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What Does Herpes On The Penis Shaft Look Like?
Question: I am 35 years old and have had herpes since my early 20's. Until this year I hadn't had an outbreak in 2 years and only taking medicine when I thought I might be about to have an outbreak. I have not had my medicine most of the year and recently have had 3 outbreaks in 2 months and they are worse than before. They use to be small and always in the same spot on my penis shaft. Now the outbreaks are larger and are in dfferent areas on my penis. Is there any reason why my outbreaks are occurring more frequently, getting bigger and spreading to areas they have never been before?
Brief Answer:
thank you so much for asking your question. I will do my best to help.
Detailed Answer:
there are several reasons that could explain why your outbreaks suddenly became more frequent. it is well known that anything that affects a person's immune system can cause the outbreaks to worsen. if you recently had a change in health, like a major illness or surgery that weakened your immune system, that can cause an outbreak. various medications can suppress your immune system as well. even severe emotional stress alone can suppress the immune system. heavy drinking and smoking can do it as well. so if there were any major recent life stresses or changes in your health, that could be why you suddenly started having more outbreaks.
however, that would not explain as well why it seems to be spreading to new areas. unless those areas are next to the original area and maybe just a part of the original area of infection. but if it is spreading to new areas completely, then the best explanation for what is happening is that you had a new exposure to what may have been a new subtype of the virus. if there have been any new sexual exposures, that could explain why it spread to new areas and why you suddenly started having more outbreaks.
another possibility is that this is not herpes, but actually a new and different infection. however, since you are familiar with herpes and how it looks and feels. I doubt that is what is going on, but it is still a possibility.
I would of course suggest that you see your doctor to get examined, and that you should probably start acyclovir or Valtrex and take it regularly for a while to suppress the outbreaks. and please practice safe sex to prevent transmission to your partner.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions.
thank you so much for asking your question. I will do my best to help.
Detailed Answer:
there are several reasons that could explain why your outbreaks suddenly became more frequent. it is well known that anything that affects a person's immune system can cause the outbreaks to worsen. if you recently had a change in health, like a major illness or surgery that weakened your immune system, that can cause an outbreak. various medications can suppress your immune system as well. even severe emotional stress alone can suppress the immune system. heavy drinking and smoking can do it as well. so if there were any major recent life stresses or changes in your health, that could be why you suddenly started having more outbreaks.
however, that would not explain as well why it seems to be spreading to new areas. unless those areas are next to the original area and maybe just a part of the original area of infection. but if it is spreading to new areas completely, then the best explanation for what is happening is that you had a new exposure to what may have been a new subtype of the virus. if there have been any new sexual exposures, that could explain why it spread to new areas and why you suddenly started having more outbreaks.
another possibility is that this is not herpes, but actually a new and different infection. however, since you are familiar with herpes and how it looks and feels. I doubt that is what is going on, but it is still a possibility.
I would of course suggest that you see your doctor to get examined, and that you should probably start acyclovir or Valtrex and take it regularly for a while to suppress the outbreaks. and please practice safe sex to prevent transmission to your partner.
I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any more questions.
Note: Consult a Sexual Diseases Specialist online for further follow up- Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Answered by
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