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NGU/STD risk/question
in late April, I received unprotected oral sex from another male for about a minute. the first unprotected oral encounter ever and always protected otherwise. he had on scrubs so it made me feel better that he was clean (stupid I know).
month later I had rough sex and chafed the area between the head and the shaft badly. it took a couple weeks to calm, but it did go away. during I had one incident of sharp pain in urethra and one of pink semen when I masturbated – although I should have waited until healed. I thought due to injury during the rough sex and healing. no pain or pink semen since.
end of July I scraped my penis on something and later the tip of my penis began to feel sensitive and was raw and red. maybe unrelated. put hydrocortisone cream on it and it went away. now, last week after masturbating two days in a row, the spot was back - with a small red spot on the head where it meets the shaft, but I thought friction as it went away after a day. The tender meatus is still present, but gets better then worse and then goes away altogether. I've never had any discharge, itching, pain during urination, etc (aside from noted above). Was a time of cold/hot sensation in the head that lasted for a day or so, but that was a month and a half ago and has not happened since.
the swelling/redness is not constant and gets better as the day progresses. I was able to take amoxicillin for 6 days just in hopes it would clear up any infection. got home last night I put hydrocortisone cream on it and today it feels almost gone.
I guess my questions are:
does this sound like NGU or any other STD?
could the scrape really have caused an injury that comes and goes and takes this long to resolve?
does NGU or other STD present itself with just one symptom; a swollen, irritated meatus?
do NGU symptoms come and go like this?
could NGU or any other STD be present even though I've never had any discharge or pain during urination?
month later I had rough sex and chafed the area between the head and the shaft badly. it took a couple weeks to calm, but it did go away. during I had one incident of sharp pain in urethra and one of pink semen when I masturbated – although I should have waited until healed. I thought due to injury during the rough sex and healing. no pain or pink semen since.
end of July I scraped my penis on something and later the tip of my penis began to feel sensitive and was raw and red. maybe unrelated. put hydrocortisone cream on it and it went away. now, last week after masturbating two days in a row, the spot was back - with a small red spot on the head where it meets the shaft, but I thought friction as it went away after a day. The tender meatus is still present, but gets better then worse and then goes away altogether. I've never had any discharge, itching, pain during urination, etc (aside from noted above). Was a time of cold/hot sensation in the head that lasted for a day or so, but that was a month and a half ago and has not happened since.
the swelling/redness is not constant and gets better as the day progresses. I was able to take amoxicillin for 6 days just in hopes it would clear up any infection. got home last night I put hydrocortisone cream on it and today it feels almost gone.
I guess my questions are:
does this sound like NGU or any other STD?
could the scrape really have caused an injury that comes and goes and takes this long to resolve?
does NGU or other STD present itself with just one symptom; a swollen, irritated meatus?
do NGU symptoms come and go like this?
could NGU or any other STD be present even though I've never had any discharge or pain during urination?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I have no treatment suggestions, especially since "it is practically back to normal". I doubt this was a fungal infection; in any case, association with ejaculation says nothing about the possible causes.
That's definitely the end of this thread. It's time for you to move on.
That's definitely the end of this thread. It's time for you to move on.
thank you very much for your help and all you do on this site. last questions.
since this is likely irritation, what would you recommend as treatment? should I just wash with water and not put anything else on it. it is practically back to normal today.
any chance this could be fungal or yeast infection? would that explain why it only presented immediately after ejaculation? if so, what treatment would you recommend?
thanks very much and I will not continue to ask questions after this. take care.
since this is likely irritation, what would you recommend as treatment? should I just wash with water and not put anything else on it. it is practically back to normal today.
any chance this could be fungal or yeast infection? would that explain why it only presented immediately after ejaculation? if so, what treatment would you recommend?
thanks very much and I will not continue to ask questions after this. take care.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Past HSV-1 makes a person resistant to a new HSV-1 infection, anywhere on the body. Your second paragraph is correct.
For sure you don't have NGU -- that was obvious all along. Herpes is unlikely, but based on your sympomts, I can't say so with 100% certainty. Most likely you can be sexually active without fear of infecting anyone with anything.
That will end this thread. Take care.
For sure you don't have NGU -- that was obvious all along. Herpes is unlikely, but based on your sympomts, I can't say so with 100% certainty. Most likely you can be sexually active without fear of infecting anyone with anything.
