Red, inflamed area in urethra

[JonesyStone]

I have been in a monogamous relationship with my current girlfriend for almost 2 years. I haven't had any other partners since her and believe the same of her. I have had a number of partners (<10) all but one of them which I wore consistent protection. I have recently been tested for clamydia, syphillis, gonorrhea and HIV and am negative. I have no symptoms of herpes externally and don't believe to have it. My current gf recently discovered she had HPV but was a small outbreak and was treated. We wear condoms as birth control and occasionally (prior to her diagnosis) penetrate initially without condoms. This is a behavior which we recently stopped. I am a frequent masturbator (3-4 times a week, 1-2hrs+ each time).

My question is that I have recently been feeling a slight burning sensation toward the opening of my urethra. The burning exists whether or not I'm urinating and the sensation does not increase during urination. Upon further examination pulling back the opening of my penis, I've noticed an reddy, slightly raised, inflamed area. It is smooth and there or no openings. I've noticed this for about 2 days now. My urine is normal colored but slightly cloudy. I haven't had any discharge which leads me to believe it not gonorrhea or trich. What could this be caused by? Because of my masturbation habits, I occasionally ejaculate in the closest receptible, sometimes open bottles or cups. Can I get a bacterial infection from that?

I admit after my gf found out she had HPV I became quite the hypochondriac. I started to beat myself because she probably got HPV from me, yet I don't think I've ever had an outbreak plus since there's no test for men, that hasn't helped my pysche either.

Any help you can provide would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

Given your sexual history (and your partner's) and negative recent STD testing, you probably can pretty much disregard the possibility of an STD as the cause of your symptoms.  HPV certainly wouldn't do this.   If you told me the discomfort came for say 3-7 days, then cleared up entirely, then recurred say 1-3 months later (with the same pattern each time), then I would be concerned about herpes--but that seems unlikely.  

Urine cloudiness isn't an STD symptom, and everybody's urine is cloudy from time to time.  It depends on diet and fluid intake, and on urine pH (acid-base balance). The next time you notice cloudy urine, try adding a few drops of vinegar or lemon juice to a urine sample; it probably will turn crystal clear.  

Bottom line:  all I can suggest is that you see a health care provider if the discomfort persist, or of course if you develop other symptoms like overt sores, discharge, etc.

With regard to HPV, you can be 100% certain you are, or have been, infected with your partner's HPV strain.  There is no way to know whether she had it first or you did, but that doesn't matter.  There is no reason for the two of you to be using condoms for STD/HIV protection (but of course it's fine as contraception).  But if you weren't infected and hoping to prevent HPV, this business about brief insertion then using a condom makes no sense at all.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[HHH,MD]

I think I misunderstood the condom business, i.e. the condom business was before her HPV infection, right?  Sorry.  Anyway, at this point using condoms won't make any difference in her HPV infection or yours.

HHH, MD