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Herpes or possible bacterial infection?
Had unprotected sex with female partner. Two days later noticed a bit of red swelling/bump on my testicles which I assumed was from shaving as I remember nicking myself also two days prior.
Two other singular red bumps appear on shaft of my penis a bit later. They did not blister, but became kinda open and then crushed over. At this point after four days past sex I became a bit worried so I went to dr who told me it could be herpes and gave me a igg blood test for herpes 2 and test for syphilis. The next day the test came back negative, but the original sore of my testicles became more pronounced. It never blistered but was just kinda open with a white center. I also became feverish and got a sore throat, had a slight burning during urination. Lymphnodes in groin and neck were slightly
Tender. I went back to dr who examined the sores and said they did not appear to be herpetic. She thought it might be some kind of bacterial infection and proscribed me antiobiotic pills and a creme. My parter has also gotten tested for everything, including hsv1 and 2, and she has come back negative. I was last tested for herpes 2 yrs ago and came back negative. Any thoughts or help here? Is it possible I have been newly infected w herpes and the blood test is too soon to show positive? Or possible I was exposed some time ago and now just having an outbreak? Although, wouldn’t my parter then come up positive? Is it possible to be some kinda bacterial/staph infection that could also cause the cold like symptoms?
Two other singular red bumps appear on shaft of my penis a bit later. They did not blister, but became kinda open and then crushed over. At this point after four days past sex I became a bit worried so I went to dr who told me it could be herpes and gave me a igg blood test for herpes 2 and test for syphilis. The next day the test came back negative, but the original sore of my testicles became more pronounced. It never blistered but was just kinda open with a white center. I also became feverish and got a sore throat, had a slight burning during urination. Lymphnodes in groin and neck were slightly
Tender. I went back to dr who examined the sores and said they did not appear to be herpetic. She thought it might be some kind of bacterial infection and proscribed me antiobiotic pills and a creme. My parter has also gotten tested for everything, including hsv1 and 2, and she has come back negative. I was last tested for herpes 2 yrs ago and came back negative. Any thoughts or help here? Is it possible I have been newly infected w herpes and the blood test is too soon to show positive? Or possible I was exposed some time ago and now just having an outbreak? Although, wouldn’t my parter then come up positive? Is it possible to be some kinda bacterial/staph infection that could also cause the cold like symptoms?
There is a definite possibility this is bacterial but sores that scab are a little worrisome. Did your doctor swab the sores? Even if they had scabs, she should have swabbed them. There might not of been much material for her to get from the sore but she should have regardless.
It’s a good thing that your partner’s test came back negative. The one thing to note about hsv testing is it’s vert reliable for HSV2 if done 12 weeks out from a sexual encounter. So if your partner has not had sex with anyone but you within the past 12 weeks, then her HSV2 result for her is solid. HSV1 testing is not as accurate. Unfortunately, the IgG test for HSV1 misses upto 30% of infections.
If she’s ever had cold sores, then that is HSV one. So many people with HSV one have no idea that they have it because the symptoms are so minor, that they attribute it to something else.
If you get any further sores or marks on your penis, I would go to the doctor immediately or even go to an urgent care. Be seen as soon as you notice them. I would demand your doctor swab them. A PCR swab does not return false positives. They can have false negatives, if the sores are healing and their isn’t enough of a virus to be detected.
Are the antibiotics helping? If they clear things up, then it probably is bacterial but just keep an eye on things and if the sores appear again or you have any other symptoms, be seen. Good luck!
It’s a good thing that your partner’s test came back negative. The one thing to note about hsv testing is it’s vert reliable for HSV2 if done 12 weeks out from a sexual encounter. So if your partner has not had sex with anyone but you within the past 12 weeks, then her HSV2 result for her is solid. HSV1 testing is not as accurate. Unfortunately, the IgG test for HSV1 misses upto 30% of infections.
If she’s ever had cold sores, then that is HSV one. So many people with HSV one have no idea that they have it because the symptoms are so minor, that they attribute it to something else.
If you get any further sores or marks on your penis, I would go to the doctor immediately or even go to an urgent care. Be seen as soon as you notice them. I would demand your doctor swab them. A PCR swab does not return false positives. They can have false negatives, if the sores are healing and their isn’t enough of a virus to be detected.
Are the antibiotics helping? If they clear things up, then it probably is bacterial but just keep an eye on things and if the sores appear again or you have any other symptoms, be seen. Good luck!
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You are reading content posted in the Herpes Community
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.