That will end this thread. Take care.
last questions:
so, someone with a history of oral HSV1 is highly resistant to oral to genital HSV1 and HSV2 is rarely transmitted oral to genital, especially in someone with a history of oral HSV1. is that correct? this is all so confusing. hah
I found this from one of your other responses and it has added to the great info above. "First, oral HSV-2 is very rare and oral-to-genital transmission is unheard-of. Certainly I have never seen a case -- so you weren't at risk for HSV-2. (And you're not at risk for HSV-1, since you already have it.)"
at this point, since I've widdled down all the possibilities, I think I agree that this is not likely NGU, herpes or any other STD - and just basic irritation of some sort - will wait it out and see what happens. do you think it's safe to resume sexual activity?
so, someone with a history of oral HSV1 is highly resistant to oral to genital HSV1 and HSV2 is rarely transmitted oral to genital, especially in someone with a history of oral HSV1. is that correct? this is all so confusing. hah
I found this from one of your other responses and it has added to the great info above. "First, oral HSV-2 is very rare and oral-to-genital transmission is unheard-of. Certainly I have never seen a case -- so you weren't at risk for HSV-2. (And you're not at risk for HSV-1, since you already have it.)"
at this point, since I've widdled down all the possibilities, I think I agree that this is not likely NGU, herpes or any other STD - and just basic irritation of some sort - will wait it out and see what happens. do you think it's safe to resume sexual activity?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
For the reasons you state, this history makes herpes a lot less likely. You're at least highly resistant to a new HSV-1 infection (assuming your past history of oral herpes is correct), and HSV-2 indeed is rarely transmitted oral to genital.
A middle ground approach would be to follow my advice about getting professionally examined (and not treating with hydrocortisone) if and when you have another episode -- but to hold off on having a blood test at this time.
A middle ground approach would be to follow my advice about getting professionally examined (and not treating with hydrocortisone) if and when you have another episode -- but to hold off on having a blood test at this time.
thank you,
I forgot to mention that I have a history of cold sores and I've read that if that's the case, the likelihood of contracting hsv1 is zero and hsv2 is extremely low. is that true?
I will not keep pestering you with questions, just want to get all the info I can. thanks again.
I forgot to mention that I have a history of cold sores and I've read that if that's the case, the likelihood of contracting hsv1 is zero and hsv2 is extremely low. is that true?
I will not keep pestering you with questions, just want to get all the info I can. thanks again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I think physical irritation is indeed a lot more likely than herpes. But better safe than sorry.
oh my god, I had never even suspected genital herpes. I was scared enough thinking it could be NGU - which can at least be cured.
the best you can say, do you think it's likely or unlikely to be genital herpes? I know you said it's not necessarily herpes. I thought it would be blantantly obvious via sever blisters or sores and other pain. these episodes have not been severe - only enough to be uncomfortable. I was hoping this was all anxiety related. assuming it's not herpes, could it just be irritation?
you are saying these symptoms are out of the ordinary? what is the gestation period for the first outbreak? because I know that my June encounter was with someone who is STD free so it would have to have come from the April 27 encounter.
I'm just freaking out a bit because I was hoping to move on knowing it was likely a result of the injury in July or just irritation of some sort and could put this to rest and now my anxiety is really really high.
the best you can say, do you think it's likely or unlikely to be genital herpes? I know you said it's not necessarily herpes. I thought it would be blantantly obvious via sever blisters or sores and other pain. these episodes have not been severe - only enough to be uncomfortable. I was hoping this was all anxiety related. assuming it's not herpes, could it just be irritation?
you are saying these symptoms are out of the ordinary? what is the gestation period for the first outbreak? because I know that my June encounter was with someone who is STD free so it would have to have come from the April 27 encounter.
I'm just freaking out a bit because I was hoping to move on knowing it was likely a result of the injury in July or just irritation of some sort and could put this to rest and now my anxiety is really really high.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
These episodes of redness and irritation are not typical for herpes, and hydrocortisone usually wouldn't help herpes symptoms (actually could make them worse). On the other hand, the duration of each episode (2 weeks) and frequency (2 episodes in a 5 month period) are typical for recurrent genital herpes.
My advice is that you have a blood test for HSV-1 and HSV-2. (Do not have an IgM test, which can be misleading -- only the IgG type. IgM testing often is done more or less automatically by some labs, so be sure your doctor or clinic specifically requests only IgG only.) Second, if and when you have another episode of redness and irritation, do not treat it with hydrocortisone or anything else; and see a doctor or clinic promptly, preferably within 2 days of onset, and have a swab specimen collected for PCR testing for HSV. Also request that if the PCR is positive, the virus type (HSV-1 versus HSV-2) needs to be determined.
