I am wondering if I need to do anymore testing for Genital Herpes Type 1.
I had unprotected oral and vaginal sex with a friend of mine. Afterwards, I developed a white discharge about 3 days later. Went to the doctor and was prescribed azithromycin which cleared up the infection immediately. It was found that the infection was not any STI just some different bacteria between the two of us that my body didn't like, and caused me urethritis.
Now here is where things get a bit off. I read that neomycin ointment can be used to prevent urethritis in persons using catheters, so I tried it out using a triple antibiotic ointment with neomycin in it. I applied it generously to the tip of the urethra and around the head of the penis (circumcised). After this episode I requested that we both be tested for STD's just to be sure. I have only had one other sexual partner, and was clean for everything, including herpes, before this encounter. She was tested after this encounter and was clean for everything but she did not get tested for herpes as it was not included with the standard testing.
We had sex again about a month later, oral and vaginal, both unprotected. During this encounter she rubbed herself against the underside of my penis. She had shaved recently and must have had a little growth because it was quite sharp, this was after oral. Anyway, I showered after sex and went on and continued to apply the triple antibiotic ointment to the tip and now the underside of the penis. I did this about once everyday.
Now, two weeks (13 days) later I noticed a small section of skin (smaller than a dime) next to the frenulum that looked and felt like rugburn, slightly darker, maybe rough/leathery, but maybe nothing more than sensitive skin. Didn't think much of it as I was masturbating without lube quite a bit.
I continued applying the triple antibiotic ointment, pretty much like a moisturizer, I already know now that this was a bad idea. 3 Weeks after sex approx. 23 days I begin to have an intense burning sensation in the genitals, at this point I wasn't sure where the burning was located but the feeling was enough to keep me up at night. The burning would subside a little but always some burning sensation was present. After two weeks I decided that maybe the triple antibiotic ointment was causing this and switched to Lamisil and Hydrocortisone 1% cream thinking that the 9 weeks that I was applying the triple antibiotic ointment was causing a fungal infection or dermatitis. The hydrocortisone cream really helped but then, after 5 day , I experience this intense burning sensation in the same location as above that I can only compare to putting Icy-Hot on the scrotum, previous experience. So, I stopped all medical ointments. 4 days later (40 days after sex) a small single clear vesicle appeared in the location of where I thought the skin had been rug-burned, I also experience a single nodular hive/urticaria on my thigh, itchy. Allergy or Viral Hive? It was a Friday night so I went to my GP on Monday morning, a little over 48 hours from the development of the vesicle. It had broken over the weekend and had bled a little and scabbed over. The Dr's visit was 43 days after sex. I was swabbed for PCR and also blood was taken for IgG. Everything came back negative including the other STD's.
My results for IgG at 6 weeks were:
HSV1: 0.16 negative
HSV2: <0.9 negative
The Dr. told me my single lesion was atypical of herpes and that he thought that I was experiencing hypersensitivity to the ointments I was putting on myself. Also said that it should go away within 1-2 weeks.
I figured this was a fair assessment and went on. After three weeks (week 9) I was still have irritation but no more extreme burning episodes more of a constant sting that fluctuated in sensitivity, Dr. didn't know what to think. The skin still had the slight rugburn like appearance to me, but Dr. disregarded it as normal skin.
At 13 weeks 91 days post sex retested HSV 1&2 IgG and the results were:
HSV1: 0.17 negative
HSV2: <0.9 negative
Now the lesion healed in about two weeks but so do other sores that I get on my body, scarred also. So semi-normal.
She is HSV 1 positive and later told me that she had a cold sore about a week before our last sexual encounter. This has me quite freaked out. She didn't know that this could happen.
I am still having this stinging sensation in the same location on my penis, almost 15 weeks post sex. I am worried that I contracted HSV1 and am not testing positive. I have read that the tests miss 1 out of 10 HSV1, I have also read 30%. My doctor seems really annoyed that I think I might have Herpes. He says that even if it is HSV it is no big deal and 80-90% of the population have it. Obviously, I doubt it is that high as I have seen medical experts here say 57% for US population. Would I benefit by more testing or am I needlessly worrying about this irritation that I have potentially caused myself, a fungal infection or dermatitis? I plan to visit a dermato-venerologist for a second opinion. I realize that there are parts of my story that match with herpes and parts that suggest other skin problems. I am really confused and just looking for some relief from this daily irritation. I recognize that skin burning for a almost three weeks before a single blister is not really indicative of primary outbreaks and that hydrocortisone can make herpes and fungal infections worse. But a single blister after 40 days seems way to long. I feel like a dermatitis would be a little more widespread including the urethral opening and glans. And I am worried that I may be experiencing some post-herpetic neuralgia in this location, the reason for the continued stinging. But again this seems like a small chance among herpes positive persons. I have only taken oral NSAIDs, but discontinued use after learning that they could be causing the hives (only occurred twice). No oral antibiotics, anti-virals, or anti-fungals.
Any insight or help would be greatly appreciated. Thank You