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Looks Like pressure sore but could it be Herpes???
I have a one inch slit (not a circle) about 1 inch below the top of my butt crack directly on the crack. No drainage, but red base and hurts when I pull apart my cheeks. It looks like a pressure ulcer stage 2 but I am totally mobile. Only time I sit for long periods is to study. I have had some diarrhea over the last two days. Freaked out b/c I had protected vaginal sex but unprotected oral sex with my ex about five weeks ago. Is it herpes? All of the pictures I have seen have been clusters of bumps but this is a single opening along the crack????What is it? What do I do? What do I put on it?? So scared....Thanks:-(
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I don't know why I first assumed you were male. Sorry. But for the same reason, initial herpes in women usually involves the labia minor, vaginal opening, etc -- even though recurrent outbreaks can be anywhere in the "boxer shorts" distribution.
Other possible causes include a pimple that got out of hand or an aphthous ulcer (similar to canker sores in the mouth). And certain non-STD viral infections can cause both diarrhea and ulcers in the mouth and/or the rectal area. Don't assume herpes just because of the location. As I said, that's probably not what it is. But do get it checked out. Better safe than sorry, right? Let me know how it turns out.
Other possible causes include a pimple that got out of hand or an aphthous ulcer (similar to canker sores in the mouth). And certain non-STD viral infections can cause both diarrhea and ulcers in the mouth and/or the rectal area. Don't assume herpes just because of the location. As I said, that's probably not what it is. But do get it checked out. Better safe than sorry, right? Let me know how it turns out.
Just curious....something else like what???? Also, I am a 25yo female forgot to say that in the question.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the STD forum.
If you have never had anything like the current problem before, herpes seems unlikely. However, recurrent genital herpes can show up anywhere in the "boxer shorts" distribution -- i.e. from upper thighs to lower abdoman and any site in between; and lesions of the buttucks or gluteal cleft (butt crack, if you will) are not rare. And some outbreaks are quite atypical. However, for infection to take, HSV generally must be massaged into the exposed tissues, and for that reason the initial genital infection usually is at sites of maximum friction during sex. In heterosexual men, that generally means the penis; it would be very unusual to have an initial HSV infection in the gluteal cleft, buttock, etc.
For those reasons, it is unlikely this is herpes; and if it is, probably you are having a recurrence of a longstanding, previously asymptomatic infection, not a new infection acquired a few weeks ago. There are lots of non-STD problems that could cause an ulceration of the type you describe.
It would be wise to see a health care provider and get this checked out. Do it promptly; if the doctor or clinic feels herpes is a possibility, then the lesion itself should be tested for the virus -- but to be accurate, that test needs to be done as soon as possible after onset. If herpes is suspected but no direct test is done, or if done and negative, then a blood test for HSV-1 and HSV-2 can help to sort it out.
In the meantime, you shouldn't be highly worries about herpes. Most likely it's something else.
I hope this helps. Best wishes-- HHH, MD
If you have never had anything like the current problem before, herpes seems unlikely. However, recurrent genital herpes can show up anywhere in the "boxer shorts" distribution -- i.e. from upper thighs to lower abdoman and any site in between; and lesions of the buttucks or gluteal cleft (butt crack, if you will) are not rare. And some outbreaks are quite atypical. However, for infection to take, HSV generally must be massaged into the exposed tissues, and for that reason the initial genital infection usually is at sites of maximum friction during sex. In heterosexual men, that generally means the penis; it would be very unusual to have an initial HSV infection in the gluteal cleft, buttock, etc.
For those reasons, it is unlikely this is herpes; and if it is, probably you are having a recurrence of a longstanding, previously asymptomatic infection, not a new infection acquired a few weeks ago. There are lots of non-STD problems that could cause an ulceration of the type you describe.
It would be wise to see a health care provider and get this checked out. Do it promptly; if the doctor or clinic feels herpes is a possibility, then the lesion itself should be tested for the virus -- but to be accurate, that test needs to be done as soon as possible after onset. If herpes is suspected but no direct test is done, or if done and negative, then a blood test for HSV-1 and HSV-2 can help to sort it out.
In the meantime, you shouldn't be highly worries about herpes. Most likely it's something else.
I hope this helps. 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.