This isn't necessarilly herpes, just suspicious enough to warrant diagnostic testing. If it is herpes, it won't necessarily be from either of the sexual exposures described above. In any case, I'll be interested to hear the test results.
My advice is that you have a blood test for HSV-1 and HSV-2. (Do not have an IgM test, which can be misleading -- only the IgG type. IgM testing often is done more or less automatically by some labs, so be sure your doctor or clinic specifically requests only IgG only.) Second, if and when you have another episode of redness and irritation, do not treat it with hydrocortisone or anything else; and see a doctor or clinic promptly, preferably within 2 days of onset, and have a swab specimen collected for PCR testing for HSV. Also request that if the PCR is positive, the virus type (HSV-1 versus HSV-2) needs to be determined.
This isn't necessarilly herpes, just suspicious enough to warrant diagnostic testing. If it is herpes, it won't necessarily be from either of the sexual exposures described above. In any case, I'll be interested to hear the test results.
In addition, if I correctly understnad the timing, you've had symptoms on and off for nearly 6 months.
***the unprotected oral was April 27. I didn't have anything out of the ordinary until June when I chafed my penis from too much masturbation/rough sex - that subsided with hydrocortisone cream and laying off sex of any kind for about 3 weeks; then in July, scraped my penis tip and about a week later noticed the first instance of swelling/irritation, etc. hydrocortisone cream helped and it went away after about a week-week and a half. this recent recurrence is only the second time it's happened.
The only STD that might be responsible for something like this is genital herpes. When you get the symptoms of redness and tenderness of the meatus, how long does each episode last? Are you sure there's no blister or open sore at the start? How often do these episodes occur: weekly? Monthly? Every 2-3 months?
***there's only been 2 episodes; about a month and a half apart and they have lasted less than 2 weeks. I have never seen any sore or blister - and I've pulled the urethra opening to see if I can see anything with my untrained eye and have never seen anything. this most recent started almost immediately after masturbating last Monday night and persisted on and off through yesterday when I finally put some hydrocortisone cream on it and today if I'm not thinking about it, there's nothing noticeable.
Thanks so much for all your help and guidance.
***the unprotected oral was April 27. I didn't have anything out of the ordinary until June when I chafed my penis from too much masturbation/rough sex - that subsided with hydrocortisone cream and laying off sex of any kind for about 3 weeks; then in July, scraped my penis tip and about a week later noticed the first instance of swelling/irritation, etc. hydrocortisone cream helped and it went away after about a week-week and a half. this recent recurrence is only the second time it's happened.
The only STD that might be responsible for something like this is genital herpes. When you get the symptoms of redness and tenderness of the meatus, how long does each episode last? Are you sure there's no blister or open sore at the start? How often do these episodes occur: weekly? Monthly? Every 2-3 months?
***there's only been 2 episodes; about a month and a half apart and they have lasted less than 2 weeks. I have never seen any sore or blister - and I've pulled the urethra opening to see if I can see anything with my untrained eye and have never seen anything. this most recent started almost immediately after masturbating last Monday night and persisted on and off through yesterday when I finally put some hydrocortisone cream on it and today if I'm not thinking about it, there's nothing noticeable.
Thanks so much for all your help and guidance.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. I'll try to help. I'll go directly to your questions.
NGU doesn't behave this way. As you learned on the community forum, the main symptom is discharge; pain/irritation alone are not typical. In addition, if I correctly understnad the timing, you've had symptoms on and off for nearly 6 months. NGU isn't known to persist that long or to cause intermittent symptoms like yours.
The only STD that might be responsible for something like this is genital herpes. When you get the symptoms of redness and tenderness of the meatus, how long does each episode last? Are you sure there's no blister or open sore at the start? How often do these episodes occur: weekly? Monthly? Every 2-3 months?
I'll have further comments or advice after you fill in this information.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
NGU doesn't behave this way. As you learned on the community forum, the main symptom is discharge; pain/irritation alone are not typical. In addition, if I correctly understnad the timing, you've had symptoms on and off for nearly 6 months. NGU isn't known to persist that long or to cause intermittent symptoms like yours.
The only STD that might be responsible for something like this is genital herpes. When you get the symptoms of redness and tenderness of the meatus, how long does each episode last? Are you sure there's no blister or open sore at the start? How often do these episodes occur: weekly? Monthly? Every 2-3 months?
I'll have further comments or advice after you fill in this information.
Best wishes-- 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.
