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Possible STD? Need an opinion...
Doctor(s),
Seven weeks ago, I woke up in the morning to a sore on my scrotum. The sore was raised and about the size of a pencil eraser. Never blistered, pus'd, or became an open 'wound'. Within a few days, I had developed an itchy/tingling sensation in my genital and rectum area and was experiencing mild discomfort at the opening of my urethra. Only AFTER urinating.
I went in to the Immediate Care doctor. He diagnosed a topical bacterial infection (infected hair follicle), said it was nothing serious, took a Urine sample, and prescribed Doxycycline 150mg for two weeks.
Took one days worth of the Doxy and started experiencing severe stomach cramps and pains. The RN for my case told me it was probably the stomach flu (they were getting 40 new case reports a day of it). She also told me that my urine screen came back CLEAN for STD's, but that there was traces of blood in it. I was advised to stop using it for a couple weeks and see if the symptoms went away on their own since my screen was clear. Finish the doses if not.
They didn't clear up, so I resumed the Doxy.. Almost immediately, the small sore on my scrotum decreased in size, then disappeared within 8 days of using the Doxy. It's been one week since my prescription ran out. The sore is still gone, but my other symptoms remain. I now also have severe lower back pain (NOT uncommon for me but it's very bad right now).
I was referred to a Urologist as a result. I have an appointment today so perhaps he'll figure something out.
Now, my sexual history -- No sexual interaction for 3 years, tested ALL STD's after last girlfriend. Everything negative. Three months ago I started dating a German foreign exchange student. Prior to the sore appearing on my scrotum we only had genital-to-genital contact (dry humping?). No oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse.
I'm not familiar with this forum board, but my post is exceeding the character limit, so I'm going to 'try' to continue my post below this one.
Seven weeks ago, I woke up in the morning to a sore on my scrotum. The sore was raised and about the size of a pencil eraser. Never blistered, pus'd, or became an open 'wound'. Within a few days, I had developed an itchy/tingling sensation in my genital and rectum area and was experiencing mild discomfort at the opening of my urethra. Only AFTER urinating.
I went in to the Immediate Care doctor. He diagnosed a topical bacterial infection (infected hair follicle), said it was nothing serious, took a Urine sample, and prescribed Doxycycline 150mg for two weeks.
Took one days worth of the Doxy and started experiencing severe stomach cramps and pains. The RN for my case told me it was probably the stomach flu (they were getting 40 new case reports a day of it). She also told me that my urine screen came back CLEAN for STD's, but that there was traces of blood in it. I was advised to stop using it for a couple weeks and see if the symptoms went away on their own since my screen was clear. Finish the doses if not.
They didn't clear up, so I resumed the Doxy.. Almost immediately, the small sore on my scrotum decreased in size, then disappeared within 8 days of using the Doxy. It's been one week since my prescription ran out. The sore is still gone, but my other symptoms remain. I now also have severe lower back pain (NOT uncommon for me but it's very bad right now).
I was referred to a Urologist as a result. I have an appointment today so perhaps he'll figure something out.
Now, my sexual history -- No sexual interaction for 3 years, tested ALL STD's after last girlfriend. Everything negative. Three months ago I started dating a German foreign exchange student. Prior to the sore appearing on my scrotum we only had genital-to-genital contact (dry humping?). No oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse.
I'm not familiar with this forum board, but my post is exceeding the character limit, so I'm going to 'try' to continue my post below this one.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is unlikely you have any STD. Certainly your symptoms are not typical; most STDs would have cleared up with doxycycline; and you describe a low risk situation, i.e. a partner who probably has no STD you could have caught. Taking the symptoms one at a time:
Scrotal sore: A provider's diagnosis of a superficial infection like an infected hair follicle is pretty reliable. Also, erpes, syphilis, and other genital ulcer STDs don't usually first show up on the scrotum. And if it were syphilis, the doxycycline would have cured it.
Urethral "irritation": Conceivably a symptom of sexually acquired urethritis. But that generally has discharge as the primary symptom, and the intermittency of the symptom doesn't fit. And doxy would have curred it.
Scrotal/anal itching: Not an STD symptom at all. Broad spectrum antibiotics like doxycycline can result in overgrowth of yeasts and other fungi -- if these symptoms starteted after you began the doxy, and especially if there is visible rash (redness etc), the seems a good bet. Whether or not that's the explanation, the symptoms fit with no known STD.
Of course, the other thing that should be done here -- just to be safe -- is for your partner to see her provider for STD screening. But you give no evidence to suggest she is likely to have anything.
