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Genital Herpes... Could I have it?
Hey I have been very confused lately and I need a bit of insight. About a 2 years ago I noticed a small lesion on the shaft of my penis right below the head. It is ever so slightly elevated (hard to notice) and rough but does not really itch or hurt or anything. it is a redish-whitish color but mostly it blends in with the skin and just looks like dry skin or something. My girlfriend and I were scared it was an STD so we both went and got checked about 6 months after we noticed it. Both of our doctors said that we were ok and did not have any STDs. My Doctor just said I had some skin disorder and prescribed me an over the counter topical cream called Psorcon and I never really used it until much later.
I was very relieved and it has been about 8 months since those checkups and about a year and a half since i first noticed the lesion. It is still there and still looks the same (hasn't grown or dissapeared or anything since first notice of it) except it kindof looks like it spread a lil bit around to other spots just under the head of my penis. I don't get "outbreaks" or "sores" or "blisters" and I don't have any side effects that I have read about in regards to herpes or warts. My doctor said that he definately thought that I did NOT have herpes or warts and I JUST started applying the topical cream a few days ago.
The reason why I am scared is this... My girlfriend that i mentioned before is actually my ex gf now and I have a new girlfriend... but i am still good friends with her. My ex girlfriend has always gone in for checkups and gets her pap smears and blood drawn regularly... she is always clean... however recently a couple of weeks ago when she went in she tested positive for genital herpes and the doc told her that 50% of the time those blood tests make mistakes so it could be a mistake. She is going to go back in for another test in a few weeks and I probably will go get a blood test soon as well. What do you guys think??? Could I have genital herpes??? I am pretty scared and nervous about it.
I was very relieved and it has been about 8 months since those checkups and about a year and a half since i first noticed the lesion. It is still there and still looks the same (hasn't grown or dissapeared or anything since first notice of it) except it kindof looks like it spread a lil bit around to other spots just under the head of my penis. I don't get "outbreaks" or "sores" or "blisters" and I don't have any side effects that I have read about in regards to herpes or warts. My doctor said that he definately thought that I did NOT have herpes or warts and I JUST started applying the topical cream a few days ago.
The reason why I am scared is this... My girlfriend that i mentioned before is actually my ex gf now and I have a new girlfriend... but i am still good friends with her. My ex girlfriend has always gone in for checkups and gets her pap smears and blood drawn regularly... she is always clean... however recently a couple of weeks ago when she went in she tested positive for genital herpes and the doc told her that 50% of the time those blood tests make mistakes so it could be a mistake. She is going to go back in for another test in a few weeks and I probably will go get a blood test soon as well. What do you guys think??? Could I have genital herpes??? I am pretty scared and nervous about it.
A related discussion, False Positive? was started.
My name, well it isnt important. I have been with my boyfriend for about two months. about a week ago, he preformed oral sex on me. a few days later, i noticed vey small red bumps on my vagina, it was a little sore. i figured it was just irrattated. i have not had any other symptoms, but i was worried :-(. how do you know if you have herpes? i havent been able to sleep because i am terrified. anyone have any idea?
Sorry for asking so many questions but I would really like to know what characterizes a herpes bump? Also I know the blood test my ex girlfriend had was not herpes select because it was just a monthly checkup. Have you ever heard of a false positive with genital herpes actually happening before?
Thank you Dr. HHH for your quick responses to my questions. Just out of curiousity... howcome you don't think it sounds like a herpes bump? what characterizes a bump to be herpes or not? Does there need to be more than one? does a herpes bump easily break open? Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Doesn't sound like herpes.
HHH, MD
HHH, MD
Hey Doc, I would like to report that after I have been using the topical cream for about 4 days those lesions I told you about are starting to dissapear :) yay! However, There is a little pin head sized bump just below the lesions that kindof looks like a little white head. It has been there for about 2 months or so and I thought it was part of the lesions but now I am starting to think that it is a seperate matter because it doesn't seem to be dissapearing. Also, I have tried scratching at it and I have tried to pop it but it is a tough lil sucker and I can't seem to scratch it off or pop it. Could it be a herpes bump?
I had a similar condition when i was younger. Before i became sexually active i was getting one or two tiny red spots under the head of my penis, not raised or pimple like. I went to the doctor, who freaked me out by telling me it might be herpes. Well it turned out not to be and actually was a fungal infection, tinea. Im not sure what tinea it was since tinea has many different forms. What he suggested was cortizone 5% topical cream and the spot went away within a week. There was no itch or burning associated with the spot and also no pussing or oozing of any type of liquid. My derm told me this was quite common in young men. Dont get too worked up until you visit the doctor. I really doubt it is herpes, given your explanation.
As for your girlfriend's positive herpes test, she should wait a week or so and get retested. I cant give much more feedback on that since I really dont know too much about testing, although there is a chance that it is a false positive. Wait and see what doc has to say.
Good Luck!
As for your girlfriend's positive herpes test, she should wait a week or so and get retested. I cant give much more feedback on that since I really dont know too much about testing, although there is a chance that it is a false positive. Wait and see what doc has to say.
Good Luck!
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I try not to compete with diagnoses by healthcare providers who have actually examined patients when I cannot. Not only did they not think you have herpes, but from your description alone, you can be 100% confident the penile spot you describe is not herpes.
Whether your former girlfriend's herpes test is accurate or not depends on what test was done; you can search the STD forum threads and archives for "HerpeSelect test" and "herpes diagnosis" for information about which tests are and are not reliable. But if she had a HerpeSelect test that was positive for HSV-2, then she has it, period. If so, there is a 50:50 chance you do too, which could be determined by being tested yourself. But even if you have a positive test for HSV-2, it is completely unrelated to the sort of spot you describe for your penis.
I hope that helps. Don't worry too much about the possibility of HSV-2 infection while you wait for the blood test results. If you're positive, you'll be just like the other 25% of the population with genital herpes; it is the most common of all STDs. Most learn to live with it without any serious health outcome and without serious implications for safe and healthy sexual relationships.
Best wishes-- HHH, MD
Whether your former girlfriend's herpes test is accurate or not depends on what test was done; you can search the STD forum threads and archives for "HerpeSelect test" and "herpes diagnosis" for information about which tests are and are not reliable. But if she had a HerpeSelect test that was positive for HSV-2, then she has it, period. If so, there is a 50:50 chance you do too, which could be determined by being tested yourself. But even if you have a positive test for HSV-2, it is completely unrelated to the sort of spot you describe for your penis.
I hope that helps. Don't worry too much about the possibility of HSV-2 infection while you wait for the blood test results. If you're positive, you'll be just like the other 25% of the population with genital herpes; it is the most common of all STDs. Most learn to live with it without any serious health outcome and without serious implications for safe and healthy sexual relationships.
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.
