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Herpes possibility?
I'm a gay male who in the past month or so has had unprotected oral sex (both giving and receiving) and protected anal sex (me being the top). On Friday, I started to notice a chancre or some kind of sore on the top of my penis, right by the opening/urethra. It hasn't really developed into anything bigger yet, and there is no puss coming from it, also it isn't like a blister either. So not really sure what it is. I'm worried it could be a sign of herpes, and so wondered what people's thoughts were? Could it be herpes or perhaps syphilis?
I am thinking of going tomorrow to get it checked out, but any thoughts beforehand would be greatly received. Thanks.
I am thinking of going tomorrow to get it checked out, but any thoughts beforehand would be greatly received. Thanks.
This could be anything. You should be seen by your provider for a proper work up. It doesn't sound like herpes but it could be. Herpes testing will not be accurate at this point you will need to wait 3 months for a accurate test. You should be tested using only a type specific igg test. The IGM test is flawed and shouldn't be used.
Thanks for your response - I noticed last night that there are 3 or 4 small blister type sores on the head of the penis - that would be more herpes related don't you think?
as I mentioned in your post on this in the std forum, it could be many things. going to be seen is the best thing you can do :) stop back and let us know how the appointment went.
grace
grace
OK , just got back from the doctors. She said that it didn't look typical for herpes, more like a trauma of some sort, and I haven't had any other of the 'typical' symptoms like tingling before the outbreak and any fever, aches etc. She took a culture of it, so now I have to wait and see. She said normally there is a round blister type thing with liquid in, which then bursts, and I haven't had that. The few small sores are already drying up - if it was herpes would it dry up this quickly?
She told me to put petroleum jelly on them, which should help them clear up and also make urinating less painful.
Thoughts?
She told me to put petroleum jelly on them, which should help them clear up and also make urinating less painful.
Thoughts?
did you also discuss a herpes igg blood test for you to see what your general status for herpes is?
Actually she didn't say that or do any other tests with me. What are your thoughts on the chances this is herpes based on what she told me?
Some more information - I've contacted the two people I had sex with in the last two weeks and both say that they have not had cold sores, so that is a good sign I think?
I've read that a first outbreak normally shows within 2-12 days after exposure - would that be right?
I've read that a first outbreak normally shows within 2-12 days after exposure - would that be right?
most folks who have hsv1 orally don't get obvious cold sores to know their status.
follow up with a herpes igg blood test at some point to see what your status is bc of the reasons I posted about on the std forum post you made just to cover your bases while this is on your mind.
follow up with a herpes igg blood test at some point to see what your status is bc of the reasons I posted about on the std forum post you made just to cover your bases while this is on your mind.
Thanks Grace - I appreciate you being so helpful. I'm a little stressed out right now with all this, and feeling very bad about myself. I will get that test and also post back when I get the result from the culture. Is there a good website you recommend I could look at to calm my nerves?
well really at this point, only thing to do is to wait for culture results. your provider didn't think that this was herpes going on. follow up with the testing to know your status in general.
So new update - I went to the STD clinic as well, and they thought it was herpes. I still have the spots - there are about 4 of them, which are starting to crust over now. I've also had quite a lot of pain in my thighs and calves - which I've had before when I was dealing with a virus. Still haven't got the culture back, but definitely think it must be herpes.
I've just met someone new and obviously need to tell him - if I do have it, will it severely affect my sex life? Thanks for your help.
I've just met someone new and obviously need to tell him - if I do have it, will it severely affect my sex life? Thanks for your help.
call and see what your culture results are. they should've been back by now. don't wait for them to call you.
at this point you and your new partner need to wait for test results to come back. even if your lesion cultures are negative, you need to wait 3 months at least to get type specific herpes igg blood testing to confirm your status.
has your new partner been tested for herpes?
at this point you and your new partner need to wait for test results to come back. even if your lesion cultures are negative, you need to wait 3 months at least to get type specific herpes igg blood testing to confirm your status.
has your new partner been tested for herpes?
We haven't talked about STD's yet so I've no idea. As it is most probably genital herpes, I'm guessing that it is ok to kiss? We have certainly done a lot of that so far but not gone any further.
Another question. A few years ago I had impetigo on my neck and the doctor said it herpes simplex was in it. I've never had any other issues since then. Could this be related, and if it manifests on the neck only, never the face or mouth could it be part of the chicken pox virus I had as a kid
Could be a lot of things. That is why you have to wait for the culture to come back.
I wish we could say it could be this or that but really you have to wait for results to come back to get the best idea. Though chances are this isn't related.
I wish we could say it could be this or that but really you have to wait for results to come back to get the best idea. Though chances are this isn't related.
herpes simplex and herpes zoster ( chicken pox ) are 2 totally different infections. you won't detect herpes simplex in something and have it be because you had chicken pox as a child.
did they culture the issue on your neck to know that it was herpes?
did they culture the issue on your neck to know that it was herpes?
Yes they did culture my neck and found it was herpes. Since then I have never had any symptoms at all - certainly nothing around my mouth. I've read that you can get the outbreak at the spot where herpes was 'introduced' to the body, so that would suggest perhaps someone kissed my neck who had oral herpes and I contracted it that way? If so, would I now have oral herpes from the neck?
I also read through the archives on here, that if I had herpes already, that could be why the genital herpes I probably have now didn't manifest too badly - the sores are only about 4 of them, and very localized right at the top of the head of the penis. Could that be the case?
Is it possible to have HSV 1 in two different places, or the fact I already had herpes and now got another type means I have both HSV 1 and 2?
I also read through the archives on here, that if I had herpes already, that could be why the genital herpes I probably have now didn't manifest too badly - the sores are only about 4 of them, and very localized right at the top of the head of the penis. Could that be the case?
Is it possible to have HSV 1 in two different places, or the fact I already had herpes and now got another type means I have both HSV 1 and 2?
did you call to see if your recent culture results are back yet?
the nerve group in the neck is a different one from the mouth area. hard to tell if you also have hsv1 orally or not unless you get an obvious cold sore ( the assumption being you were also kissing the person who transmitted hsv1 to your neck ). it's not likely you also have hsv1 genitally since you have it elsewhere.
the nerve group in the neck is a different one from the mouth area. hard to tell if you also have hsv1 orally or not unless you get an obvious cold sore ( the assumption being you were also kissing the person who transmitted hsv1 to your neck ). it's not likely you also have hsv1 genitally since you have it elsewhere.
I haven't got the results yet, will call tomorrow. So you're thinking that I probably have hsv 2 genitally? I've never had an obvious cold sore, so not sure what that means.
Ok so just got the results back and there was no virus detected. I'm now not sure what to do as I feel like the symptoms are those of genital herpes. The doctor did say it could come back negative but what is your advice?
wait 3 months and get igg blood testing done ( also cover your basis with syphilis testing at that point too just to err on the side of caution ). if you get a return of symptoms before then, be seen promptly for a lesion culture and typing again.
So in the meantime do I presume I have it or not? Just wondering how to deal with physical relationships. I just got back current syphilis result and that was negative.
it's up to you how you handle it. discuss it with your partner and decide together what to do.
you have to wait 6 weeks post encounter minimum for syphilis testing. had it been that long?
you have to wait 6 weeks post encounter minimum for syphilis testing. had it been that long?
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
