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Here's my question.  After a crazy evening in New Orleans, I woke up the next morning and found an empty condom wrapper on the floor..  So, I'm assuming that I had protected sex with someone, but can't remember.  Pretty scary I know.   A few days later I had some general pain in the groin area, but no visible redness or blisters or anything visual for that matter.  About one week after the exposure, I went to TSTD and did the full STD panel and everything came out negative.  About 5 days after that I went to the doctors office and he examined my genital area.  At that time he did not see anything that looked like Herpes and sent me on my way.  So, I was feeling pretty good after that, but still a little freaked out.  So at 5 weeks past the incident and got an HIV by PCR test completed as well as another Herpeselect test done.  Both were negative.  I was still wondering but I decided that I was probably fine.  Until week 13.  I noticed a small area on the underside of my penis, kind of by the base that was a little red.  It didn't hurt or itch at all.  I also had some leg pain.  A couple mornings later when I got out of the shower some skin fell off in my hand from that same area.  The under skin looked the same as my other skin, like you skinned you knee or something.  It was probably a little smaller then a dime.  At this time the area was tender.  By the next morning it formed a scab and began to heal and fell off within 3 days.  I went back to the doctor but it was too late for him to do a culture, since it scabbed so soon.  So he did another Herpeselect test for both types.  This was a couple days past 3 months or 13.5 weeks past exposure.  Both tests were negative.  Type I  = .03 and Type II = .08.  It's been a couple weeks now since they pulled that blood, do you think I should go back in for another test or just wait to see if it comes back?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Sounds as though you had folliculitis.  A culture when it appeared, instead of popping it might have helped put your mind to rest.  That said, little to be done now.  Repeating your HerpeSelect is a waste of time.  you don't have herpes.  EWH

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Another update.  At this time, I can't even find the spot anymore, so I'm guessing a culture is out of the question.  This is less then 18 hours after first seeing the pimple.

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Still concerned.
Today is Wednesday and starting last Thursday I had a knot in the back of my right leg that lasted about 2 days.  I was a little concerned, but still pretty confident in my test results and timing of them.  Over the weekend I continued to examine myself just incase but showed no visual signs or pain/tingling in the genital area.  However Tuesday night I showered and when I got out I noticed a single pimple.  It was located close to my base and about an inch away from my last skin change.  I popped it and white, kind of thick, puss come out.  Looked exactly like a zit on your face.  Once popped it instantly dried and heeled.  Today you can barely see it, but it looks like a black spot about the size of a pen head.  Probably a little scab.

Question:  Can they do a culture of it now?  I was thinking it’s too late.
Maybe one more HerpesSelect test?  It has been about 21 weeks now.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

You've now proven that you do not have herpes.  AS for what might be present, the best thing to do is be seen by a health care provider who can take a look at the skin changes and comment based on what they see.  A dematologist might be best if you pursue this option.    EWH

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Thanks for the support Edward.  Even though you thought I was good, I decide to take one more HerpesSelect test last week.  This one was at 17 weeks past exposure about 5 days short of 4 months.  They came out negative again.  Type I = .04 and Type II = .04.  I was pretty sure my second skin change was herpes at 13 weeks.  Do you know what else would cause something like this?  I have always considered myself to be a normal healthy adult so I would think I would produce antibodies by now if it was herpes.

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Time to stop worrying.,  The skin changes you describe in no way resemble herpes and your HerpesSelect tests are convincingly negative.  With these two pieces of negative evidence, you need not worry- whatever happened that night, you did not get herpes, HIV, or STDs.  No further testing needed.  EWH