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What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Herpes?
Question: Hi, I'm concerned I contracted herpes 1 on my genitals. I had unprotected oral and intercourse with a woman HSV1 orally positive, but negative for herpes 2. I had very disturbing symptoms since the encounter including:
-recurring lesion on shaft (has appeared twice)
- lesion does not ulcer or blister, but clear liquid comes out if squeezed
- 2 weeks of night sweats
- Legs twitching
- Burning buttocks and perenium
-recuring ulcers or "canker sores" in mouth
Please review my pictures. I did squeeze one of the bumps and it swelled. Clear liquid came out and is tender now..but does not hurt really.
It has now been 22 WEEKS POST EXPOSURE. Lesion was swabbed negative for herpes and a Western Blot IGG and HerpeSelect Elisa blood tests were performed at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, and 22 weeks post exposure. Western Blot being 99% accurate after 4 months. All tests are NEGATIVE for herpes 1 and 2.
What could cause such a lesion to reoccur in the same spot? I do shave my penis, is this the reason? Night sweats and burning on buttocks that has now gone away, but what could cause this?
All swabs and bloodwork negative through 22 weeks. Could this still be herpes and my body needs even more time to turn positive? What is this lesion? Something is wrong but tests are telling me no to herpes.
-recurring lesion on shaft (has appeared twice)
- lesion does not ulcer or blister, but clear liquid comes out if squeezed
- 2 weeks of night sweats
- Legs twitching
- Burning buttocks and perenium
-recuring ulcers or "canker sores" in mouth
Please review my pictures. I did squeeze one of the bumps and it swelled. Clear liquid came out and is tender now..but does not hurt really.
It has now been 22 WEEKS POST EXPOSURE. Lesion was swabbed negative for herpes and a Western Blot IGG and HerpeSelect Elisa blood tests were performed at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, and 22 weeks post exposure. Western Blot being 99% accurate after 4 months. All tests are NEGATIVE for herpes 1 and 2.
What could cause such a lesion to reoccur in the same spot? I do shave my penis, is this the reason? Night sweats and burning on buttocks that has now gone away, but what could cause this?
All swabs and bloodwork negative through 22 weeks. Could this still be herpes and my body needs even more time to turn positive? What is this lesion? Something is wrong but tests are telling me no to herpes.
Brief Answer:
No Herpes; simple proliferation of oil galnd
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the possibility of herpes after the unprotected intercourse with HSV 1 positive woman.
After reading your complete query, interpreting the reports and analyzing the pictures with diligence I reassure you fully that you do not have herpes 1 or 2.
Let me tell you certain important facts related to herpes:
To tell you medically - Herpes lesions manifest itself as small vesicles (fluid filled blisters) which remains for just a day or two and then forms ulcers which are quite painful. These ulcers then heals in next 5-7 days.
To begin with also these vesicles are quite painful and itchy with discomfort and once the vesicles burst in a day or two then the ulcers which are formed are quite painful for next 4-5 days. So the symptoms can never go unnoticed.
In yourself I can make out that no such symptom is present matching with the above symptoms.
So you can rest assured regarding the rarest possibility of herpes. You can make out that you do not have any of the symptoms which match with herpes or its symptoms or any other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
In m y clinical experience as well as academically speaking herpes lesion manifest within 7 days of exposure or maximally by 2 weeks. It is only rarely seen that it manifest beyond 2 weeks. For that also we consider 4 weeks as maximum period.
You can notice that it is almost 22 weeks since the incidence of unprotected intercourse and there are no symptoms of grouped vesicles or painful ulcers. In my patients with herpes the symptoms are so clear that it do not require any testing or clarification.
Now regarding the bump on the shaft- as I can see the picture there is no bump but a mark is present. The bump on shaft is most commonly due to inflammation of the oil gland and hair root. Our skin possess so many oil glands and minute hair roots. The skin over the shaft is so thin that even normal hair root appear as swollen bump. Due to anxiousness as you squeezed the area a clear fluid came out. It is totally a normal phenomenon to get such kind of clear fluid. Please do not try to do it again as it can cause secondary infection and thus further complications.
