[Question #10320] Penis cyst/ pimple or STI

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24 months ago
Follow up from #9796. Thursday I noticed a small bump right above the hair line on the lower penis. I squeezed it to prove it was pimple or sebaceous (cyst). Blood came out but not thick pus., the fluid straw to clear. Over the 2 days I I would squeeze it. Now there is a darker scab like area  in the middle and rubbery feeling under the skin around it(like a cyst structure). No sexual contact since my last question 5 months ago.
1.it does look like a little like chancre but. The day after last sexual contact I started a 5 days of Keflex 500 x2. Could i have failed curing the incubating syphilis and delayed it and have a chancre 5 months later?
2. Herpes? No history, and because of anxiety Im always alert for weeks after sex and (always) with protection., missing a primary out break not likely. This fluid makes me nervous but the cyst like structure under the skin points away from that I think. 

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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
Welcome back to the forum. I reviewed your discussion with Dr. Hook (thread 9796).

No STD shows up as a pimple or anything like an infected sebaceous cyst. In addition, your exposure back then was very low risk for any STD, in fact zero risk given the use of plastic wrap (which wasn't emphasized so much in your previous discussion). And as discussed then, being on cephalexin (Keflex) afterward further lowered the risk of any infection, including syphilis.

1. There is bro chance this is syphilis.

2. Also no chance of herpes, which never causes the symptoms you describe. Herpes lesions are superficial, not deeper like a pimple or sebaceous cyst. (Think of herpes lesions as being "on" the skin, whereas pimples and cyst occur "in" the skin. In addition, pus and blood cannot be squeezed out of herpes lesions.)

For sure this problem has nothing to do with your oral sex exposure 4+ months ago. All is well with no need for STD testing.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD
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24 months ago
Thanks for your reply

1. You said “bro chance” I’m assuming no chance. Just for clarification you agree the keflex would have taken care of syphilis in the off chance I was exposed.

2. The liquid squeezed out wasn’t pus. The first time I opened into it with a tweezer (like an idiot) and blood came out. Later at other point when squeezing it, it was clear fluid. Is that still common of a sebaceous cyst? Outside of the oral 5 months ago my last protected sex was 2 years ago, I specifically remember  with both events  checking for two weeks for signs or herpes and moving on.  Based on that can I be sure I don’t have herpes?
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
1. Correct -- no chance. (Sorry for the typo -- thanks to Siri!) And yes, it would be impossible for syphilis to take hold in the presence of cephalexin.

2. This description still is not compatible with herpes. It is extremely unlikely this is herpes.
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H. Hunter Handsfield, MD
24 months ago
Sorry, but we do not examine clinical photos. It comes too close to practicing medicine from a distance, and they would be visible to anyone signing in. I have deleted them. And anyway, there is no chance the appearance of a lesion at this point would change my opinion or advice.---
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