Strange Genital Discomfort

[george683]

I am 20 years old, and 16 days ago I got a little too drunk and hooked up with an Austrian girl while studying abroad in the Netherlands. We had unprotected sex only for only a matter of seconds before I realized how stupid it was and stopped. She says the only unprotected sex she has ever had was with her boyfriend of three years, both of whom were virgins at the time, and that she has only had one other sexual partner since then and no history of STD's. Or so she says. A few days ago i noticed some very minor swelling in the top haft of the shaft of my penis but no discomfort or pain. Later that night, after masturbating, I felt some pain in the penis and burning while urinating,  which I know are normal after masturbation and has happened before, but never lasted more than a day, even after more vigorous masturbation. I also noticed a tiny bit of clear discharge the next morning. Now, I still have pain in the top of my shaft and tip including the opening, almost like the urethra is sore, and slight burning when i pee sometimes. I have also had some testicular soreness or tenderness on and off. I did suffer a muscular groin injury in the hernia region a week ago, but I'm not sure if that would affect genital areas, as the injury seems to be healing. Also, I have what I am almost certain is a chafing pimple on my inner thigh near the scrotum, but I thought I would add that information just in case.The skin is not tender on the penis and there is no redness or abnormalities. I also had some brief sciatica pain, which apparently can be related to herpes, but it was only for a few minutes and then subsided. I plan on going to the doctor as soon as possible, but I will not have access for a few days at least. The pain is not enough to stop me from sleeping or performing daily activities, but is definitely something I have not experienced before. I have no history of any STD or genital disease.  Any thoughts or ideas as to if this might be a type of infection?

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Welcome to our Forum. Presuming that your partner told the truth and most people do, this was a very low risk exposure. Most persons do not have STDs an most exposure to infected partners do not lead to infection. Further, your exposure was quite brief, making STDs still less likely.  On the other hand, sometimes after an exposure that, in retrospect, one wishes they had not had, persons tend to examine themselves and be far more attuned to genital sensations than in periods when they are not concerned.  This in turn leads to noticing what turn out to be normal sensations that might have been not noticed or ignored at other times.  Perhaps this is a contributor to your situation.  In fact I think this may be likely as when your symptoms are considered as a group they are not suggestive of any STD.

In particular, the symptoms you describe o not raise concerns for herpes.  If your pains and nerve symptoms were due to HSV, you would have developed lesions by now.  Further the discomfort of HSV does not come and go.  Similarly, the discomfort you describe on the top of the penis is also not suggestive of any typical. STD.

Of all the symptoms you mention, the burning in urination is the one that is most compatible with an STD an could be a manifestation of urethritis.  When you have a chance, I suggest that you see a trained clinician for evaluation. Such an evaluation should be to check your urethral secretion for white blood cells which would be a sign of inflammation. Such inflammation could be due to NGU, chlamydia or gonorrhea, all of which are also easily tested for.  While getting checked as soon as is convenient is a good idea, it will not be dangerous to wait a few days to do so, as long as you o not have sex with anyone else between now and then.  I would NOT recommend treatment without an examination and testing as I suspect you o not have an STD and I imagine that you would like to know for sure if you are or are not infected.

I hope this comment is helpful  My guess is that you are not infected.  EWH

[Edward W Hook, MD]

Glad to help.  Take care.  EWH

[george683]

Thanks alot, Doctor. Sorry about the last two posts, I did not see your answer when I wrote them. I do tend to over analyze so I'm sure that is a part of it. As a young man, this can be a strange and frightening experience, especially in a foreign country, and I feel much better now.

[george683]

could be femoral and not sciatic nerve, as it is not on the back of my leg

[george683]

An hour or so after this post, the nerve pain on my inner thigh returned, much sharper and had been going on for almost a half hour now. Should I be worried this is a precursor of herpes?