For the part of night sweats legs twitching, burning buttocks and perineum, recurring ulcers or "canker sores" in mouth- these are non-specific symptoms and are generally present in anxiety states.
The most important of all the point of support for your negative status is your tests. These tests are conclusive evidence of your clear status. You do not require any further testing and just relax.
I again suggest you to kindly do not squeeze the area as it is simple normal structure and not herpes lesion.
Hope the informations will relax you, if you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Wish you good health
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
No Herpes; simple proliferation of oil galnd
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thanks for posting your query to the forum.
I can understand your concern for the possibility of herpes after the unprotected intercourse with HSV 1 positive woman.
After reading your complete query, interpreting the reports and analyzing the pictures with diligence I reassure you fully that you do not have herpes 1 or 2.
Let me tell you certain important facts related to herpes:
To tell you medically - Herpes lesions manifest itself as small vesicles (fluid filled blisters) which remains for just a day or two and then forms ulcers which are quite painful. These ulcers then heals in next 5-7 days.
To begin with also these vesicles are quite painful and itchy with discomfort and once the vesicles burst in a day or two then the ulcers which are formed are quite painful for next 4-5 days. So the symptoms can never go unnoticed.
In yourself I can make out that no such symptom is present matching with the above symptoms.
So you can rest assured regarding the rarest possibility of herpes. You can make out that you do not have any of the symptoms which match with herpes or its symptoms or any other Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
In m y clinical experience as well as academically speaking herpes lesion manifest within 7 days of exposure or maximally by 2 weeks. It is only rarely seen that it manifest beyond 2 weeks. For that also we consider 4 weeks as maximum period.
You can notice that it is almost 22 weeks since the incidence of unprotected intercourse and there are no symptoms of grouped vesicles or painful ulcers. In my patients with herpes the symptoms are so clear that it do not require any testing or clarification.
Now regarding the bump on the shaft- as I can see the picture there is no bump but a mark is present. The bump on shaft is most commonly due to inflammation of the oil gland and hair root. Our skin possess so many oil glands and minute hair roots. The skin over the shaft is so thin that even normal hair root appear as swollen bump. Due to anxiousness as you squeezed the area a clear fluid came out. It is totally a normal phenomenon to get such kind of clear fluid. Please do not try to do it again as it can cause secondary infection and thus further complications.
For the part of night sweats legs twitching, burning buttocks and perineum, recurring ulcers or "canker sores" in mouth- these are non-specific symptoms and are generally present in anxiety states.
The most important of all the point of support for your negative status is your tests. These tests are conclusive evidence of your clear status. You do not require any further testing and just relax.
I again suggest you to kindly do not squeeze the area as it is simple normal structure and not herpes lesion.
Hope the informations will relax you, if you have any further query I will be happy to help.
Wish you good health
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. Thank you for such a thorough explanation and covering all my concerns. Absolutely great.
Please see updated photos today. My concern is that the current lesion has now appeared twice in the same spot and itched. Does clogged oil glands act this way? I think herpes because of the recurrence and also because if you "Google" herpes, it states a high percentage of people that have herpes either have mild symptoms or symptoms that get confused with bug bites, jock itch, pimples, or common rash. This concerns me!
Ive never had what I believe are multiple vesicles and certainly never seen ulcers on my shaft, but again, I've read numerous time people having lesions just like myself and being positive for the virus.
How accurate is this? Is herpes truly typical in presentation based on your experiece? Ive never been in pain because of the lesions.
My lesion when examined or zoomed in looks not like a blister, but rather irritated around the pores or on the actual papules. I dont believe these to be vesicles, but maybe you can view my new photos and inform me.
Dr, how accurate are herpes blood tests at 22 weeks post exposure? I have even taken the Western Blot, which is the gold standard for herpes. Is 22 weeks sufficient amount of time for anitbodies to build and show on tests? They have been negative for both types.