Many people with unexplained genital symptoms turn their concern to herpes. That's partly because when you read herpes symptoms lists, you will see things like itching, tingling, irritation, etc. But that misses the point. Those symptoms occur only in association with overt, visible herpes sores. Some people might not have noticed that they have sores, and the first thing they actually feel is the tingle or itch. But such symptoms are always very sharply localized in a small spot, typically less than an inch in diameter; and on inspection the herpes lesions are obvious. Herpes infections simply do not cause any of the things you describe.
So no, I do not recommend HSV blood testing. Feel free if you are curious whether you have HSV-2; 20% of the population has it. But if your test is positive, it will only mean you have asymptomatic HSV-2 plus some other cause of your symptoms.
Bottom line: I very much doubt you have herpes, any other STD, or anything related to sex at all. And I am certain you have nothing that will ever be a significant health threat to you or your current or future sex partners.
I hope this helps. Thanks for the thanks about the forum. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Scrotal sore: A provider's diagnosis of a superficial infection like an infected hair follicle is pretty reliable. Also, erpes, syphilis, and other genital ulcer STDs don't usually first show up on the scrotum. And if it were syphilis, the doxycycline would have cured it.
Urethral "irritation": Conceivably a symptom of sexually acquired urethritis. But that generally has discharge as the primary symptom, and the intermittency of the symptom doesn't fit. And doxy would have curred it.
Scrotal/anal itching: Not an STD symptom at all. Broad spectrum antibiotics like doxycycline can result in overgrowth of yeasts and other fungi -- if these symptoms starteted after you began the doxy, and especially if there is visible rash (redness etc), the seems a good bet. Whether or not that's the explanation, the symptoms fit with no known STD.
Of course, the other thing that should be done here -- just to be safe -- is for your partner to see her provider for STD screening. But you give no evidence to suggest she is likely to have anything.
Many people with unexplained genital symptoms turn their concern to herpes. That's partly because when you read herpes symptoms lists, you will see things like itching, tingling, irritation, etc. But that misses the point. Those symptoms occur only in association with overt, visible herpes sores. Some people might not have noticed that they have sores, and the first thing they actually feel is the tingle or itch. But such symptoms are always very sharply localized in a small spot, typically less than an inch in diameter; and on inspection the herpes lesions are obvious. Herpes infections simply do not cause any of the things you describe.
So no, I do not recommend HSV blood testing. Feel free if you are curious whether you have HSV-2; 20% of the population has it. But if your test is positive, it will only mean you have asymptomatic HSV-2 plus some other cause of your symptoms.
Bottom line: I very much doubt you have herpes, any other STD, or anything related to sex at all. And I am certain you have nothing that will ever be a significant health threat to you or your current or future sex partners.
I hope this helps. Thanks for the thanks about the forum. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Dr. Handsfield,
I apologize. I just wanted you to have an accurate account of what was happening with me. I'll re-type it really quickly.
Symptoms:
-Small Sore on Scrotum - Doxycycline completely cleared up.
-Itchy/Tingling Scrotum and Rectum - Neosporin helps to relieve the sensation immensely.
-Irritated feeling in urethra opening after urinating. Has come and gone for seven weeks. Doxy didn't clear up totally.
-As of a couple weeks ago, very intense lower back pain.
Seven weeks ago, I developed a pencil eraser-sized sore on my scrotum. It never blistered, pus'd or became an open sore. I went in to Immediate Care a few days later. Doctor took a urine sample and prescribed Doxycycline. He said it was a topical bacterial infection (infected hair follicle since I shave down there). Urine screen came back clear of typical STD's but did have some blood in it.
After a couple complications detailed above, I finished the Doxycline doses last Friday. Itching/Tingling still persists as of this morning. Irritated urethra is mostly better. Back pain is still there. Seven weeks of symptoms, all totaled.
Had two episodes of un-protected genital-to-genital contact with my girlfriend before symptoms arose. In the last couple weeks, have had unprotected oral and protected vaginal intercourse (on Sunday). She's had one other boyfriend besides me in the last year and as far as she knows, neither her nor him have anything. She's never had any symptoms of any STD.
I've been quite uncomfortable for the last several weeks, between the itching and irritated urethra feeling and it's caused me a great deal of stress.
In your experience, have you encountered anything similar to what I'm going through? I have an appointment today with a Urologist. Anything I should ask him to look for? Could these be symptoms of Herpes? Would they have persisted this long upon an initial outbreak? Would you recommend getting a type-specific test done for HSV?
Again, sorry for the long post(s). I really appreciate what you guys do on here.
I apologize. I just wanted you to have an accurate account of what was happening with me. I'll re-type it really quickly.
Symptoms:
-Small Sore on Scrotum - Doxycycline completely cleared up.
-Itchy/Tingling Scrotum and Rectum - Neosporin helps to relieve the sensation immensely.
-Irritated feeling in urethra opening after urinating. Has come and gone for seven weeks. Doxy didn't clear up totally.
-As of a couple weeks ago, very intense lower back pain.
