gone.



Most health care providers advise against self-treatment.  But if your provider said to do it an and showed you how, and you are following his/her instructions (including washing the area with soap and water first, and washing your hands with soap and water afterward), the follow his/her advice.  But most providers don't advise it.



Make sure whatever sex partner(s) you had in the couple months before your first outbreak also get examined.  Also, they and you should be checked for other STDs;  chlamydia or gonorrhea often is present at the same time.



But for the long run, don't worry.  Molluscum is an inconvenience but not a serious health threat.



Good luck--  HHH, MD

[ALeeD]

I repeat.  I AM NOT SICK WITH HERPES OR ANY OTHER DISEASE.(period)

A nurse said I might, perhaps, may have gotten Molluscum Contagiosum.  Yet, I did not have sex, physical contact, with anyone for about 2 years since now.  I've always been straight and totally physically competent and never participated or ever wanted to participate in sex with a male.  Based on that you would think I would not have the disease.  Yet, its possible to be inflicted with it without sex, I understand.



About 2 months ago a nurse said I might have this illness. I had one symptom. It was something similar to a pimple on the shaft of my penis. I popped it and it went away. It did not spread. It was indented after popping it. Yet, it went away and there is no symptom of it there now. Then, about 3 weeks later I found what looked like a pimple, a single pimple on my forarm. Its size was I suppose about 2 mm wide. It never spread. This was after being outside where mosquitos and other insects could bite me. I popped it and it went away. I did not see a indentation in it after popping it. It appears to be healing and going away completely. I believe I have no other illnesses. I read a DOCTOR STATEMENT ON YOUR MEDHELP MESSAGE BOARD saying that if the symptoms stay away for a month or so, you can think of yourself to be cured. I would like to have sex. So, do you think I have this illness? Do I need to wait a month? Is it spread from only direct contact with the pimple? If need be, can it be diagnosed with 100% certainty at a family physician's office, and how? It doesn't seem necessary based on my symptoms.

Thanks

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

I can't diagnose you can will not try; no online doc can do that.  All I can do is provide general information about probabilities.  If you haven't had sex for 2 years, molluscum contagiosum seems improbable.  But if you do have it, the advice I gave in my first response still applies.  A month is a bit too soon to have sex; surely you don't want to put your partner at risk, even for a minor STD.



For more detailed responses to your questions, you will have to rely on your own health care provider.  If you aren't confident s/he is certain of your diagnosis, then get a second opinion.  An excellent source for that would be your local health department's STD clinic.



HHH, MD