Should I try and move on from this and accept my test results? Should I apply any topical to soothe the skin. I will not manipulate the bump any more. Its red still because I squeezed it hard yesterday. I will refrain from this.Thanks for your great responses.
Please see updated photos today. My concern is that the current lesion has now appeared twice in the same spot and itched. Does clogged oil glands act this way? I think herpes because of the recurrence and also because if you "Google" herpes, it states a high percentage of people that have herpes either have mild symptoms or symptoms that get confused with bug bites, jock itch, pimples, or common rash. This concerns me!
Ive never had what I believe are multiple vesicles and certainly never seen ulcers on my shaft, but again, I've read numerous time people having lesions just like myself and being positive for the virus.
How accurate is this? Is herpes truly typical in presentation based on your experiece? Ive never been in pain because of the lesions.
My lesion when examined or zoomed in looks not like a blister, but rather irritated around the pores or on the actual papules. I dont believe these to be vesicles, but maybe you can view my new photos and inform me.
Dr, how accurate are herpes blood tests at 22 weeks post exposure? I have even taken the Western Blot, which is the gold standard for herpes. Is 22 weeks sufficient amount of time for anitbodies to build and show on tests? They have been negative for both types.
Should I try and move on from this and accept my test results? Should I apply any topical to soothe the skin. I will not manipulate the bump any more. Its red still because I squeezed it hard yesterday. I will refrain from this.Thanks for your great responses.
Brief Answer:
No herpes; always use protection in future
Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,
Thanks for your follow up and further queries.
I have gone through the latest pictures and after thoroughly analyzing it I am at my firm clinical diagnosis that the condition is not at all herpes. It is not miles close to herpes. In my 15 years of clinical practice I have encountered so many different types of presentation of herpes but never like if you think your one.
Even if still you have some confusion then let me reassure you again that the test is negative at 22 week. It is the enough of time when even in rarest of rare cases the antibodies should be present.
In all the cases of herpes once the lesion is formed (either vesicles or ulcers) the antibodies are positive. In many a cases where even the if lesion is not present then also the antibodies are sometimes present ( Ig G) showing a past infection.
So not having any antibody positive means you haven't had any exposure to herpes virus. You were lucky enough that despite unprotected sex with HSV 1 positive female you didn't contracted herpes virus.
So relieve all your anxieties regarding herpes. I further suggest you to always use protection and follow safer sex practice once and always.
Hope the informations will relax you, if you have any further query I will be happy to help or if not then can close the query and rate the answer.
"With good health wishes"
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
No herpes; always use protection in future
Detailed Answer:
Hello young fellow,
Thanks for your follow up and further queries.
I have gone through the latest pictures and after thoroughly analyzing it I am at my firm clinical diagnosis that the condition is not at all herpes. It is not miles close to herpes. In my 15 years of clinical practice I have encountered so many different types of presentation of herpes but never like if you think your one.
Even if still you have some confusion then let me reassure you again that the test is negative at 22 week. It is the enough of time when even in rarest of rare cases the antibodies should be present.
In all the cases of herpes once the lesion is formed (either vesicles or ulcers) the antibodies are positive. In many a cases where even the if lesion is not present then also the antibodies are sometimes present ( Ig G) showing a past infection.
So not having any antibody positive means you haven't had any exposure to herpes virus. You were lucky enough that despite unprotected sex with HSV 1 positive female you didn't contracted herpes virus.
So relieve all your anxieties regarding herpes. I further suggest you to always use protection and follow safer sex practice once and always.
Hope the informations will relax you, if you have any further query I will be happy to help or if not then can close the query and rate the answer.
"With good health wishes"
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. XXXXXXX thank you for the informative answers to my questions. I want to ask a few more questions then I will happily approve your answer.
Please see my final 3 photos. I took a better photo of the lesion on my shaft. Its still red (remember i squeezed yesterday) and sore. Are you still comfortable in your assessment of this not being herpes?
I had another red patch show up this afternoon. A new one. Please see that photo. What are these red lesions that keep arriving? I trust your experience on this matter, but I have no clue what these lesions are now.