Seven weeks ago, I developed a pencil eraser-sized sore on my scrotum. It never blistered, pus'd or became an open sore. I went in to Immediate Care a few days later. Doctor took a urine sample and prescribed Doxycycline. He said it was a topical bacterial infection (infected hair follicle since I shave down there). Urine screen came back clear of typical STD's but did have some blood in it.
After a couple complications detailed above, I finished the Doxycline doses last Friday. Itching/Tingling still persists as of this morning. Irritated urethra is mostly better. Back pain is still there. Seven weeks of symptoms, all totaled.
Had two episodes of un-protected genital-to-genital contact with my girlfriend before symptoms arose. In the last couple weeks, have had unprotected oral and protected vaginal intercourse (on Sunday). She's had one other boyfriend besides me in the last year and as far as she knows, neither her nor him have anything. She's never had any symptoms of any STD.
I've been quite uncomfortable for the last several weeks, between the itching and irritated urethra feeling and it's caused me a great deal of stress.
In your experience, have you encountered anything similar to what I'm going through? I have an appointment today with a Urologist. Anything I should ask him to look for? Could these be symptoms of Herpes? Would they have persisted this long upon an initial outbreak? Would you recommend getting a type-specific test done for HSV?
Again, sorry for the long post(s). I really appreciate what you guys do on here.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
The reason for the limit on number of characters is to force questioners to keep things brief and to not require moderators like me to spend 10 minutes just to understand the question. I will respond after you repost your entire question in a much briefer follow-up comment.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Continuing my post from above...
After one week of taking the Doxy, my conditions had seemed to clear up and because I wasn't advised to stop sexual activities, I didn't think anything of it. We've since had un-protected oral (mutual, two weeks ago).
After the oral on me (it was quite...enthusiastic) I noticed that in her enthusiasm, she had given me a 'hickey' or blood-blister of sorts. I noticed a mere two to three hours after, so I knew it wasn't any type of STD. The burning sensation after urinating also came back as well -- at the time I just assumed because it was tender from the oral 'hickey'. I finished the last week of Doxy but the itching remained, though the burning had once again faded, and the 'hickey' totally cleared up after 4-5 days.
On Sunday (two days after my last dose) we had protected vaginal intercourse (three times in one night). No condom slippage or breakage. The irritation on the tip of my penis/urethra opening came back, though.
It's been five days and the irritation has subsided but hasn't cleared up totally. I've been applying Neosporin to my scrotum and it's helped the itching/tingling immensely.
She's had one boyfriend other than me in the last year and as far as she knows, neither of them have anything. She did have unprotected sex with the other guy. She also said that last year she received a new, experimental shot that was used to immunize Herpes, but she didn't know what type.
I think that's enough information and I'm sorry for making it so long, but I'm really confused and worried. The anxiety from it all has caused me to lose sleep, lose weight, and I'm sure increase the complications of my symptoms.
Could this be Herpes? Would I still have symptoms 7 weeks later if it was? I'm honestly thinking about getting type specific tested, since I passed the 6 week mark. Would you advise this? Or do you agree with the Immediate Care doctor that it's bacterial in nature? Or anxiety fueled?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
After one week of taking the Doxy, my conditions had seemed to clear up and because I wasn't advised to stop sexual activities, I didn't think anything of it. We've since had un-protected oral (mutual, two weeks ago).
After the oral on me (it was quite...enthusiastic) I noticed that in her enthusiasm, she had given me a 'hickey' or blood-blister of sorts. I noticed a mere two to three hours after, so I knew it wasn't any type of STD. The burning sensation after urinating also came back as well -- at the time I just assumed because it was tender from the oral 'hickey'. I finished the last week of Doxy but the itching remained, though the burning had once again faded, and the 'hickey' totally cleared up after 4-5 days.
On Sunday (two days after my last dose) we had protected vaginal intercourse (three times in one night). No condom slippage or breakage. The irritation on the tip of my penis/urethra opening came back, though.
It's been five days and the irritation has subsided but hasn't cleared up totally. I've been applying Neosporin to my scrotum and it's helped the itching/tingling immensely.
She's had one boyfriend other than me in the last year and as far as she knows, neither of them have anything. She did have unprotected sex with the other guy. She also said that last year she received a new, experimental shot that was used to immunize Herpes, but she didn't know what type.
I think that's enough information and I'm sorry for making it so long, but I'm really confused and worried. The anxiety from it all has caused me to lose sleep, lose weight, and I'm sure increase the complications of my symptoms.
Could this be Herpes? Would I still have symptoms 7 weeks later if it was? I'm honestly thinking about getting type specific tested, since I passed the 6 week mark. Would you advise this? Or do you agree with the Immediate Care doctor that it's bacterial in nature? Or anxiety fueled?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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.
