Scared to Death About Herpes!!!

[Danahan]

I'm a healthy 23 year old male. My fiance and I have been having unprotected sex for the past eight months. I lost my virginity to her and she is the only sexual partner I've ever had. She has had several partners before me only one of which was unprotected.

When we first starting having intercourse as part of our relationship, it was always protected. However, after each time my penis would become irritated and we suspected that I had some sort of allergy to the spermicide. In mid-August we had unprotected sex for the first time. Not long after, I noticed that my penis and testicles seemed slightly agitated. Paranoid that she might have given me herpes, I examined my privates very closely, but did not notice any visible sores, bumps, blisters, etc. At about this time, I did develop a case of jock itch in the areas between my thighs and groin, which I attributed to muggy weather. Eventually, this jock itch went away with the use of Lamasil.

Later on in December, I came down with a cold sore on my lip. I usually get at least one cold sore every winter. This has happened since childhood. However, around the same time, my privates became agitated again just like I had experienced back in August. Getting paranoid once again about herpes, I examined my penis very carefully, but still did not notice any visible sores, bumps, blisters, etc. Eventually this irritation went away followed a few days by the cold sore.

One night in the beginning of February, my fiance and I decided to try using KY Warming Liquid, which we applied to both my penis and testicles. The very next morning, I woke up with what appeared to be a slightly enlarged sebaceous gland or papule on the shaft of my penis. Again freaking out, I pierced it with a needle, which caused it to bleed. Not long after, this blemish disappeared. A few days later, I got two new bumps just like the first one. Additionally, my scrotum began to itch, the tip of my glans and the inside of my urethra became irritated, and I started having pain in my left testicle. I went to the ER and asked if it could possibly be herpes. The doctor said he saw nothing that suggested itself to be herpes (including the new bumps). He gave me antibiotics for treating gonorrhea/chlamydia, which made the irritation and the pain in my testicle stop almost immediately. Over the course of 4-5 weeks, these bumps started to shrink and never became filled with any sort of fluid. Whenever I would pierce them with a needle or try to pop them, they would just bleed. They never popped or ulcerated like herpes blisters. Unfortunately, they are still visible to this day, although they seem to be more like scar tissue now (perhaps from me picking at them so much), and are significantly smaller and have almost completely disappeared.        

Within the last week, after several uses of the KY Warming Liquid, I have gained two new bumps exactly like the ones I had back in February. They started off as enlarged sebaceous glands or papules, but keep growing larger. They don't have any fluid in them and when I poke them with a needle they simply bleed. Additionally, my scrotum and the base of my penis itch really bad, although there are not any of these bumps in either area. I have been applying hydrocortisone 1%, which soothes the itching. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been having unprotected sex with my fiance for eight months, and in that time I have never noticed anything suspicious with her privates that would lead me to believe that she has herpes (she always shaves her pubic hair and I've never seen anything remotely resembling herpes-like blisters). However, I'm really sick of agonizing over this an would really appreciate if you could give me some insight into what might be wrong with me! I have included some pictures (showing the bumps from close-up and far away) of these bumps for you to look at!

http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Baladas/penis_3.jpg
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Baladas/penis_2.jpg
http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt294/Baladas/penis_1.jpg

[gracefromHHP]

herpes testing is not a part of routine testing.  typically when you ask for std testing, you only get tested for 2 or 3 std's. pap smears do not test for std's either. Just make sure she gets a copy of her test results to see exactly what she was tested for.

switch to a different lube - try some of the silicone ones and see how they work for you.  

[Danahan]

These bumps seem to be fading away already (knock on wood) and the itching seems to be going away as well. The hydrocortisone really seems to be helping! My fiance claims to have had a full STD panel done before we even started dating including blood tests, pap smears, etc, and it all came back negative. The lube we've been using is extremely oily, and additionally it contains alcohol, which really sucks moisture out of the skin down there; that's probably responsible for the itching. I still want to get it looked at just to be safe!

[gracefromHHP]

we never look at pictures here. please read our read before posting post on this forum as to why we don't.

STOP using the ky warming gel. it's obviously causing you irritation and possibly even more of your issues.  also NEVER pop anything on the genital area with a needle.

see your provider monday for a proper work up.

if you are concerned about your gf having herpes, she can get a type specific herpes igg blood test done to see what her status is. also she  needs a full std testing done because if you really did have gonorrhea or chlamydia, it came from her and she also needs properly treated.

grace

[jelyse]

if neither u or ur fiance have had any sexual contact with anyone eles then u can test now. Best way to test is a type specific igg blood test. Also i doubt these pimples are herpes related because u wouldnt have them for this long. U could have a fungal or bacterial infection so u should get tested for these as well. Or the lube u are using could be causing irritation or if its really oily then it could be causing ur sebaceous glands to become blocked. I honestly dont think this is herpes going on. But u and ur fiance should go get the blood test to rule it out. Also u said that the doctor gave u meds to treat chlamyidia and gonorrhea but were u actually tested for these and was the result positive? And stop picking at the pimples, u will make them infected : )