Could this be herpes?

[jj062128]

About four days ago I had sex with a woman I have been intimate with for a few weeks. This was the first time we had sex. It happened again the next night too. The next afternoon (after the second time) I started feeling soreness in my upper pelvic area (above my penis and below my waist). It almost felt like I was bruised there because it didn't hurt unless I put pressure on it either through my movements or directly with my hand, however, there were no bruises present. Those symptoms could be related or completely unrelated to the rash that followed the next day but I figured I would include it anyways. The next day I noticed that there was a small patch of red rash like pimples/bumps in my pubic hair region near where my thigh meets my pelvis. It is a few inches away from my penis. A few of the pimples have white heads and all are red. There really isn't any burning sensation (except now that I've red about this stuff as much as I have been I feel like I'm making myself start to imagine there might be) and there really hasn't been much change as far as getting better or worse over the last two days. There also is no affected area on my penis. I used a condom however it fell off for a bit before I noticed. My initial reaction was that it was irritation due to contact with her pubic region where she had shaved and it wasn't completely smooth. I'm always very careful about having sex and this is really worrying me. Please let me know what you think this could be. Thank you

[gracefromHHP]

when are you going to be seen?

[jj062128]

Sorry for another one but I just read that lymph node inflammation can be a sign of an STD. Now I'm concerned that the discomfort/pressure in my groin area might be swollen lymph nodes.

[jj062128]

I plan on it. I guess one last question is what else that rash could be? Are there any characteristics of herpes rashes that I can look for? Is it possible that it is an irritation from contact for some other reason?

[gracefromHHP]

this is a good thing to use to start the "talk" with her about her history and testing :)

[jj062128]

Thanks for responding.
Yea I'm planning on going in to get tested but still figured I would also check in here. I know it would be a good idea to have talked about getting tested with her but, being in college and without really having a defined relationship, it's pretty much a taboo subject (not a good excuse, I know)
I've never been tested but have never shown any symptoms either. I always use a condom (not that it guarantees anything) but I'm not sure what her history is.
I guess I'm kind of hoping that the fact that I don't have burning, rashes on my actual genitals, or flu like symptoms is a pretty good sign that it's just an irritation and nothing to worry about. That being said I know symptoms can vary widely and I'm more or less obsessing about it now, especially since the rash is paired with the discomfort across the front of my pubic/lower abdominal area which only hurts when I apply pressure.

[gracefromHHP]

odds are it isn't herpes but you'll  need to be seen and get a proper exam done.

have either of you ever been tested for herpes? have you discussed std's and testing for you both?

grace