Your opinion please

[swatelite]

Dear Doc,

I have discovered what appears to be a scratch/lesion/bruise on the side of my penis shaft, or something to that affect, and it

[Raiyne]

A related discussion, I need a professional opinion was started.

[swatelite]

Oh no, i should have explained myself better. I sometimes get irritated (red) around the area where I am circumsized after I have masterbated more than once a day. The cut/irritation was in another area where I am not cirumsized (and therefore, usually, does not get irritated). Either way, thank you for your time!

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

OK.  From your original message it seemed a similar problem had in fact been recurring from time to time ("chafing where I am circumcised").

HHH, MD

[swatelite]

Thanks for your help, Doc. It seems to have totally healed today. If it reoccurs (again, I have never had this before), I will go for testing. Thanks again for your help.

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

All I (or any on-line doc who hasn't examined you) can do is give a best guess based on your description.  My experience in 30+ years in this business is that the large majority of persons who come to an STD clinic with genital lesions that they believe were traumatic in fact turn out to have herpes.  But there are plenty of exceptions; and if it really "looks like a cut", perhaps that's what it is.  (But if you were so certain, why did you post your original question?)

That said, your information about genital herpes is largely wrong, in particular for recurrent herpes.  Outbreaks can last only a few days, with healing starting within 36 hours; it usually is painless (in fact most cases are entirely asymptomatic); and usually is not accompanied by swollen glands (unlike initial outbreaks).

I'm not making any diagnosis, but my advice to consider testing for herpes still stands.

Good luck--  HHH, MD

[swatelite]

Doc,

I also just checked it and it seems to be healing... given all this information, even I find it hard to believe that it could be anything more than a cut. From what I know and doctors have told me, herpes hurts, you have swollen glands, and it lasts for a week. This is getting better after 36 hours...

[swatelite]

Also this isn't reccurent...

[swatelite]

That's interesting because it just suddenly appeared, I have no symtoms, and it doesn't HURT... it really looks like i cut myself... don't you believe this is possible? It is also not a sore...

[H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D.]

You aren't going to like my response.  If you are pretty sure you didn't injure yourself--that is, you have no clear recollection of a traumatic event--then herpes is the best bet.  In fact, I'm concerned about your description of "chafing where circumcised".  Sex itself doesn't cause chafing, and rubbing against clothing is a rare cause, if it ever occurs.  Over 90% of persons with otherwise unexplained recurrent sores (including "scratches" or "chafing") of the genital area have herpes, almost always due to HSV type 2.  See numerous other messages in this forum about the proper HSV blood tests to request to check it out.

Good luck--  HHH, MD