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Redness / Irritation on Frenulum
Hello everyone. I’m back with another question with another issue. Once again I want to thank everyone ahead of time as you all are always helpful.
I dated this woman last year (2021) from October to December and had to cut ties with her. During that time we had mostly protected sex, but there were a couple of times where we did not. I was tested from STI panel’s in January and February and received negative results for everything I was tested for.
With that backstory out of the way, I’m here to talk about this strange issue I’m continuously having where my frenulum (that line part of the penis) and rarely my urethra gets redness/irritation. It’s just enough to bother me and worry me about potential herpes again. These are also my only symptoms. I am uncircumcised.
The irritation is some times on my fordyce spots right next to my frenulum, but those have been there for years and are very small dots. They have never grown bigger, become blisters, or leaked any discharge from them. Rarely had itching but that may have been because I started using a balanitis cream. (Those rare itches also have stopped since I stopped using said cream) No scabs, no ulcers, no actual pain, or blisters that started to ooze or bleed. This has now been going on for about a month and some change. This doesn’t sound like Herpes…right?
I don’t mean to bother you guys about this or come off disrespectful in anyway but it’s scaring me. I know that one of the symptoms of Herpes could be tingling or irritation, but I also read that those symptoms are almost followed by the outbreak which…atleast to my knowledge…Hasn’t happened.
So…what should I do? It’s very hard to get an hsv test because the doctors/nurses advise against it unless an outbreak occurs. And if it sounds like it’s nearly surefire NOT Herpes…what could it be then???
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
I dated this woman last year (2021) from October to December and had to cut ties with her. During that time we had mostly protected sex, but there were a couple of times where we did not. I was tested from STI panel’s in January and February and received negative results for everything I was tested for.
With that backstory out of the way, I’m here to talk about this strange issue I’m continuously having where my frenulum (that line part of the penis) and rarely my urethra gets redness/irritation. It’s just enough to bother me and worry me about potential herpes again. These are also my only symptoms. I am uncircumcised.
The irritation is some times on my fordyce spots right next to my frenulum, but those have been there for years and are very small dots. They have never grown bigger, become blisters, or leaked any discharge from them. Rarely had itching but that may have been because I started using a balanitis cream. (Those rare itches also have stopped since I stopped using said cream) No scabs, no ulcers, no actual pain, or blisters that started to ooze or bleed. This has now been going on for about a month and some change. This doesn’t sound like Herpes…right?
I don’t mean to bother you guys about this or come off disrespectful in anyway but it’s scaring me. I know that one of the symptoms of Herpes could be tingling or irritation, but I also read that those symptoms are almost followed by the outbreak which…atleast to my knowledge…Hasn’t happened.
So…what should I do? It’s very hard to get an hsv test because the doctors/nurses advise against it unless an outbreak occurs. And if it sounds like it’s nearly surefire NOT Herpes…what could it be then???
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
COMMUNITY LEADER
It truly doesn't sound like herpes. Herpes doesn't last a month with no changes.
I think you need to get a test to put this to bed for you. I know it's hard to get a doctor to do it, but you can go to a number of different sites to order it and do it yourself through a lab.
stdcheck.com
letsgetchecked.com
healthlabs.com
They all work similarly - some mail you a kit and others you go to a lab to draw the blood, but the tests are all the same. Check them all out, google for coupon codes and watch for site discounts, and see which is more convenient or cheapest - whatever is more important to you.
Has a doctor seen this irritation? You should get it checked out since it's lingered for so long. It may just be a mild fungal infection or something, but get it checked.
I think you need to get a test to put this to bed for you. I know it's hard to get a doctor to do it, but you can go to a number of different sites to order it and do it yourself through a lab.
stdcheck.com
letsgetchecked.com
healthlabs.com
They all work similarly - some mail you a kit and others you go to a lab to draw the blood, but the tests are all the same. Check them all out, google for coupon codes and watch for site discounts, and see which is more convenient or cheapest - whatever is more important to you.
Has a doctor seen this irritation? You should get it checked out since it's lingered for so long. It may just be a mild fungal infection or something, but get it checked.
4 Comments
It was a woman and she said that it doesn’t look or sound like Herpes at all. And I’ve done hours of research with my symptoms not sounding like Herpes as well. I just don’t want to make the mistake of having protected sex and giving a woman Herpes since it could be like a very miniature or asymptomatic version of Herpes.
Also two last questions, aren’t the chances of a woman receiving Herpes from protected sex with a male really low???? And that irritation/tingling symptoms are almost universally followed by clusters/blisters ???? (I don’t think I have Herpes but it’s like pulling teeth to get a urologist to look at me)
I’ll take the tests, but my doctor recommended not to take one for inaccuracies if you’re not having any Herpes symptoms.
Also two last questions, aren’t the chances of a woman receiving Herpes from protected sex with a male really low???? And that irritation/tingling symptoms are almost universally followed by clusters/blisters ???? (I don’t think I have Herpes but it’s like pulling teeth to get a urologist to look at me)
I’ll take the tests, but my doctor recommended not to take one for inaccuracies if you’re not having any Herpes symptoms.
The chances of anyone getting herpes while wearing a condom are very low - it's possible, but low.
Yes, the tingling you always hear about is often part of prodrome symptoms. Prodrome is kind of a warning sign that an outbreak is coming. Prodrome lasts 24-48 hours, tops, and is followed by blisters or lesions. If you have tingling, and no blisters, it's probably not related to herpes.
The tests aren't perfect. The hsv1 IgG misses 30% of infections, and the hsv2 misses 8%. There are false positive tests for the hsv2 IgG, but we work with what we have. Since it's been more than 12 weeks since your exposure, chances of false results are lower. Up to you.
Yes, the tingling you always hear about is often part of prodrome symptoms. Prodrome is kind of a warning sign that an outbreak is coming. Prodrome lasts 24-48 hours, tops, and is followed by blisters or lesions. If you have tingling, and no blisters, it's probably not related to herpes.
The tests aren't perfect. The hsv1 IgG misses 30% of infections, and the hsv2 misses 8%. There are false positive tests for the hsv2 IgG, but we work with what we have. Since it's been more than 12 weeks since your exposure, chances of false results are lower. Up to you.
Thank you so much. I’ll order the tests and take them to ease my mind.
Once again, I appreciate you so much for answering.
Once again, I appreciate you so much for answering.
You're welcome. Let me know your results. :)
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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.