This new lesion does not hurt, itch, or anything. It looks like all the others before they slightly get worse. Like a little red bug bite.
Dr, you still comfortable in stating these are not herpetic in nature? Even considering the new red spot that has arrived?
Please review my final photos and make a final evaluation on what you believe these lesions are, even if not herpetic. Thank you Doctor. Your responses help educate me more on this matter. Please advise if further testing is needed on my end
Thank you sir..
Please see my final 3 photos. I took a better photo of the lesion on my shaft. Its still red (remember i squeezed yesterday) and sore. Are you still comfortable in your assessment of this not being herpes?
I had another red patch show up this afternoon. A new one. Please see that photo. What are these red lesions that keep arriving? I trust your experience on this matter, but I have no clue what these lesions are now.
This new lesion does not hurt, itch, or anything. It looks like all the others before they slightly get worse. Like a little red bug bite.
Dr, you still comfortable in stating these are not herpetic in nature? Even considering the new red spot that has arrived?
Please review my final photos and make a final evaluation on what you believe these lesions are, even if not herpetic. Thank you Doctor. Your responses help educate me more on this matter. Please advise if further testing is needed on my end
Thank you sir..
Brief Answer:
Red area can be due to friction/touching/scabies
Detailed Answer:
Hello young man,
Thanks for your follow up and further queries.
I have analyzed all the latest pictures and are the best resolution picture sent by you. Let me first reassure you completely that the lesions are not herpes- not at all.
These red lesions can be due to simple friction or repeated touching causing irritation of skin and hair roots or in rare chances due to "scabies".
So the first thing you should do is to avoid touching the area. I many times see your kind of cases where due to anxiousness the person is repeatedly self examining the area and thereby touching it repeatedly. By repeated touching it causes redness and rash type of appearance due to irritation of skin and hair roots.
Otherwise in some cases these kind of areas appear XXXXXXX to mite infestation known as scabies. In initial of the episode it is confined to genital area, that too on shaft of penis.
If I were your treating dermatologist then would have suggested to use "Permethrin" 5% cream for overnight for once only repeated after 7 days. Additionally for the red areas I would have suggested to use hydrocortisone cream twice daily for 5 days only.
Even if the things are not getting better then you can visit a dermatologist and get proper physical examination done for the red areas which are not herpes.
I am more than cent percent sure that the lesions are not herpes and therefore relieve your anxiety regarding the same.
Hope the informations will relax you, if you have any further query I will be happy to help or if not then can close the query and rate the answer.
"With good health wishes"
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
Red area can be due to friction/touching/scabies
Detailed Answer:
Hello young man,
Thanks for your follow up and further queries.
I have analyzed all the latest pictures and are the best resolution picture sent by you. Let me first reassure you completely that the lesions are not herpes- not at all.
These red lesions can be due to simple friction or repeated touching causing irritation of skin and hair roots or in rare chances due to "scabies".
So the first thing you should do is to avoid touching the area. I many times see your kind of cases where due to anxiousness the person is repeatedly self examining the area and thereby touching it repeatedly. By repeated touching it causes redness and rash type of appearance due to irritation of skin and hair roots.
Otherwise in some cases these kind of areas appear XXXXXXX to mite infestation known as scabies. In initial of the episode it is confined to genital area, that too on shaft of penis.
If I were your treating dermatologist then would have suggested to use "Permethrin" 5% cream for overnight for once only repeated after 7 days. Additionally for the red areas I would have suggested to use hydrocortisone cream twice daily for 5 days only.
Even if the things are not getting better then you can visit a dermatologist and get proper physical examination done for the red areas which are not herpes.
I am more than cent percent sure that the lesions are not herpes and therefore relieve your anxiety regarding the same.
Hope the informations will relax you, if you have any further query I will be happy to help or if not then can close the query and rate the answer.
"With good health wishes"
with regards,
Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kanodia
(MD - Skin & Sexually Transmitted Diseases)
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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