Question: Hello, I had sexual relations a little over a week ago and I'm concerned that I may have contracted an STD. I used a condom during the entire sex act, from start to finish, but I'm nevertheless concerned.

No, as far as I can tell I have no fever or swollen glands.

There doesn't appear to be any pus-like discharge from the urethra and as far as I can tell, no ulcers, pustules, or open sores anywhere on the penis or scrotal areas. I also have not experienced any painful urination. My urine is not unusually dark or bad-smelling, but yellow or almost clear. Usually after urinating there are a few drops of urine that can be seen at the opening of the urethra, but no discharge.

I also have a large number of what are called "fordyce spots" on the scrotum and the shaft of my penis. I have a lot of coarse pubic hair that grows in both areas. Usually, wherever a pubic hair is growing, the hair follicle has a small white bump resembling a whitehead pimple.

I do notice, however, that I have a small, reddish spot near the tip of my penis, on the head on the topside. It's about the size of a pin-prick (not even a millimeter in size) and as far as I can tell it's painless. I don't recall seeing it before, but it's not bleeding or oozing any liquid. I'm wondering if it could be the result of a capillary near the surface of the skin.

I have noticed some minor irritation on the left side of the shaft of the penis; a sensation like that of chafing. As I said, I have a lot of coarse pubic hair growing on the scrotum and the shaft (about halfway up from the base). In the warme months this causes me to sweat quite a bit. I'm reluctant to use many types of bath powder, as they contain talc which has been said to be a carcinogen.

When it gets too hot and uncomfortable, I usually take a pair of scissors used for trimming nose hairs and carefully clip away the hair to a shorter length. I never shave down there because I'm afraid of cutting myself (due to the number of fordyce spots) and getting an infection. I always wash the scissors with soap and hot water before and after use. After cutting away some of the excess pubic hair, it's a lot cooler when I wear briefs (I don't like boxers).

I just clipped away some excess hair last week, being careful not to XXXXXXX the skin in the process.

Whenever I have had sexual relations (which have been very few and far between) I have usually used a condom. My sexual activity has been limited to either hand-stimulation or oral/vaginal sex with a condom. I have never engaged in anal sex with any partner. The last time I had sex was 9 days ago. My penis and scrotum were cleansed with a hot towel before a condom was applied. There was some oral contact and then vaginal penetration. At no time did the condom slip off and I was careful when I withdrew. I've read that condoms are effective, when used properly, only against the STD's Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and HIV. They are not effective against Genital Herpes, HPV, or Pubic Lice/Crabs.

I have examined my penis and scrotal areas daily with a magnifying glass, and can see no signs of lice or their eggs. Moreover, I don't appear to have any small red bite-marks and have not experienced any intense itching. Occasionally there has been some very mild itching that lasts for a second or two at a time; but I think that can be due to either dry skin or sweating.

On occasion (once or twice in the past 9 days) there has been a slight stinging sensation on the left side of the penis shaft; but I think that may be due to skin irritation that I had experienced before having sex the last time. Any place on the shaft where I had previously experienced irritation was covered by the condom. Again I can see no open wounds anywhere on the penis. I am circumcised since birth and have dark areas on the penis where the foreskin was removed. I also have a few protruding veins on the shaft of the penis. I am half-Latino on my father's side and have a penis and scrotum that is darker than the other parts of my body.

Lately I have been applying baby-type lotion to the penis and scrotum to reduce chafing and to make the pubic hair softer. I think the cause of the irritation could be from the ends of my coarse pubic hair rubbing against the skin.