Aa
possible herpes or follicitis?
Hello,
I had unprotected sex for no more than two minutes 3 weeks ago. A week later I had a few red bumps near the base of my penis. I went to my Dr. who looked at my condition and said it was follicitis, as I have been diagnosed with that in the past and frequently get pimple-like things all up and down my legs, as well as once or twice before this unprotected encounter on my penis. I asked the Dr. if it could possibly be herpes and he said "defintely not" pointing out how they weren't "sores" and I had no other symptoms like the flu-like symptoms, pain in the region, etc. I've been on an antiobiotic for follicitis for like 2.5 weeks now and the objects are clearing up, albeit slower than the ones on my legs. He told me it was unncessary for me to go for further testing but I wanted to anyway. The lab results that didn't distinguish between HSV 1 and 2 came back at .9 which I was told meant it was "equivocal", not positive but not negative. Dr. told me nothing really to worry about; it might be HSV1, but that I should get tested again in a few months.
My question is this...Since I registered at .9 does that mean for sure that the pimple-like things are defintely not herpes because had it been herpes I would have registered as positive for sure? And, could this just be acne?
Thank you very much and thank you for this service.
I had unprotected sex for no more than two minutes 3 weeks ago. A week later I had a few red bumps near the base of my penis. I went to my Dr. who looked at my condition and said it was follicitis, as I have been diagnosed with that in the past and frequently get pimple-like things all up and down my legs, as well as once or twice before this unprotected encounter on my penis. I asked the Dr. if it could possibly be herpes and he said "defintely not" pointing out how they weren't "sores" and I had no other symptoms like the flu-like symptoms, pain in the region, etc. I've been on an antiobiotic for follicitis for like 2.5 weeks now and the objects are clearing up, albeit slower than the ones on my legs. He told me it was unncessary for me to go for further testing but I wanted to anyway. The lab results that didn't distinguish between HSV 1 and 2 came back at .9 which I was told meant it was "equivocal", not positive but not negative. Dr. told me nothing really to worry about; it might be HSV1, but that I should get tested again in a few months.
My question is this...Since I registered at .9 does that mean for sure that the pimple-like things are defintely not herpes because had it been herpes I would have registered as positive for sure? And, could this just be acne?
Thank you very much and thank you for this service.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I agree, it's definitely not herpes; your doctor is right.
I'm confused by your blood test result. That number (0.9) strongly suggests your doctor did the HerpeSelect test--but it would distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2. But in any case, with HerpeSelect any result below 1.0 is negative--that is, 0.9 is not borderline positive, it is clearly negative.
So I am sure you don't have herpes--but beyond that I can't speculate about whether you have acne, folliculitis, or something else.
Good luck- HHH, MD
I'm confused by your blood test result. That number (0.9) strongly suggests your doctor did the HerpeSelect test--but it would distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2. But in any case, with HerpeSelect any result below 1.0 is negative--that is, 0.9 is not borderline positive, it is clearly negative.
So I am sure you don't have herpes--but beyond that I can't speculate about whether you have acne, folliculitis, or something else.
Good luck- HHH, MD
Also, how common are .9 readings? How can someone be equivocal?
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
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.
